Whippet.

Whippet. Whippet, breed of hound that hunts by sight, not by scent. The breed originated in England in the early 19th century from a cross between the English greyhound and various breeds of terriers, the product of which was later crossed with the Italian greyhound. The whippet was first recognized as a show breed in 1891. The dog was formerly used as a rat killer and for rabbit coursing, but currently is valued as a pet and for racing. Among the speediest domestic animals, the whippet can run as fast as 56 km/h (35 mph). Although delicate and almost fragile in appearance, the whippet is a strong and vigorous animal. The dog has a long, lean head, fairly wide between the ears; small, finely textured ears, thrown back and folded; alert eyes, dark hazel in color; a long, muscular neck; a deep and wide chest; long, tapering legs; powerful hindquarters; and a long, tapering tail. It has a smooth, firm coat, which may be of any number of colors. The whippet weighs about 9 kg (about 20 lb); the male is between 48 and 56 cm (19 and 22 in) in height and the female between 46 and 53 cm (18 and 21 in). Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.