How Much Do Whippets Shed? An Insight into Whippet Shedding

If you’ve read any of my other posts, you’ll know that Whippets are a superb dog for families. And while they are ideal home dogs, I recognise that many potential owners will want to know how much Whippets shed.

In this article I’m going to discuss Whippet coats and hopefully answer any concerns you have about how much Whippets shed fur.

Firstly I’ll provide a little information about their coats and then I’ll move on to Whippet shedding.

At the end of this I’ll touch a little on grooming.

Whippet Coats

Whippets are a short haired-dog breed. Unlike some breeds that have a double layer of fur, Whippets have a single coat of short hairs that are packed together close to its body. This gives the Whippet it’s characteristic silky slick look.

I often think that a Whippet’s coat is seal-like as a consequence… which is reinforced whenever I give my Whippet a bath!

Because a Whippet’s coat is so thin, it doesn’t offer much in the way of protection This makes Whippets prone to pick up scratches and grazes… and in worse cases, cuts.

I speak from experience here, which I’ll write about at some point when I can get to it!

Since Whippet fur is short, their coats tend not to get dirty quickly (unless it’s wet and mucky outside). Neither does their fur ever seem to become oily or smelly like some longer haired breeds.

Furthermore, Whippets keep themselves very clean. They look after their coats with regular self-grooming… in fact they’re like cats in that respect.

Do Whippets Shed Much Fur?

All dogs shed fur and Whippets are no exception. But do Whippets shed a lot? Do they shed more fur than other dogs?

There’s no doubt that some breeds shed more than others. Longer haired dogs definitely leave more proof of this lying around the house than shorter haired breeds!

Whippets do shed fur… but in my experience not much. Of course there will be some variance even within the Whippet family, and obviously Whippet mixes will shed in a different way depending upon the cross.

We often remark that if our Whippet was out on a walk and we had a guest come around, they’d never know we had a dog, because with our Whippet there’s:

• No doggy smell.
• Very little fur shed over the home… even in the soft armchair where our Whippet spends most of her time!

There are certain times of the year when Whippets shed slightly more, such as at the beginning of autumn and spring (seasonal shedding). However, even at these times our Whippet still sheds fur at an very minimal rate.

If you’re looking for a dog that doesn’t shed… good luck because they all do!

If you want a breed that doesn’t shed much, then a Whippet might be just the right dog for you.

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Whippet Grooming: Can You Limit How Much Fur Whippets Shed?

You most certainly can reduce the amount of fur Whippets shed if it bothers you or if your Whippet sheds more than the norm.

The principal way to reduce Whippet shedding is to groom them… but this will be a very low maintenance task for the majority of Whippet owners.

Did you know… you can actually use a vacuum on dogs for a quick groom!

For the most part Whippets need minimal grooming. Since they’re short haired and single coated, shedding isn’t as big a deal as it is for some dogs.

A few minutes of gentle grooming each week is normally sufficient to reduce the amount of fur your Whippet sheds and should help keep its coat in tip-top condition. It’ll also mean that your Whippet will only ever leave small amounts of fur on your furniture during seasonal shedding.

Whippets love soft and cosy furniture I’m afraid!

Aside from reducing shedding, grooming has additional benefits:

• It helps to spread your Whippet’s naturally protecting oils evenly around its coat.
• Most Whippets I know seem to love the sensation.
• It strengthens the bond between you and your Whippet.

Whippet Grooming Mitts on Amazon

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Does Bathing Stop Whippets Shedding?

Bathing is important for the overall health of your Whippet’s fur. But being short-haired and almost naturally predisposed to a clean coat, you shouldn’t bathe your Whippet just to reduce shedding.

As I mentioned earlier, Whippet fur tends not to trap dirt and smells, and they don’t require extensive bathing.

In fact we only wash our Whippet Misty every two to three weeks (sometimes even longer than that) unless:

• The weather’s bad and we take her somewhere mucky.
• She decides to roll in something unmentionable!

Want to know more about Whippets? Check out my Whippet dog breed information page to find out everything about this lovely creature!

What About Whippet Shedding and Allergies?

I’m not a veterinary expert but all dogs shed and as a consequence none are 100% hypoallergenic.

Although Whippets shed fur to a lesser degree than many other breeds, they still produce dander, which of course also affects allergy sufferers.

That said, the amount of fur Whippets shed is likely to cause less of a problem to those sensitive to pet fur and dander… but that doesn’t mean they won’t still suffer from their allergies whenever they’re around Whippets.

Related Post: Are Whippets Hypoallergenic?

Summary

How much an individual Whippet sheds its fur can vary, but as a short-haired and single coated breed, they don’t shed very much.

You can minimise how much Whippets shed by grooming and occasional bathing. This will help to reduce how much fur they leave around your home.

In my experience, I can honestly say that shedding has never been a problem at all. Yes, we occasionally have to vacuum the chair where my Whippet mainly sits, but not because it’s completely covered by the fur she’s shed… it’s just that we can see it.

I can compare my Whippet’s shedding to a friend’s dog, a labrador, and the difference is enormous. She’s a lovely creature but there’s a fur trail wherever she goes.

Whippet’s don’t shed like this at all!

Do you have any thoughts or comments on how much Whippets shed? I’d love for you to share your experience so please leave a comment below.