CHAPTER
XIX The Whippet
from
Dogs and All About Them by Robert Leighton (Cassell
and Company, 1910)
FOR elegance of style, cleanliness
of habit, and graceful movement, few dogs can equal the Whippet,
for which reason his popularity as a companion has increased
very greatly within the past decade. No more affectionate
creature is to be found, yet he possesses considerable determination
and pluck, and on occasion will defend himself in his own
way.
Too fragile in his anatomy for fighting,
in the ordinary sense of the word, when molested, he will
" snap " at his opponent with such celerity as to
take even the most watchful by surprise ; while his strength
of jaw, combined with its comparatively great length, enables
him to inflict severe punishment at the first grab. It was
probably owing to this habit, which is common to all Whippets,
that they were orginally known as Snap-Dogs.
The Whippet existed as a separate breed
long before dog shows were thought of, and at a time when
records of pedigrees were not officially preserved ; but it
is very certain that the Greyhound had a share in his genealogical
history, for not only should his appearance be precisely that
of a Greyhound in miniature, but the purpose for which he
was bred is very similar to that for which his larger prototype
is still used, the only difference being that rabbits were
coursed by Whippets, and hares by Greyhounds.
This sport has been mainly confined
to the working classes, the colliers of Lancashire, Yorkshire,
Durham, and Northumberland being particularly devoted to it.
As a rule the contests are handicaps, the starting point of
each competitor being regulated by its weight ; but the winners
of previous important events are penalised in addition, according
to their presumed merit, by having a certain number of yards
deducted from the start to which weight alone would otherwise
have entitled them. Each dog is taken to its stipulated mark
according to the handicap, and there laid hold of by the nape
of the neck and hind-quarters ; the real starter stands behind
the lot, and after warning all to be ready, discharges a pistol,
upon which each attendant swings his dog as far forward as
he can possibly throw him, but always making sure that he
alights on his feet. The distance covered in the race is generally
200 yards, minus the starts allotted, and some idea of the
speed at which these very active little animals can travel
may be gleaned from the fact that the full distance has been
covered in rather under 12 seconds.
In
order to induce each dog to do its best, the owner, or more
probably the trainer stands beyond the winning post, and frantically
waves a towel or very stout rag. Accompanied by a babel of
noise, the race is started, and in less time than it takes
to write it the competitors reach the goal, one and all as
they finish taking a flying leap at their trainer's towel,
to which they hold on with such tenacity that they are swung
round in the air. The speed at which they are travelling makes
this movement necessary in many cases to enable the dog to
avoid accident, particularly where the space beyond the winning
mark is limited. For racing purposes there is a wide margin
of size allowed to the dogs, anything from 8 lbs. to 23 lbs.,
or even more, being eligible ; but in view of the handicap
terms those dogs which possess speed, and scale 9 to 12 lbs.
amongst the light-weight, and over 17 lbs. in the heavy ones,
are considered to have the best chance.
Probably
there is no locality where the pastime has maintained such
a firm hold as in and around Oldham, one of the most famous
tracks in the world being at Higginshaw, where not infrequently
three hundred dogs are entered in one handicap. The Borough
grounds at Oldham and the Wellington grounds at Bury are also
noted centres for races. It is a remarkable but well recognised
fact that bitches are faster than dogs, and in consequence
the terms upon which they are handicapped are varied. The
general custom is to allow a dog 2.5 to 3 yards advantage
for every pound difference in weight between it and the gentle
sex.
One
of the fastest dogs that ever ran was Collier Lad, but he
was almost a Greyhound as regards size. Whitefoot, whose owner
challenged the world, and was considered to be quite unbeatable,
was a Whippet in every sense of the word, and was a nice medium
weight, though probably Capplebank's time of 11.5 seconds
stands alone. The best of the present-day racing dogs are
Polly fro' Astley (15 lbs.) and Dinah (11 lbs), and of those
which promise well for the future, Eva, whose weight is only
9.75 lbs., is most prominent.
The training of Whippets is by no means
easy work, and is more expensive than most people imagine.
