Growing up I went to the tracks at way too young an age and was able to place bets on horse and dog races and other sports at like 9 years old. No comment on how or why this was allowed but it taught me a lot of things. I learned fast that racing animals has ethical implications later in life but as a young Axey, being able to go behind the scenes and pet some of the hounds was a blast. Whippets and Greyhounds seldom bark and are either full throttle or in coach potato mode. As I got older and started doing some volunteer work with animals my stance changed on how I felt about dog racing especially. I really appreciate the history of the sport but also am glad that these gentle speedracers have people across the country ready to adopt them when they retire.
(California Whippet Fanciers Association)
In America, Greyhound racing has really fallen out of favor because of the way the dogs in their 'sport' are treated then many are put down after their winning streaks are over. Many organizations now exist to adopt out Greyhounds since Greyhounds and Whippets are amazing dogs. In fact, we recently adopted a Russian born Whippet that is about the coolest pooch ever! He is still a puppy and his past "owners" were well to do and came to the states toting two rather expensive dogs then deciding they just traveled and were too busy for them. Their loss is our gain! :)
Whippets were known as the poor man's Greyhound in Europe due to only Aristocracy being able to truly hunt the lands using sight hounds with their ancient origins tracing back to the Egyptian Pharaoh Hounds. Whippets are the smaller Greyhounds that wound up becoming a beloved breed in their own right and one of the only dogs who can have all paws up while racing/running just like a Cheetah.
"The Whippet is the youngest breed in the Sighthounds family: it was born in about the XIXth century and it was selected by the workers and miners in northern England by crossing Italian Greyhounds, Terriers and Greyhounds. The wider distribution of the Whippet causes outside the Italian borders and sometimes even in Italy the misunderstanding that the two breeds are one and the same and the two names Whippet and Italian Greyhound are interchangeable. One detail distinguishes the two breeds: in addition to the size, higher in the English one, the colour of the coat, which in the Italian Greyhound is always uniform and never brindle, a distinctive ancient original characteristic of the breed." - Alberto Bertelli
My Dog Is Faster Than Yours....No Really, Wanna Bet? (Just kidding around but seriously my dog would fly past your dog unless you have a Greyhound, Whippet or Pharaoh Hound)
(Crufts fastest dogs/Youtube)
Sporting Dogs are a favorite of mine and after having a few different breeds throughout the years I can say that nothing comes close to the athleticism of a Sight Hound. Thank you for your support as it is very appreciated and don't forget the Win/Win scenario that the more you support the more you get ;)
