The Best Way To Tell The Difference Between A Whippet And An Italian Greyhound

When it comes to dogs, certain breeds that resemble each other closely. Norwich and Norfolk terriers, for instance, are very difficult to tell apart — the only obvious difference is their ears. The Norwich has pointed ears while the Norfolk's flop down. Similarly, it can be hard to differentiate between the whippet and the Italian greyhound, two lean sighthounds who look like smaller versions of greyhounds.

Indeed, their size is the most obvious difference between the two breeds. Both have short coats, deep chests, small waists, thin legs, long necks, and long, thin snouts. But while the whippet is more medium-sized, standing 18-22 inches high at the shoulder and weighing between 25 and 40 pounds, the Italian greyhound is smaller, measuring between 13 and 15 inches tall and weighing just 7 to 14 pounds. In comparison, the greyhound is larger, between 27 and 30 inches tall and weighing 60-70 pounds.

It's common knowledge that greyhounds are one of the fastest dog breeds in the world. But how do whippets and Italian greyhounds stack up, and do they have the same controversial history of being bred for racing? Greyhound-like dogs have been around for thousands of years — they even appear in ancient Egyptian paintings. They are sighthounds, which means they hunt by spotting and chasing their prey in open areas over long distances.

Whether the whippet or the Italian greyhound came first remains a mystery. Additionally, the whippet was developed specifically for hunting, but it's unclear if that was also the purpose for which the Italian greyhound was initially bred. More recently, whippets have been bred for racing, like greyhounds. It's not certain whether Italian greyhounds were also bred for racing, but today, they participate in various sporting events, like agility and lure coursing.

So, how fast do Greyhounds run? How about their relatives? Greyhounds can hit speeds of up to 35-40 miles per hour, which is extremely impressive. (For reference, cheetahs run at an average of 40 miles per hour.) Whippets can reach up to 35 miles per hour, and those little Italian greyhounds can zip around at up to 25 miles per hour.

These breeds are known for their athletic builds and quick speeds, but they're so much more than racing dogs, and all three could make great pets for the right person. While greyhounds and their relatives have a reputation as lightning fast racing dogs, it may not be commonly known that in their spare time, they can be lazy, cuddly couch potato dogs and make surprisingly good pets for those who live in apartments. They do require regular exercise but are often gentle dogs who don't mind a little independence, either.

Similarly, whippets are generally very calm, relaxed dogs who love a good nap. Of the three breeds, they tend to be the best with children. They're perfectly at home in an apartment, as long as they have access to a fenced area for exercise; they also rarely bark. Italian greyhounds also need exercise, but since they're small, a good walk or some playtime does the trick. They are intelligent, playful, sensitive pups who respond well to reward-based training (don't we all?).