Are you thinking about welcoming a Whippet into your home? If so, congratulations! Whippets are a wonderfully affectionate, cuddly breed of dog that makes a wonderful addition to the family. While you might be confident about their temperament, perhaps you have questions as to how big Whippets get. Anytime you consider a potential canine companion, it’s important to think about the size they can potentially reach throughout their lifetime. While almost every breed starts out relatively small as a puppy, we all know that puppies grow into dogs, seemingly in the blink of an eye.
So, exactly how big do Whippets get to be? On average, male Whippets stand between 19 to 22 inches tall from paw to shoulder and weigh in around 35 to 40 pounds. Female Whippets are a little smaller in stature, reaching between 18 to 22 inches in height and averaging 28 to 33 pounds.
If you are wondering how big do Whippets get, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we will not only discuss how big whippets get to be, but we will also talk about the average weight of a Whippet depending upon its age, as well as what age you can expect your Whippet to stop growing. We will also talk about whether or not the Whippet is considered to be a large dog breed and its overall body structure and size. Check out the information below if you’re interested in learning all about this friendly dog breed.
How Big do Whippets Get?
Similar in appearance to a small-sized Greyhound, the Whippet has a slender, muscular body that is made for speed and agility. They were bred to chase small prey, such as rabbits and rodents.
Particularly in their younger months, they may look abnormally slender, as it can take a while for them to grow into their bodies.
They don’t have a lot of body fat, so they don’t tolerate cold temperatures well. They love to seek out warm places, and will certainly need to wear a jacket if you live in a place with cold weather.
They love to play chase and require a lot of exercises, but they also love a good cuddle session as well! Whippets are social dogs, so they love being close to you. They’re also known for their affinity to help themselves to a spot beside you on your sofa, or in your bed.
As adults, Whippets are small enough where you don’t have to have a huge amount of space to accommodate them, yet still large enough to satisfy those who prefer larger canine companions. They can even be a good match for you if you live in an apartment, as long as you’re sure to give them plenty of chances to run and play.
On average, they need to exercise about 3 times a day. These dogs love to run and play, and they can sometimes exhaust themselves when they get too into their playtime. Therefore, it’s important to be sure they always have access to lots of clean drinking water.
Also, be sure to pay attention to signs that your Whippet is getting tired. Particularly when they are puppies, they should exercise for no more than 25 minutes at a time.
Generally speaking, male Whippets are larger than their female counterparts, although of course there are exceptions to this. Male Whippets usually reach their full size by fourteen months of age, while females stop growing a little bit earlier, around the one-year-old mark. They grow particularly fast in the first six to eight months of their lives, where their size and weight almost double in number.
You might notice that your Whippet grows in spurts. He or she may grow quite a bit during their third or fourth month, then slow down until six months when they hit another growth spurt.
Of course, every Whippet is an individual, and thus there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to how big they get. How tall a Whippet ends up and how much it will ultimately weigh can be influenced by a number of factors, including the Whippet’s genetics, overall general health, and diet.
One of the best ways to give your Whippet the best start possible early on in life is to pay close attention to their diet. Offer lots of high-quality, high-protein food choices, and be aware that their appetite may increase during times when they are experiencing a growth spurt.
When fully grown, male Whippets usually weigh anywhere from 35-40 pounds and stand between 19-22 inches tall. Adult female Whippets have an average weight of 28-33 pounds and are anywhere from 18 -22 inches tall. As with their weight, Whippets reach their full adult height between twelve and fourteen months of age.
Is Whippet a Large Breed?
No, the Whippet is not considered a large breed dog.
In order to be considered a large breed dog, the canine must have an average weight of over 45 pounds, whereas small breed dogs are usually less than 20 pounds.
Thus, the Whippet is considered a medium-sized dog breed, not too big, and not too small! The Whippet finds itself in good company amongst other medium-sized dog breeds, such as the Beagle, Border Collie, Corgi, Basset Hound, or Labrador Retriever.
Generally speaking, Whippets and many other medium-sized dog breeds are known for their family-friendly dispositions. They enjoy spending time with the people they love, and form a strong bond with their family unit.
Medium-sized dog breeds like the Whippet are referred to sometimes as the “Goldilocks of dogs” because they’re just the right size for many individuals and families. They require less living space than larger breeds, are less expensive to feed and tend to have longer life spans and fewer health problems, at least in general.
Additionally, Whippets and other medium-sized dogs are great companions for those with active lifestyles, as they’re big enough to go on runs or hikes without getting easily tired, so you don’t really have to worry about needing to carry them. Unlike some larger dog breeds, a Whippet, however, can easily jump in the car and even stretch out when it’s time to go home!
Whippet Weight by Age Chart
Below is a table that illustrates both the male and female Whippet’s average weight by age. While these figures are only averages, the tables give you a good idea as to what you can expect in terms of what your Whippet will weigh throughout their lives.
The table below helps illustrate how quickly your Whippet can be expected to grow, particularly in the first eight months of life. The chart only goes up to fourteen months of age, as most Whippets have reached their full adult size by this time.
| Age | Male | Female |
| 3 months | 11-13 pounds | 9-12 pounds |
| 4 months | 15-17 pounds | 13-15 pounds |
| 5 months | 17-22 pounds | 15-19 pounds |
| 6 months | 21-25 pounds | 17-22 pounds |
| 7 months | 23-29 pounds | 18-24 pounds |
| 8 months | 25-30 pounds | 22-26 pounds |
| 9 months | 28-32 pounds | 23-27 pounds |
| 10 months | 30-33 pounds | 24-29 pounds |
| 11 months | 30-35 pounds | 25-30 pounds |
| 12 months | 30-36 pounds | 26-33 pounds |
| 13 months | 30-36 pounds | 26-33 pounds |
| 14 months | 30-40 pounds | 26-33 pounds |
At What Age Do Whippets Stop Growing?
Typically speaking, Whippets reach their adult size and stop growing between twelve and fourteen months of age. Males typically keep growing until closer to fourteen months of age, while females tend to stop growing around a year old. Some larger female Whippets will continue to grow until they’re fourteen months old.
Whippets grow most quickly in the first eight months of their lives. The fact that they grow so quickly during this time period makes it essential for them to be fed a high protein, quality diet to fuel their bodies.
As a general rule, the larger a Whippet will be, the longer it takes for them to reach their full size and to stop growing. After the twelve-month mark, it can take a few more months for the shoulders to relax where the Whippet’s final adult height can be accurately measured.
As we’ve discussed above, Whippets are a very thin dog breed in general, so if you live in a colder environment, purchasing them a jacket for outside activities is essential. Knowing when your Whippet has reached their full adult size is important for being able to determine the right size coat to buy.