Whippets, or the ‘Lightning Rag Dog’ as they are sometimes known, are fun, intelligent, and incredibly loving dogs – regardless of their type of coat and markings.
If you are purchasing (or perhaps even adopting?) a Whippet, you may be curious to know what colours they come in, whether you plan to show them or simply keep them as a beloved pet.
In this guide, we’ll discuss all the main colours that Whippets can come in, the most prized colours, and why you can expect to pay that bit more for a dog with a rarer coloured coat.
Whippets are known for their sleek, athletic build and graceful movement, and they come in a variety of beautiful coat colours. The most common shades include fawn, blue, black, and brindle, each showcasing the breed’s elegance.
Fawn Whippets have a warm, light tan colour, while blue Whippets present a striking silvery-grey hue. Black Whippets offer a classic and sophisticated look, and brindle Whippets feature a mix of dark stripes over a lighter base, creating a unique pattern. Additionally, Whippets can have white markings, often on the chest or paws, adding to their charm.
Whippets can come in a whole host of colours, including various combinations, including:
However, we will discuss the 3 most notable colours below.
Black Whippets have, unsurprisingly, black fur. But, there are two different types; some Whippets can come completely black while others will be primarily black with other coloured markings. While they aren’t particularly rare colours, prospective Whippet owners may have a slightly harder time finding an entirely black Whippet than one with predominantly black colouring combined with other markings.
Black Whippets are purebred and, therefore, slightly rarer these days.
The great thing about black Whippets is they won’t appear as dirty-looking as some of the other colours, and while these guys only need an occasional bath anyway to get rid of loose hair and dirt, you might get away with bathing a black Whippet less often!
We say might – it depends on what they’ve been rolling in.
The term ‘Blue’ might be confusing for some when, in fact, it’s closer in colour to a very dark, almost – but not quite – black. It is a rare colour amongst the breed. Even breeding two blue Whippets will not always result in even one pup in the litter having the same colour coat.
The fawn Whippet is a beauty that needs to be seen in the flesh to appreciate fully. Displaying cream or beige colours, some of these Whippets will also have cute markings on their head, chest and paws. These colour combinations are much more common than a Whippet-coloured fully fawn.
The Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) states on their website that: Any colour or mixture of colours, except merle is recognised in Whippets as the breed standard.
There is a wide variety of Whippet colours out there, many more than we could ever hope to discuss in this article. From blue brindle, white, black, fawn brindle, cream and more, there is such a choice available to choose from with this healthy breed.
Some colours are considered to be that of a purebred Whippet, while others are not recognised by particular Kennel Clubs. But many Whippet lovers don’t mind this small detail one bit!
But, whichever Whippet colours you decide on, you can almost be guaranteed to have a low-maintenance dog with a loving temperament.
Just remember that rare colours cost quite a bit more, on average. This is basically due to supply and demand!
A Whippet puppy may display some brindle markings when they are younger and lose this as they begin to age into adults. Not all will, however, and some will retain their brindle colouring into adulthood.
Deciding on which Whippet colours you would like can be a difficult process, but we hope this article has been helpful in explaining a bit more about the different colours that are out there.
If you wish, you could get in contact with one or two responsible breeders in your area who would be able to give you lots more information about their knowledge of purebred Whippets and the multitude of colours that they come in.
But, regardless of your Whippet’s colours, ensure you feed them high-quality dog food, allow them to maintain a healthy weight, address any health concerns immediately, and give them plenty of exercise and, of course, cuddles.
Do this, and you’ll have a happy, contented companion for a long time to come, no matter its colours!
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