Whippet Age Calculator: Dog Years to Human Years

Whippet age in human years

Dog years	Human years	Life stage
1	15	Adolescent
2	24	Adult
6	40	Adult
10	56	Senior begins
13	68	Senior
15	76	Geriatric

Figures based on The Royal Kennel Club's published small-breed guidance, as tabulated by Purina UK. For an exact figure, try the Dog Years calculator.

The Whippet is classified by The Royal Kennel Club within the smaller ageing band, typically weighing 11.5–13.5 kg as an adult, with a median life expectancy of around 13.4 years, according to a 2024 analysis of UK veterinary records by Dogs Trust. Bred for coursing and racing, the Whippet is capable of impressive bursts of speed but is generally a calm, gentle breed that spends most of its day resting.

What this means for your Whippet

Whippets have very little body fat and a thin coat, which makes them prone to feeling the cold — a jumper or coat for walks in cooler weather is common for the breed, and becomes more important as your dog ages and its ability to regulate temperature declines slightly. Their thin skin also means it can tear more easily than in most breeds, so care around rough surfaces and other dogs is worth taking.

As with most sighthounds, Whippets can be more sensitive to certain anaesthetic drugs due to their low body fat, which vets typically account for when planning any procedure. The breed is otherwise generally hardy, with fewer breed-specific conditions than many others of a similar size.

When is a Whippet considered a senior?

Under The Royal Kennel Club's size-adjusted guidance, small breeds like the Whippet are generally considered senior from around 10 dog years old.

Related reading: Is the ×7 Rule Real? · Dog Life Stages Explained · Signs Your Dog Is Entering Its Senior Years

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