A collection of useful resources for whippet lovers.
Table of Contents
Owner Advice and Support
Articles contributed by whippet owners.
More than 100 Years and 100 Whippets
Prepared and narrated by Bo Bengtson
An Introduction to Whippet Colour Genetics
By Jo Whitehead
The Whippet Biennial
Helpful Resources Index
Links to our articles throughout the website
Owner Advice and Support
Articles contributed by whippet owners.
More than 100 Years and 100 Whippets
The development of a breed – Late 1800s to early 2000s.
Prepared and narrated by Bo Bengston.
An Introduction to Whippet Colour Genetics
by Jo Whitehead
The following slides are provided by our Breed Health Coordinator, Jo Whitehead, for quick and easy access to the information. You can watch the full presentation, narrated by Jo, on our YouTube channel.
The Whippet Biennial

‘The Whippet Biennial’ as it is still known was founded by Gillian Usher and first covered activities from 1973 and 1974. Until the Whippet Breed Council took it over in 2014, it had been run by Gillian along with other whippet breeders/exhibitors and enthusiasts such as Molly McConkey and Lucinda Aldrich-Blake. This publication has proved invaluable to the whippet show scene in the UK for over 50 years.
The Biennial is a way to provide information to people interested in whippets through articles and also a way to let people showcase their own whippets through adverts.
In 2018, after editing it for 4 years on behalf of the breed council, Steph Marston-Pollock took over the running of the Biennial.
Steph writes: ‘Carrying on the work that Gillian and her team did is really important for me. There aren’t many breeds that will have such an amazing archive as the Whippet Biennial. At times there has been a risk of it not being continued but for me that just wasn’t an option. It is such a massive task however I will endeavour to make sure this book continues for the future of the breed’
Steph has now incorporated the ‘Multi Purpose Whippet’ feature, encouraging write ups and adverts from all Whippet activities to promote the ‘Fit for Function’ ethos.
The book now travels all over the world and is a must on any whippet fancier’s coffee table.
The Whippet Biennial website: https://whippetbiennial.weebly.com
Helpful Resources Index
Buying or adopting a puppy
- Finding the right breeder
- Shop or adopt?
- Is a Whippet puppy right for me?
- Socialisation of a puppy
- Volunteering for a rescue organisation
Whippet Health
Breeding
- Homing guidance
- What is the Whippet Breed Archive and why is it helpful to keep your dogs up to date?
Life with a Whippet
- Reactivity
- In August 2025, Ellen Higginbottom (Dawnsafon Whippets) appeared on Rima Ahmed’s BBC Radio Leeds show to talk Whippets. You can listen to what she had to say here.
- Coping With The Puppy Biting Phase
- Getting Your Whippet Puppy Used to the Car
- Whippets and Children