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WHIPPET STANDARDS
Description	Whippet Club standard as quoted by Freeman Lloyd in 1904	English Whippet Standard (June 2006)	FCI Whippet Standard (March 2007)	USA Whippet Standard (January 2008)	Canadian Whippet Standard
General appearance and characteristics		Balanced combination of muscular power and strength with elegance and grace of outline. Built for speed and work. All forms of exaggeration should be avoided. An ideal companion. Highly adaptable in domestic and sporting surroundings	Balanced combination of muscular power and strength with elegance and grace of outline. Built for speed and work. All forms of exaggeration should be avoided. An ideal companion. Highly adaptable in domestic and sporting surroundings	A medium size sighthound giving the appearance of elegance and fitness, denoting great speed, power and balance without coarseness. A true sporting hound that covers a maximum of distance with a minimum of lost motion. Should convey an impression of beautifully balanced muscular power and strength, combined with great elegance and grace of outline. Symmetry of outline, muscular development and powerful gait are the main considerations; the dog being built for speed and work, all forms of exaggeration should be avoided.	A dog of moderate size, very alert, that can cover a maximum of distance with a minimum of lost motion, a true sporting hound. Should be put down in hard condition but with no suggestion of being muscle-bound.
Temperament		Gentle, affectionate, even disposition.	Gentle, affectionate, even disposition.	Amiable, friendly, gentle, but capable of great intensity during sporting pursuits.
Head and skull	Long and lean, rather wide between the eyes, and flat on the top.	Long and lean, flat on top, tapering to muzzle with slight stop, rather wide between the eyes, jaws powerful and clean-cut. Nose black, in blues a bluish colour permitted, liver nose in creams and other dilute colours, in whites or parti-colour a butterfly nose permissible.	Long and lean, flat on top tapering to muzzle with slight stop, rather wide between the eyes. Nose black. In blues a bluish colour. In livers a liver nose. In isabel, creams or other diluted coat colours any colour except pink. Only in whites or parti-coloured a butterfly nose is permissible but not a completely unpigmented nose.	Long and lean, fairly wide between ears, scarcely perceptible stop. Muzzle should be long and powerful denoting great strength of bite, without coarseness. Lack of underjaw should be strictly penalized. Nose leather to be entirely and uniformly pigmented. Color to be black, dark blue or dark brown, both so dark so as to appear nearly black.	Long and lean, fairly wide between the ears, scarcely perceptible stop, good length of muzzle which should be powerful without being coarse. Nose entirely black.
Eyes	Bright and fiery.	Oval, bright, expression very alert.	Oval, bright, expression very alert.	Keen intelligent alert expression. Eyes large, round to oval in shape. Small and/or almond shaped eyes are undesirable and to be faulted. Eyes to be dark brown to nearly black in color. Eye color can vary with coat color, but regardless of coat color dark eyes are always preferred. Light eyes are undesirable and yellow eyes are to be strictly penalized. Blue eye(s) or any portion of blue in the eye(s) as well as both eyes not being of the same color shall disqualify. Fully pigmented eyelids are desirable.	Eyes large, intelligent, round in shape and dark hazel in colour, must be at least as dark as the coat colour. Expression should be keen and alert. A sulky expression and lack of alertness to be considered most undesirable. Light yellow or oblique eyes should be strictly penalized.
Ears	Small, fine in texture, and rose shape.	Rose shaped, small, fine in texture.	Rose shaped, small, fine in texture.	Rose ears, small, fine in texture; in repose, thrown back and folded along neck, fold should be maintained when at attention. Erect ears should be severely penalized.	Ears small, fine in texture, thrown back and folded. Semi-pricked when at attention. Gay ears are incorrect and should be severely penalized.
Mouth	The jaw powerful yet cleanly cut. Teeth level and white.	Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.	Jaws strong, powerful and clean cut, with a perfect scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.	Teeth of upper jaw should fit closely over teeth of lower jaw, creating a scissors bite. Teeth should be white and strong. Undershot shall disqualify. Overshot one-quarter inch or more shall disqualify.	Teeth white, strong and even. Teeth of upper jaw should fit closely over the lower.
