Dog · Medium Breed
Whippet Age Calculator
Use this Whippet age calculator to convert dog years to human years. You can also check the average Whippet lifespan, adult weight range, growth chart, feeding guide, and breed facts in one place.
Quick Answer
Whippet facts at a glance
Average lifespan
12-15 years
Adult weight
7-14 kg
Fully grown
12-15 months
The Calculator
How old is your Whippet in human years?
At 1 year old
Your Whippet is approximately 16 in human years.
Field Notes
Whippet Lifespan, Size, and Care
Whippets were developed in England in the 18th and 19th centuries, likely from small Greyhounds crossed with terrier-type dogs. They became popular with working-class families for rabbit coursing and informal racing, earning a reputation as the "poor man's racehorse." Today, they are valued both as athletic competitors and as quiet, elegant family pets.
In temperament, Whippets are usually sweet, sensitive, and deeply attached to their people. They tend to be gentle with respectful children and often do well in calm households, but they can be reserved with strangers. Because they are sighthounds, many have a strong prey drive and may instinctively chase small animals if not securely contained.
Care for a Whippet is generally straightforward, but they do best with soft bedding, a warm environment, and kind, consistent handling. Their thin coat and low body fat make them more sensitive to cold than many other breeds, so a sweater or coat may be needed in cool weather. Routine dental care, portion control, and regular veterinary checkups are important to keep them healthy and lean.
Whippets need daily exercise, but not endless activity. Most thrive with a combination of walks, free running in a safely fenced area, and short bursts of sprinting, followed by plenty of rest. They are often excellent house dogs when their exercise needs are met, but off-leash time should only happen in secure spaces because they can sprint after moving objects in an instant.
Temperament
Exercise Needs
moderate
Health Watch
- Cardiac arrhythmias and other heart disease
- Progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts
- Deafness
- Dental disease
- Muscle and soft-tissue injuries
Grooming
Whippets have a short, smooth coat that needs only occasional brushing and routine nail, ear, and dental care.
Growth Curve
Whippet weight chart
Typical weight progression from young to adult. The tinted band marks the healthy adult range. 7-14 kg.
Nutrition, Staged
Whippet Feeding Guide
Use this Whippet feeding guide as a starting point for common life stages, then adjust for body condition, activity, and veterinary advice.
Formative years
Young
Feed a complete growth formula in 3 to 4 measured meals per day, adjusting portions to body condition, expected adult size, and the food label. Choose a formula appropriate for the puppy's projected adult size, growth rate, and veterinary guidance.
Peak years
Adult
Feed a complete adult diet in measured meals, usually split into 2 feedings per day, and adjust the portion to weight, activity level, and body condition. Recheck portions whenever exercise, treats, or neuter status changes.
Mature years
Senior
Use a senior or calorie-controlled diet when weight gain, lower activity, or age-related conditions appear, and monitor appetite, stool quality, and muscle mass closely. Smaller measured meals can help if dental disease, digestive sensitivity, or medication schedules change the routine.
Questions, Answered
On the Whippet
That depends on the pet's actual age. Use the calculator above to estimate a Whippet's age in human years using the method shown on this page.
Most Whippets live 12-15 years, although genetics, diet, body condition, husbandry, and preventive care all influence the real outcome.
A full grown Whippet usually weighs 7-14 kg, though sex, lineage, and body condition can move an individual above or below the average range.
Most Whippets are close to full size around 12-15 months, although growth rate and final build vary from one pet to another.
Use the feeding guide above as a starting point, then adjust for age, body condition, activity, and your veterinarian's recommendations.
Yes, Whippets are often excellent family dogs because they are affectionate, gentle, and usually calm indoors. They tend to bond closely with their people and often enjoy cuddling, though they do best with respectful handling and a quieter home environment.
Whippets are not usually heavy barkers and are often considered one of the quieter breeds. They may alert to something unusual, but most are fairly peaceful indoors and not prone to constant vocalizing.
Whippets need daily exercise, but their needs are moderate rather than extreme. A couple of walks plus chances to safely run and stretch out at speed are ideal, and many are very content to relax for the rest of the day afterward.
Yes, Whippets can do very well in apartments as long as they get regular daily exercise and mental stimulation. Their calm indoor nature makes them surprisingly suitable for smaller homes, but they still need opportunities to run in a secure area.
Yes, Whippets get cold easily because they have a very short coat and relatively little body fat. In cool or wet weather, many benefit from a sweater or coat, and they generally prefer warm, comfortable sleeping spots indoors.
Adjacent Breeds
Breeds often compared with Whippet
mediumRelated breed · size and lifespan prioritized
Basenji
mediumRelated breed · size and lifespan prioritized
Bedlington Terrier
mediumRelated breed · size and lifespan prioritized
Border Collie
mediumRelated breed · size and lifespan prioritized