Are Whippets good in hot weather?
Whippets tolerate warm weather reasonably well. Sensible summer habits are still worth having in place before the first heatwave.
How Whippets handle the heat
The cooling problem
Whippets cool themselves through normal panting without the added handicap of a flat face or a heavy northern coat. A healthy dog of this type manages typical UK summers without much drama.
Practical summer management
Shift walks to early morning and late evening, and skip them entirely on the hottest days. Carry water on every outing, provide deep shade in the garden, and give access to cool floors indoors. The pavement test is simple: press the back of your hand to the ground for seven seconds, and if it is too hot for your hand it is too hot for paws.
Never leave any dog in a parked car, conservatory, or caravan, even briefly and even with a window open. Interior temperatures climb to lethal levels within minutes.
Exercise in warm weather
Whippets have moderate exercise needs, which makes summer easier to manage. It is straightforward to shift their activity into the cooler hours without leaving them under-exercised.
What temperature is too hot?
There is no single cutoff, because humidity, age, weight, and coat all matter. As a guide, take extra care above 20C and treat anything above 25C as high risk for any dog during exercise. When in doubt, keep them home and cool.
Personality and summer walks
The underrated gem of British dog breeds. Fast as lightning outdoors, perfectly calm and affectionate at home.
A gentle temperament tends to slow down sensibly in hot weather, resting rather than pushing through discomfort the way a more driven dog often will. Affectionate dogs want to stay close to their owner even in the heat, following them from room to room rather than settling alone on the coolest floor available. Sensitive dogs sometimes show early discomfort more visibly in hot weather, seeking shade or water sooner, which can act as a useful warning sign for an attentive owner.
Heat, training and behaviour
Teaching a dog to settle in the shade
Whippets respond reasonably well to basic settle training, which helps on hot days when the aim is simply to keep the dog calm and off its feet during the warmest hours.
Barking and restlessness in a heatwave
Whippets rarely bark much, so discomfort in hot weather is more likely to show as excessive panting or reluctance to move than as noise.
Family and other pets in a heatwave
Whippets generally do well around children, though hot weather adds a job for parents: making sure excitable play with kids in the garden does not run on longer than the dog can safely handle. A cat in the same household should have its own cool retreat well away from this breed, heat or no heat.
Cost and ageing in hot weather
Whippets typically live 12 to 15 years, and older dogs of any breed regulate heat less efficiently than a fit adult, so senior whippets need shorter, cooler outings and closer watching during a heatwave. Insurance for a Whippet in the UK typically costs about £25 to £55 a month, and heatstroke is exactly the kind of sudden, serious vet visit that cover exists for. A Whippet puppy, usually priced around £700 to £1800, overheats more easily than an adult dog as well, since puppies have less developed temperature regulation and tire without always showing it.
Full guide to Whippets
Read the complete Whippet guide →