Neck	Long and muscular, elegantly arched, and free from throatiness.	Long, muscular, elegantly arched.	Long, muscular, elegantly arched.	Neck long, clean and muscular, well arched with no suggestion of throatiness, widening gracefully into the top of the shoulder. A short thick neck, or a ewe neck, should be penalized.	Long and muscular, well arched and with no suggestion of throatiness, widening gradually into the shoulders. Must not have any tendency to an "ewe" neck.
Forequarters	Shoulders oblique and muscular. Forelegs rather long, well set under dog, possessing fair amount of bone.	Shoulders well laid back with flat muscles. Moderate space between the shoulder blades at the withers. The upper arm is approximately of equal length to the shoulder, placed so that the elbow falls directly under the withers when viewed in profile. Forearms straight and upright with moderate balded bone. Front not too wide. Pasterns strong with slight spring.	Shoulders oblique and muscular, blades carried up to top of spine, where they are clearly defined. Forelegs straight and upright, front not too wide, pasterns strong with slight spring, elbows set well under body.	Shoulder blade long, well laid back, with flat muscles, allowing for moderate space between shoulder blades at peak of withers. Upper arm of equal length, placed so that the elbow falls directly under the withers. The points of the elbows should point neither in nor out, but straight back. A steep shoulder, short upper arm, a heavily muscled or loaded shoulder, or a very narrow shoulder, all of which restricts low free movement, should be strictly penalized. Forelegs straight, giving appearance of strength and substance of bone. Pasterns strong, slightly bent and flexible. Bowed legs, tied-in elbows, legs lacking substance, legs set far under the body so as to create an exaggerated forechest, weak or upright pasterns should be strictly penalized.	Shoulders long, well laid back with long, flat muscles. Loaded shoulders are a very serious fault. Forelegs straight and rather long, held in line with the shoulders and not set under the body so as to make a forechest. Elbows should turn neither in nor out and move freely with the point of the shoulder. Fair amount of bone, which should carry right down to the feet. Pasterns strong.
Body	Chest deep and capacious. Broad and square back, rather long, and slightly arched over the loin. Loin should be strong and powerful.	Chest very deep with plenty of heart room. Well filled in front. Brisket deep. Broad, well muscled back, firm, somewhat long, showing graceful arch over the loin but not humped. Ribs well sprung. Loin giving impression of strength and power. Definite tuck up.	Chest very deep with plenty of heart room, brisket deep, well defined. Broad well muscled back, firm, somewhat long. Topline showing a graceful arch over loin but the dog is not humped. Ribs well sprung. Loin giving impression of strength and power. Belly with definite tuck up.	The back is broad, firm and well muscled, having length over the loin. The backline runs smoothly from the withers with a graceful natural arch, not too accentuated, beginning over the loin and carrying through over the croup; the arch is continuous without flatness. A dip behind shoulder blades, wheelback, flat back, or a steep or flat croup, should be penalized. Brisket very deep, reaching as nearly as possible to the point of the elbow. Ribs well sprung, but with no suggestion of barrel shape. The space between the forelegs is filled in so that there is no appearance of a hollow between them. There is a definite tuckup of the underline. Length from forechest to buttocks equal to or slightly greater than height at the withers. Moderate bone throughout.	Back strong and powerful, rather long with a good, natural arch over the loin creating a definite tuck-up of the underline, but covering a lot of ground. Brisket very deep and strong, reaching as nearly as possible to the point of the elbow. Ribs well sprung but with no suggestion of barrel shape. Should fill in the space between the forelegs so that there is no appearance of a hollow between them.
