Buying a Whippet Puppy
What to expect from a breeder who puts Health, Welfare and Temperament first.
Essential Documents
- Heath Certificates (both parents)
- Signed AWF Puppy Contract
- KC Registration Certificate (if applicable)
- Microchip Registration Certificate
- Temporary Pet Health Insurance
- Vaccination Certificate
A Good Breeder Will:
- have socialised and habituated the puppy
- provide a supply of food
- provide a blanket smelling of Mum
- follow the Code of Practice for Dog Breeding
Official Health Schemes
- BVA/KC eye scheme – DBRG recommends that all dogs should be visually examined for inherited eye disease before breeding
- available for all breeds, and checks for many inherited abnormalities that can cause progressive blindness or pain
Other Diseases
No current health scheme or DNA test available.
- Autoimmune diseases
- various types
- Endocrine diseases
- various types
- Heart disease
- various types, including abnormalities of the mitral or pulmonic heart valves and cardiomyopathy (progressive disease of the heart muscle)
DNA Tests Relevant to Breed
- Some laboratories offer DNA tests for rare inherited diseases that might occur in Whippets
Other Tests
- Whippets should have their hearts examined by a specialist veterinary cardiologist before breeding