Let us have a look at a new designer crossbreed of Pitbull and Whippet.
The Whippet Pitbull mix is a crossbreed of powerful Pitbull and racing dog Whippet. They are good companion dogs who are highly loyal and energetic.
While they have a short coat and are easier to groom, you need to set time apart for their training and exercise needs.
Whippet Pitbull Mix Specifications
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Height | 18 – 21 inches |
| Weight | 25 – 60 pounds |
| Coat color | Fawn, black, grey, blue merle, white |
| Eye color | Blue, brown, black, amber |
| Coat type | Short, smooth |
| Temperament | Kind, loving, athletic, quiet |
| Lifespan | 8 – 15 years |
Whippet Pitbull Mix Appearance
The Pitbull and Whippet mix dog breed is rare to find. But when you do get a glimpse of them, you can easily identify the features from parent dog breeds Whippet and Pitbull.
This dog bears many physical features from the parent Pitbull. At the face and ears, Pitbull traits often come into play. This includes a wide muzzle with a large nose at the end, circular eyes, and a thick muscular neck.
You can also easily identify the slim, narrow-body frame and structure of a pure-breed Whippet.
Together these features make for a carefully crafted body that performs at the highest level.
No activity will prove to be too much for this animal. With the speed of the Whippet and the muscle of the Pitbull, he will require a large yard to unleash his athletic superpowers.
They are high-energy dogs that love the outdoors but also love being indoors cuddling or playing along with you.
Temperament
The Whippet Pitbull mixes are a protective and loyal dog breed. They live with the sole purpose of protecting and accompanying their owner.
Showing the best traits of their intelligent parents; friendly, quiet, and gentle, they are compliant. Their temperament is based on several factors such as heredity, training, and socialization.
The Pitwhip needs to be socialized with other animals (dogs, cats) and people from an early age. This allows him to experience as much as possible.
Experience with people, environments, and situations will make him smarter and better adapted.
The Pitwhip is a people-pleasing dog, which makes it perfect for families with older children and senior dogs. He adapts to families well but can be stubborn when he wants to. Thus, obedience training is a must for him.
If you are getting a Whippet Pitbull mix puppy, he will do well with kids. But as with most dogs, they suffer from separation anxiety and should not be left alone.
You should note that they are not outdoor dogs, they would prefer to be inside along with you. Being inside in controlled weather also helps as they are sensitive to temperature changes.
Coat Color
Pitwhip coat can vary in density and color, depending on the parent’s genes. Also, he can have patches of other colors. This makes him get a bi-color or tri-color appearance on his coat.
Common colors often seen in Whippet Pitbull mix are:
White- Full white coats are hard to see. Instead, they are seen in combination with two or three other colors like black or brown.
Fawn- Fawn is a popular color appearing in a range of shades. It is a combination of light yellow and tan. This color does suit the streamlined body of the Whippet and Pitbull mix.
Blue merle- This color is on par with some of the rarest dog coat colors and patterns. It is unique for its grey-blue mixture. It can be found in combination with brindle markings.
Black– Black is a color no dog owner will turn down. It emphasizes the muscles of the dog. Luckily, it is one of the most common colors in this breed.
Brindle – It is rare yet possible to find brindle markings on the Whippet Pitbull mix.
Grey- It is common to see Pitbull mix dogs sporting this color. This is simply because the Pitbull bears this shade occasionally, hence making it a genetic trait.
Common Health issues of a Pitbull Whippet mix
This is a new and rare designer crossbreed so not much is known about them. With the genes of Pitbull and Whippet, we would suggest you be watchful of the diseases below
- Elbow dysplasia
- Hip dysplasia
- Hypothyroidism
- Bloat
Grooming
Pitwhips have a short coat and do not shed hair excessively. They are easy to groom and weekly brushing should be enough to keep their coat clean.
A pet grooming glove can just be the right tool for him compared to other regular brushes that might be too rough for their skin.
Whippet Pitbull mix is good news for people searching for a low maintenance pet dog. You will not have to worry about cleaning up dog hair on your furniture! This leaves more time for cuddles and play.
