Best dog food for a Whippet
A Whippet's naturally lean build and fast metabolism mean the main thing to get right is enough good-quality calories to maintain condition without letting them run to fat, since this is a breed built to carry very little spare weight even when healthy. A quality dry or wet food sized for a medium, active dog usually does the job well.
Feeding a Whippet
A medium breed
An adult Whippet typically weighs 7–14 kg, so a healthy Whippet eats a moderate amount compared with other breeds. Every feeding guide on a bag is written per kilo of body weight, not per breed — start there, then adjust to the dog in front of you.
Life stage
A medium breed is usually done growing at ~12 months, which is roughly when a puppy food has finished its job. With a typical lifespan of 12–15 years, there is a long adult stretch in the middle; switch to a senior food when your vet thinks it is worth it rather than on a birthday.
How much should a Whippet weigh?
Adult 7–14 kgfully grown at ~12 months
| Age | Stage | Typical weight | Of adult size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | Just home | 1.1–2.2 kg | 15% |
| 3 months | Young puppy | 1.8–3.5 kg | 25% |
| 6 months | Growing fast | 3.5–7 kg | 50% |
| ~12 months | Fully grown | 7–14 kg | 100% |
A guide, from the same rule of thumb our puppy growth predictor uses — each age is that share of the way to maturity for a medium breed. Puppies grow fastest early, so a real puppy usually sits a little above the middle rows. Weigh yours and ask your vet if the number worries you.
Complete dog foods that suit a Whippet
Complete foods from our range, matched to a Whippet's size band and what the breed typically needs. Stock levels and delivery dates are live on each product.
Forthglade Cold Pressed Natural Turkey
Cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs from 2 months, soft enough to mix with water for young pups
£45.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Salmon
Cold-pressed grain-free dry food for dogs, built on fresh and dried salmon
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Duck
Cold-pressed grain-free duck food with fruit and botanicals, in two bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Chicken
Cold-pressed grain-free chicken food with fruit and botanicals, in three bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Turkey
A lightly baked complete dry food, 50% turkey, for adult dogs of any breed
From£12.49
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Chicken
A grain-free complete dry food for adult dogs, lightly baked and built on 50% chicken
From£12.49
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Turkey
Grain-free cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs, gentle on sensitive stomachs
£69.69
Forthglade British Classics Chicken Family Lunch
Complete Forthglade wet dog food with 75% chicken in a 395G tray
£2.45
Harringtons Puppy Turkey & Rice
Complete turkey puppy food with 30% protein and feeding bands by adult weight
£6.49
Harringtons Just 6 Dry Dog Food Lamb
Grain-free lamb dry dog food in 2KG and 12KG sizes, with size-specific formulas
From£13.99
Burns Puppy Original Lamb & Rice
Complete Burns lamb and rice puppy food in a 2KG bag for up to 12 months
£14.99
Burns Puppy Junior Original Chicken Rice
A complete puppy and junior food with dried chicken 31% and controlled fat at 15%
From£14.99
Why a Whippet looks different from other breeds at a healthy weight
Whippets are sighthounds, bred for speed rather than bulk, and a visible waist with some rib definition is normal and healthy for this breed in a way it would not be for a stockier dog. Owners new to sighthounds sometimes worry a healthy Whippet looks underweight when it is simply built that way.
That said, ribs that are hard to feel under a layer of fat, or a Whippet who is genuinely losing weight and condition, are both worth taking seriously — the breed's normal leanness makes it easy to miss either extreme if you are not used to how they should look and feel.
What matters in the food itself
A good-quality complete food with a decent protein content supports lean muscle without needing to be an extreme high-protein formula — most Whippets do well on an ordinary quality adult recipe rather than anything highly specialised. Energy density matters more than any single ingredient, since an active Whippet burns through calories quickly.
Some Whippets, like other sighthounds, can be surprisingly fussy eaters despite their energy needs, so a food they will actually eat consistently is worth prioritising over chasing a theoretically perfect recipe they pick at.
Practical feeding notes for the breed
Whippets feel the cold more than most breeds because of their low body fat and short coat, which is a coat and comfort issue rather than a food one, but it is worth knowing about alongside diet if you are researching the breed's needs as a whole.
Splitting food into two meals rather than one large one tends to suit an active, lean dog better, helping avoid the stomach discomfort that can come with a single big feed before or after exercise.
Common questions
- Should a Whippet's ribs be visible?
- Some visible rib definition is normal and healthy for this breed, which is built lean by design rather than carrying the fat cover of a stockier dog. Ribs that are hard to feel at all, or a sudden change in condition, are the things worth checking with your vet rather than visible ribs alone.
- Do Whippets need a high-protein diet?
- Not an extreme one. A good-quality adult food with a reasonable protein content supports their lean muscle well, but most Whippets do fine on an ordinary complete diet rather than a specialised high-protein formula built for working or sporting dogs.
- Why is my Whippet a fussy eater?
- Fussiness is common in sighthounds generally, and it does not necessarily mean anything is wrong with the food. Try a consistent routine and a food you know they have taken to before, and mention it to your vet if fussiness comes with weight loss or a sudden change in appetite.
- How many meals a day should a Whippet have?
- Two smaller meals rather than one large one tends to suit an active, lean breed better, spreading energy through the day and reducing stomach discomfort around exercise. Adjust timing so a full meal does not sit right before or straight after a run.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.