Hindquarters	Strong and broad, across, stifles well bent, thighs broad and muscular, hocks well let down.	Strong, broad across the thighs, with well developed second thighs. Stifles well bent without exaggeration with hocks well let down. Able to stand naturally over a lot of ground.	Strong, broad across thighs, stifles well bent, hocks well let down, well developed second thighs, dog able to stand over a lot of ground.	Long and powerful. The thighs are broad and muscular, stifles well bent; muscles are long and flat and carry well down toward the hock. The hocks are well let down and close to the ground. Sickle or cow hocks should be strictly penalized.	Long and powerful, stifles well bent, hocks well let down and close to the ground. Thighs broad and muscular, the muscles should be long and flat. A steep croup is most undesirable.
Feet	Round, well split up, with strong soles.	Oval, well split up between toes, knuckles well arched, pads thick, nails strong.	Very neat, well split up between toes, knuckles well arched, pads thick and strong.	Both front and rear feet must be well formed with hard, thick pads. Feet more hare than cat, but both are acceptable. Flat, splayed or soft feet without thick hard pads should be strictly penalized. Toes should be long, close and well arched. Nails strong and naturally short or of moderate length. Dewclaws may be removed.	Feet must be well formed with strong, thick pads and well-knuckled up paws. A thin, flat open foot is a serious fault.
Tail	Long, tapering and nicely carried.	No feathering. Long, tapering, reaching at least to the hock. when in action carried in a delicate curve not higher than the back.	No feathering. Long, tapering, when in action carried in a delicate curve but not higher than the level of the back.	The tail long and tapering, reaching to at least the inside of the hock when measured down along the hind leg. When the dog is in motion, the tail is carried low with only a gentle upward curve; tail should not be carried higher than top of back.	Long and tapering, should reach to a hip bone when drawn through between the hind legs. Must not be carried higher than the top of the back when moving.
Gait / movement		Should possess great freedom of action. In profile should move with a long, easy stride whilst holding topline. The forelegs should be thrown forward and low over the ground. Hind legs should come well under the body giving great propelling power. General movement not to look stilted, high stepping, short or mincing. True coming and going.	Perfectly free action. In profile should move with a long easy stride, maintaining the topline. The forelegs should be thrown well forward and low over the ground, hindlegs should come well under the body giving great and powerful drive. General movement not to be stilted, high stepping, short or mincing. True coming and going.	Low, free moving and smooth, with reach in the forequarters and strong drive in the hindquarters. The dog has great freedom of action when viewed from the side; the forelegs move forward close to the ground to give a long, low reach; the hind legs have strong propelling power. When moving and viewed from front or rear, legs should turn neither in nor out, nor should feet cross or interfere with each other. Lack of front reach or rear drive, or a short, hackney gait with high wrist action should be strictly penalized. Crossing in front or moving too close should be strictly penalized.	Low, free moving and smooth, as long as is commensurate with the size of the dog. A short mincing gait with high knee action should be severely penalized.
Coat	Fine and close.	Fine, short, close in texture.	Fine, short, close in texture.	Short, close, smooth and firm in texture. Any other coat shall be a disqualification. Old scars and injuries, the result of work or accident, should not be allowed to prejudice the dog's chances in the show ring.	Close, smooth and firm in texture.
Colour	Black, red, white, brindle, fawn, blue and the various mixtures of each.	Any colour or mixture of colours.	Any colour or mixture of colours.	Colour immaterial.	Colour immaterial.
Size	Weight 20lb.	Desirable height: Dogs 47-51 cm (18½-20 ins) Bitches 44-47 cm (17½-18½ ins)	Height at the withers: Dogs 47-51 cm (18½-20 ins) Bitches 44-47 cm (17½-18½ ins)	Ideal height for dogs, 19 to 22 inches; for bitches, 18 to 21 inches, measured at the highest point of the withers. More than one-half inch above or below the stated limits will disqualify.	Ideal height for dogs 19 - 22 inches; for bitches, 18 - 21 inches. These are not intended to be definite limits, only approximate.
Faults		Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.	Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog. Eliminating faults: aggressive or overly shy.
Disqualifications		Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.	Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum. Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.	More than one-half inch above or below stated height limits. Blue eye(s), any portion of blue in the eye(s), eyes not of the same color. Undershot; overshot one-quarter inch or more. Any coat other than short, close, smooth and firm in texture.	An undershot mouth shall disqualify.