Whippets are low maintenance when it comes to keeping their coats looking good. A weekly brush is all it takes to keep on top of things, although a daily brush is a good idea to check for any injuries or wounds that could turn nasty if not caught in time. It's important to use softer brushes when grooming a Whippet because their skin is so delicate and sensitive.
It's also important to check a dog's ears on a regular basis and to clean them when necessary. If too much wax is allowed to build up in a dog's ears, it can lead to a painful infection which can be hard to clear up. In short, prevention is often easier than cure when it comes to ear infections.
Whippets are athletic dogs that need at least an hour's exercise a day and it has to be something more than just a sedate walk in the park. A shorter walk in the morning is fine, but they need a longer and more exciting walk in the afternoon to be truly happy and healthy dogs. Once a Whippet has been given enough exercise, they are quite happy to relax and curl up in their beds.
Because they are so prone to injuries and fractures, it's best not to let a Whippet run free over rougher ground. They are much happier and safer when they are allowed to let off steam on even ground. With this said, young Whippet puppies should not be given too much exercise because their joints and bones are still growing and too much pressure on them could result in causing a dog a few problems later on in their lives.
If you get a Whippet puppy from a breeder, they would give you a feeding schedule and it's important to stick to the same routine, feeding the same puppy food to avoid any tummy upsets. You can change a puppy's diet, but this needs to be done very gradually always making sure they don't develop any digestive upsets and if they do, it's best to put them back on their original diet and to discuss things with the vet before attempting to change it again.
Older dogs are not known to be fussy or finicky eaters, but this does not mean you can feed them a lower quality diet. It's best to feed a mature Whippet twice a day, once in the morning and then again in the evening, making sure it's good quality food that meets all their nutritional requirements. It's also important that dogs be given the right amount of exercise so they burn off any excess calories or they might gain too much weight which can lead to all sorts of health issues. Obesity can shorten a dog's life by several years so it's important to keep an eye on their waistline from the word go.
