Whippet vs Deutsch Drahthaar - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Hailing from Germany in the 20th century, the Deutsch Drahthaar, also known as the German wirehaired Pointer, has always been a hunting dog. He was developed to take part in hunting in field or water.

Breeders of this dog were successful in developing a skilled and versatile hunting dog that took its traits from the best coarse haired dogs.

It was in 1902 that the German breed club for the Deutsch-Drahthaar was founded.

You can just see that Whippets are designed for speed with those super lean, slender bodies. They were developed by crossing Greyhounds with smaller terriers.

In open areas, they can pick up a high speed. In the 19th century in certain parts of England, they were used in races. They actually originated in England.

The Whippet is an ancient dog breed if you can go according to artwork which dates back to ancient Egyptian times.

They were also known as Snap dogs or small Greyhounds. You can say that the modern Whippet emerged in 1891. This was when the Kennel Club gave the breed official recognition. It was in 1888 that the dog was recognized by the American Kennel Club.

The Deutsch-Drahthaar is a medium sized well muscled sporting dog standing at 61 to 68 cm and weighing 27-32kg.

He is very distinguishable with his wiry water-resistant coat which comes in different colors such as liver, grey or black patches with a speckled or ticked background.

He has strong, straight legs with rounded paws which are webbed for strong swimming abilities. He has dark eyes with floppy, high set ears and a long tail. Many people still want the dog to have that distinctive look and they opt to have the tail docked.

Temperament:

The Deutsch-Drahthaar is a fantastic hunting companion, loving nothing more than to be working at running across fields and plunging into water to retrieve prey.

Its the kind of dog that will fit well into family life but he will require exercise. Failing to give him exercise and attention will make him bored, frustrated and destructive.

He is a friendly, gentle dog yet he becomes protective when he feels his family is threatened. Training and socialization turn him into an excellent pet as he is a strong-willed dog that will take advantage of an owner who isn’t firm with him.

The Whippet is a medium-sized sighthound breed standing at between 45–56cm in height and weighing anything between 6 and 13kg.

They descended from Greyhounds, resembling them in looks, just smaller. They are part of the Hound group, It’s a deep-chested dog with a long, lean head with fairy large eyes, a long neck, floppy ears and slim legs. The tail is long and slender. The coat is short and smooth and comes in many colors – tan, silver, black white, brindle and bi- or tri-colored.

Temperament:

The Whippet loves to run but when they’re not prancing around, they love spending time with their human family and that includes other pets as well as children.

They’re demonstrative and love showing their love for their family. They’re able to adapt to life in the city or the countryside but they will need exercising.

This is also a dog that rarely barks. They’re willful dogs so will do well with training and socialization. In fact, without proper socialization, they can become timid in unknown environments. They're intelligent so wont have problems with learning.

If you’re looking for a good watchdog and protector, you won’t find these characteristics in the Whippet.

The German Wirehaired Pointer is an active, energetic dog who is happiest when performing a task or getting some exercise in. He is also a social dog, who loves spending time with his human family. It is important for him to get noticed by his human family, and he is a dog that gets on well with children in the home as well as pets.

Never just put your Pointer in the back yard and expect him to entertain himself. He wants to be included in all your activities, whether you’re walking, jogging or cycling.

A happy Deutsch Drahthaar will make sure that he gives you your full quota of love, loyalty, protection and companionship.

When you bring a sweet-natured Whippet into your life and home you’ll discover that apart from reveling in having a good run, their next favorite thing is to be resting quietly wherever their human companions are.

They’re docile dogs, loving to snuggle up to you, and not enjoying the cold. These quiet, gentle dogs are totally non- aggressive, just wanting to be with you, making you a splendid companion and pet.

When you start doing research on these German wirehairs, you see that they are far more prone to hip- and elbow dysplasia than the short-haired breed.

Also, von Willebrand’s blood-clotting disease is something that you should know about. Your German wirehair is a healthy, robust dog and is highly unlikely to get sick, but you need to be aware of these common dog ailments so that you can help him and know what to watch for.

This Von Willebrand’s disease for instance is a blood disease brought about by a deficiency of von Willebrand Factor (vWF). A lack of this vWF impairs platelet stickiness and clumping and can lead to excessive bleeding after an injury.

You may notice bleeding from the gums, bruising of skin, prolonged bleeding after an injury as well as blood in the urine for instance. Get your pet to the vet who will perform a physical exam on your dog.

The lean Whippet doesn’t have any particular health problems but it is always a good idea to be clued up on some of the more common dog diseases there are.

Buying a Whippet puppy from a responsible breeder will help with ensuring a healthier dog as dogs like these have had a good start and will have been vaccinated and dewormed.

One of the diseases that you may want to be aware of is arrhythmia.

Arrhythmia:

This is when the heart of the dog beats too fast or too slow or it may even skip a beat. It is fairly common in dogs and it could indicate a more serious underlying condition.

An irregular heartbeat can bring about physical weakness and even loss of consciousness. Your veterinarian will want to examine your dog and listen to the history of symptoms and events that could have led to the condition. Your vet will then discuss treatment.

Grooming:

Your Deutsch Drahthaar does shed, and because of his wiry coat, he won’t only require a brush twice a week, but also stripping by a professional doggy parlor.

There are several other grooming processes that are essential for your dog. The first is to check that his nails don’t get too long. This often happens when he spends all his time on soft grass. Running on a hard surface trims them down naturally.

Also, because he has floppy ears, they will need to be checked and cleaned regularly so he doesn’t get an ear infection. His teeth will also need to be brushed twice a week as tartar and plaque build-up can cause problems with the teeth but also with other areas of the body.

If in doubt about how to groom your pet the right way, speak to your vet or a dog expert.

Diet:

There is so much conflicting information on caring for dogs, even from so-called dog experts. While there are some excellent dog food manufacturers around, some experts will say that you should be feeding your dog based on what his digestive system was designed to eat and steer clear of these.

If you do feed your German wirehaired Pointer with manufactured dog food, make sure it is the very best one, because after all, nutrition plays a vital role in your pet’s health.

Try to include some cooked vegetables, brown rice and some chicken into his diet. These can be mixed into his kibble. It is expensive, but try to include some raw meat into your dog’s diet from time to time. Ensure a constant supply of cool, fresh water.

No more Puppies!

If your Deutsch Drahthaar isn’t going to be used for breeding, make sure that your have him or her neutered or spayed as this is advisable to promote good health. Not doing it can cause health issues later on.

Exercise:

Whippets love running so if you’re lucky to live on a farm or at the beach, he will love those short bursts of speed in open places, chasing a ball. You can take him for a walk every day too.

Grooming:

Whippets are looked upon as low maintenance dogs that don't shed much. A good brush twice a week will be adequate for this slender dog. The skin is vulnerable to cuts so check him over when you’re brushing him and make sure he hasn’t any sores or scrapes on the skin.

Trim the nails and check inside his ears and mouth for signs of infection.

Diet:

How much your adult dog eats depends on his size and his activity levels. Dogs are individuals and not all Whippets will eat the same amount of food. Puppies require 4 bowls of food a day while the adult Whippet will want 2 bowls of food.

There are excellent dry kibble dog foods on the market but your Whippet will also like some home-made food like chicken and vegetables. The quality of dog food you provide for your Whippet will make a huge difference to his health.