Unfortunately, there are some disadvantages as well associated with dogs having a short hair coat. They may be vulnerable to cold weather and prone to sustain injuries like nicks, tears, scratches, and insect bites that could require medical attention.
It is best to meticulously inspect his body every day after playing outside. If there are any injuries, clean them and make sure they do not turn septic, this leads to infection which is serious.
Grooming should be a calm loving positive experience for your Pitwhip and you that would help develop the bonding. Cuddle him, talk to him softly, shower him with love and praise.
Maintaining hygiene and well-being
Brush his teeth 2 or 3 times a week to get rid of the tartar build up, it also avoids bad breath and gum disease.
Bathing your dog is an essential part of grooming, as it keeps all fleas and tick-borne diseases at bay. As for the frequency of bathing, do it only when needed.
Handle your dog’s feet routinely and examine his nails, if his nails click on the floor, they are too long.
The long nails could hurt you or the children when you play along with him. They could also prevent your dog from walking properly.
Training
One drawback of this dog breed is that they are known for a drive to chase smaller creatures. They have a high prey drive due to Whippet and Pitbull genes.
It is mandatory to do obedience training with them. This will help to keep them in your control and prevent any accidents.
Training a Pitbull whippet mix will not be a walk in the park! Removing the natural instincts and rapid reflexes of this Pitwhip will be long and tiring, but definitely rewarding.
Positive reinforcement techniques work better with them. Avoid being too gentle, remember this is for his own good!
Exercise
Let your Pitwhip run free and burn all his energy, or else he will become destructive in the house. He may also become obese if regular exercise is not provided.
Both his parents are highly energetic dogs with high exercise requirements and he inherits the same traits.
Take him for a walk down the road to get some air and see new surroundings. We would suggest daily hour-long walks with sufficient playtime.
How much to feed a Whippet Pitbull mix?
How much you feed your dog depends on its size, age, activity level, and metabolism. A dog that is active all day would obviously need more food than an inactive dog.
Food and exercise go side by side. A healthy athletic figure requires both good food and high exercise at the same time.
Feed your dog high-calorie dog food to keep his energy levels up. His health will be boosted when supplied with the appropriate levels of minerals and nutrients. This is especially true for a Pitwhip puppy.
Stick with the recommended food allowance, or your dog will become obese. We would recommend 1.5 to 2.5 cups of dry dog food split into two meals.
Should you get a Whippet Pitbull Mix puppy?
It is easy to understand why dog fans would want to own one of these amazing loving dogs. But sadly, the Pitwhip is not for everyone.
While they are low-maintenance dogs who are easier to groom but you should be ready to invest your time in training and exercise. They are not apartment-friendly dogs.
The Pitwhip dog breed requires:
- A patient experienced owner
- Owners with enough time to train them
- Positive methods that encourage him
- A decent sized yard/garden
- House with grown-up children
- Lots of support!
If you can provide the required surroundings and care, the Whippet Pitbull mix is the perfect pet for you. Fun-loving, energetic, and loyal companion. He is the best dog you could ask to form a strong companion bond with you.
Origins
Let us have a closer look at the parent breeds of Whippet Pitbull mix.
Whippet
Whippets are sighthound dogs who were bred from greyhounds as shorter and cheaper racing dogs. They used to help in hunting by chasing small prey like rabbits in their sight instead of the smell.
They are highly active medium-sized dogs who need a fenced yard to burn out their energy.
With their hound traits, they do have a strong prey drive and may chase small animals. They are good companion dogs who are friendly, gentle, and playful.
Pitbull
The history of the Pitbull dates to the 1800s in the United Kingdom. They were bred as a crossbreed of the English bulldog and Terrier group of dogs.
Idea was to develop a dog breed having the strength of a Pitbull and the agility of a terrier for hunting games like bull baiting. For this reason, they became popular as Pitbull.
In contrast to the negative media coverage as an aggressive dog, Pitbull do well as a companion dog. It is not the dog who is bad, it is the owner’s neglect and bad training that can cause accidents.
With their powerful and muscular body, obedience and socialization is a must and if they get the same, you will get a good companion who is eager to please you.
Want to know more about Pitbull size, have a look – https://yourdogsworld.com/b/big-pitbull-size-weight-height/
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