How long does a Whippet live?

The listed lifespan for a Whippet is 12–15 years.

How tall is a Whippet?

The listed height for a Whippet is 19–22 in (male), 18–21 in (female).

Is a Whippet good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Whippet is 5 out of 5.

What is the energy level of a Whippet?

The AKC energy score for a Whippet is 4 out of 5.

Hound Group

Whippet

Whippet is a medium dog in the Hound Group. Adult weight is 25–40 lb, height is 19–22 in (male), 18–21 in (female), and the listed lifespan is 12–15 years. AKC describes the temperament as Playful, Affectionate, Calm.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Whippet dog — Photo: Winky , Vancouver, Canada · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan12–15 years

Weight25–40 lb

SizeMedium GroupHound Group

Height

19–22 in (male), 18–21 in (female)

Energy

4 / 5

Shedding

2 / 5

Grooming

1 / 5

Trainability

3 / 5

Good with kids

5 / 5

The breed record

Across 59 single-size medium breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 13.5 years is about the same as the 13.3-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 32.5 lb is about 1.6 lb lighter than the 34.1 lb average for those medium breeds.

The listed origin is England. The coat is described as smooth, short. The AKC energy score is 4 out of 5, 0.3 points above the group average of 3.7 for the Hound Group. Shedding scores 2 out of 5, so loose hair is limited. Grooming scores 1 out of 5, so home brushing covers most weeks. Trainability scores 3 out of 5. Good with children scores 5 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 5 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 48 in 2025.

AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Cardiac Exam, Ophthalmologist Evaluation, and BAER Testing. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

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