Whippet Racing

BCWRA Whippet Racing June 7, 2009 at a school field in Abbotsford, BC. Several times a year the club to which Kathy belongs, the BC Association of Crazy People with Fast Dogs, drags the starting box and lure machine out to whatever field they can book where they set up a temporary race course. They do this just for fun -- no betting, no purse, just ribbons and bragging rights.

The faster dogs get up to about 45mph (75km/h). They reach full speed in only two strides.

If there was ever any question about whether or not the dogs enjoy it, this video provides the obvious and unequivocal answer.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Whippet
• racing
• BCWRA
• Abbotsford
• 2009
• 150

[strong263]

it aint cruel i know. but caging them! it does look cruel

[vfivev]

@strong263 You're right, it's NOT cruel. People look at the travel crates and think "Jail." The dogs look at them and think "dog house." Look at the dogs in their crates in the video -- they're obviously not upset about it at all. They're raised with them from the time they're puppies. It's a place for them to "get away" for some rest and quiet and it keeps them safe when travelling. Every so often you get a dog who doesn't care for the crate, so they hang out with their people instead.

[shadmonk]

pls tell me what top speed they reach..

ihave whippet too

[vfivev]

@shadmonk The fastest ones can get up to about 70 kilometres per hour.

[NadeSwin]

it looks cruel that they have 2 be muzled.... but i geuss it's for everyone's health...

[vfivev]

In what way might the muzzles be cruel? They don't cause the dogs any discomfort. They don't mind them at all. In fact, they push their snouts into them with excitement when they get to the field!

[vfivev]

(Continued) Their crate is their "house." It's a place of refuge. You do come across the occasional dog who isn't fond of it, but they're rare. You'll usually find those guys on a leash with their human. Finally, every family I've met at a race event DOES take the dog out to run in the park. This isn't INSTEAD of that, it's in addition to it. You're right about the race meets being fun for the humans, but more importantly, they're a chance for the dogs to act on their natural hunting instinct.

[RobbieReineldt]

@vfivev Whippets can't run 70kph lol Most would hit 55-57kph. A really,really fast one would get close to 60kph.

[beckfiddler]

hmm.... must be nice to be so excited by a mop head - simple pleasures!

[mrNomansnowman]

What kind of machine do you have

[katyandlibby]

@vfivev It's more cruel to the fake rabbit!!

[Strunng]

@rob190364 the 35.5 mph is for a 100 yard calculated speed. A whippet has a higher point speed if measured.

[PotawatomiApiwa]

whip it good.

[pipkin503]

@vfivev I've heard 32 miles per hour roughly

[1416101]

hay i was out with my whippet and we had a go at this in a field and she did the 100m in 7.03 is that any good ?????????and that was jsut me caling her if she had a thing to chace she should do it faster and the grass was long