n6 DOGS AND ALL ABOUT THEM 



a by no means easy task, considering that a slight particle of a 

 second means so many yards, and the average speed working 

 out at about 16 yards per second nearly twice as fast as the 

 fastest pedestrian sprinter, and altogether beyond the power 

 of the fleetest race-horse. 



Colour in the Whippet is absolutely of no importance to a 

 good judge, though possibly what is known as the peach fawn 

 is the favourite among amateur fanciers. , Red fawns, blue or 

 slate coloured, black, brindled of various shades, and these 

 colours intermingled with white, are most to be met with, 

 however. In some quarters the idea is prevalent that Whip- 

 pets are delicate in their constitution, but this is a popular 

 error. Probably their disinclination to go out of doors on 

 their own initiative when the weather is cold and wet may 

 account for the opinion, but given the opportunity to roam 

 about a house the Whippet will find a comfortable place, and 

 will rarely ail anything. In scores of houses Whippets go to 

 bed with the children, and are so clean that even scrupulous 

 housewives take no objection to their finding their way under 

 the clothes to the foot of the bed, thereby securing their own 

 protection and serving as an excellent footwarmer in the 

 winter months. 



Probably in no other breed, except the Greyhound, do 

 judges attach so little importance to the shape of the head ; 

 so long as the jaws are fairly long and the colour of the eyes 

 somewhat in keeping with that of the body, very little else 

 is looked for in front of the ears. As in the case of racing 

 competitors, really good dogs for show purposes are much 

 more difficult to find than bitches. The best of the males are 

 not so classical in outline as the females, though some of them 

 are as good in legs and feet points which are of the greatest 

 importance. Though it is not quite in accordance with the 

 standard laid down by the club, it will be found that most 

 judges favour dogs which are about 17 Ibs. weight, and bitches 

 which are between 15 Ibs. and 16 Ibs., the 20 Ibs. mentioned 

 in the standard of points, without variation for sex being 



