Even though Whippets are one of the oldest basic types of dogs, their origin is not clearly proven.

It is believed that Whippets already existed in ancient Rome and Egypt, which is deduced from old wall paintings, statues and pottery.

Another theory is that the history of the Whippet began in Victorian England, when miners in the north of the country enjoyed dog racing and rabbit hunting during their holidays. They could not afford the larger and more popular Greyhounds, so they began to breed a smaller version of the Greyhound.

It is still unclear which breeds they ultimately crossed to create the Whippet.

The dog should not be too big, but tough and fast enough to contribute rabbits to the meager household.

Although it is generally considered to be the youngest breed of greyhound, there are no records of its origin.

The meaning of the name “Whippet” is also unclear.

One assumption is that the name is derived from the English word "whip". This could be due to the speed, but also to the body structure and the thin and fast tail.

Another assumption is based on the expression “whip it”, which means “quick, quick”.

Another theory is that the name is derived from "whappet," an old English word for a small dog spoken from about 450 to 1150 AD. This name may allude to the Whippet's size and lively nature, but there is no clear historical evidence to make a direct connection.

What is certain, however, is that the Whippet was also called the “poor man’s racehorse.”