The very choicest food is deemed absolutely necessary, in
fact a Whippet undergoing preparation for an important race
is provided with the most wholesome fare. Choice mutton-chops,
beefsteaks and similar dainties comprise their daily portion.
Of course exercise is a necessity, but it is not considered
good policy to allow a dog in training to gambol about either
on the roads or in the fields. Indeed, all dogs which are
undergoing preparation for a race are practically deprived
of their freedom, in lieu of which they are walked along hard
roads secured by a lead ; and for fear of their picking up
the least bit of refuse each is securely muzzled by a box-like
leather arrangement which completely envelops the jaws, but
which is freely perforated to permit proper breathing. Any
distance between six and a dozen miles a day, according to
the stamina and condition of the dog, is supposed to be the
proper amount of exercise, and scales are brought into use
every few days to gauge the effect which is being produced.
In addition to this private trials are necessary in the presence
of someone who is accustomed to timing races by the aid of
a stop-watch- a by no means easy task, considering that a
slight particle of a second means so many yards, and the average
speed working out at about i6 yards per second-nearly twice
as fast as the fastest pedestrian sprinter, and altogether
beyond the power of the fleetest race-horse.
Colour in the Whippet is absolutely
of no importance to a good judge, though possibly what is
known as the peach fawn is the favourite among amateur fanciers.
Red fawns, blue or slate coloured, black, brindled of various
shades, and these colours intermingled with white, are most
to be met with, however. In some quarters the idea is prevalent
that Whippets are delicate in their constitution, but this
is a popular error. Probably their disinclination to go out
of doors on their own initiative when the weather is cold
and wet may account for the opinion, but given the opportunity
to roam about a house the Whippet will find a comfortable
place, and will rarely ail anything. In scores of houses Whippets
go to bed with the children, and are so clean that even scrupulous
housewives take no objection to their finding their way under
the clothes to the foot of the bed, thereby securing their
own protection and serving as an excellent footwarmer in the
winter months.
Probably
in no other breed, except the Greyhound, do judges attach
so little importance to the shape of the head ; so long as
the jaws are fairly long and the colour of the eyes somewhat
in keeping with that of the body, very little else is looked
for in front of the ears. As in the case of racing competitors,
really good dogs for show purposes are much more difficult
to find than bitches. The best of the males are not so classical
in outline as the females, though some of them are as good
in legs and feet-points which are of the greatest importance.
Though it is not quite in accordance with the standard laid
down by the club, it will be found that most judges favour
dogs which are about 17 lbs. weight, and bitches which are
between 15 lbs. and 16 lbs., the 20 lbs. mentioned in the
standard of points, without variation for sex being considered
altogether too heavy. Appearances are sometimes deceptive,
but these dogs are rarely weighed for exhibition purposes,
the trained eye of the judge being sufficient guide to the
size of the competitors according to his partiality for middle-size,
big, or little animals.
The South Durham and Yorkshire Show
at Darlington has the credit for first introducing classes
for Whippets into the prize ring. Previous to this it had
not long been generally recognised as a distinct breed, and
it is within the last twenty years that the Kennel Club has
placed the breed on its recognised list.
The following is the standard of points
adopted by the Whippet Club :
Head-Long and lean, rather wide between the eyes and flat
on the top ; the jaw powerful yet cleanly cut ; the teeth
level and white. Eyes-Bright and fiery. Ears-Small, fine in
texture and rose shape. Neck-Long and muscular, elegantly
arched and free from throatiness. Shoulders-Oblique and muscular.
Chest-Deep and capacious. Back-Broad and square, rather long
and slightly arched over the loin, which should be strong
and powerful. Fore-legs-Rather long, well set under the dog,
possessing a fair amount of bone. Hind-quartersStrong and
broad across stifles, well bent thighs, broad and muscular
; hocks well let down. Feet-Round, well split up, with strong
soles. Coat-Fine and close. Colour-Black, red, white, brindle,
fawn, blue, and the various mixtures of each. Weight-Twenty
pounds. |
