Why should you go to a show breeder or a race breeder if what you want is a pet? Because people who compete with their dogs spend a great deal of time studying the character traits, the pedigrees, and the genetic health of their chosen breeds. A whippet breeder who shows or races also talks to other whippet breeders, finds out where the breed's problems lie and, ideally, works to improve them.

A quality whippet is not just a good looking dog but one that behaves like a whippet...not a terrier or a poodle or a setter. And even more important, a whippet from a good breeder is as genetically healthy as possible. Though nothing is completely predictable, you should be assured of taking home a dog who won't develop major health problems that could have been avoided by careful breeding.

Whether the breeder's dogs win at shows or not has little to do with the quality of the pets he sells. Dog showing is a very expensive hobby and the top dogs are usually backed by a great deal of money and advertising. But anyone who takes a dog to a show can be assured of having it evaluated not only by the judge, but by the other exhibitors...all you have to do is ask! So whether a breeder wins a lot or not, she should get to enough shows to be sure that her dogs are of sufficient quality to breed.

We usually go to 10-15 shows a year. That's not a lot on the scale of many breeders, but it's enough for us. We prefer being home with the dogs, but we wouldn't think of breeding a dog we haven't had evaluated by other whippet breeders and judges. It's very easy to become "kennel blind" if you don't get out to see other people's dogs often enough. A kennel blind breeder is one who doesn't see the faults in her own dogs. It's an easy trap to fall into--we think all whippets are beautiful and of course, that ours are the best in the world--but attending dog shows and looking at other dogs provide a great reality check!