Dog food for a Whippet
A Whippet does not need an unusually specialist food, but its build and temperament do point to a few things worth checking on a bag before you buy: enough energy for a genuinely athletic dog, a recipe that suits a breed known for a sensitive digestion, and portion sizes that respect a naturally lean frame rather than encouraging weight gain.
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
A lean, athletic build changes what 'right weight' looks like
Whippets are built to run, and a healthy Whippet naturally carries very little spare weight — ribs and hip bones being faintly visible is normal for the breed rather than a sign of being underfed, which can catch owners more used to a stockier dog off guard.
That lean build means it is worth watching body condition rather than feeding to a fixed amount regardless of how your dog looks. A Whippet that is starting to lose the waist and tuck that is normal for the breed is carrying more weight than is ideal, even if the number on the bag's feeding guide has not changed.
Energy needs without overfeeding
As a genuinely athletic sighthound bred to sprint, a Whippet who gets regular proper exercise burns through energy at a fair clip, and a food with a reasonable protein and fat content supports that better than a low-energy, weight-management recipe designed for a far less active dog.
That is a different question from overfeeding, though. Match the amount to your individual dog's activity level and body condition rather than assuming an athletic breed automatically needs a large portion — a Whippet who spends most of the day resting on the sofa between short bursts of activity needs considerably less than one doing daily proper runs.
A breed known for a sensitive stomach
Whippets and other sighthounds are anecdotally reported by owners and breed clubs as prone to sensitive digestion more often than some other breeds, which makes a recipe built around a single named protein, without a long list of added extras, a sensible starting point rather than an afterthought.
Thin skin and a short coat also mean Whippets feel the cold more than a heavier-coated breed, which is not a food issue directly but is worth knowing if you are trying to work out why your dog seems to need more calories in winter than summer.
What we stock that fits the brief
Our dry and wet food shelves include sensitive-stomach recipes built around a single protein, which suit the digestive tendencies described above, alongside standard adult recipes for a Whippet who has never shown any sensitivity and does not need one.
As with any breed guidance, this is a starting point rather than a reason to change a diet that is already working. A Whippet doing well on their current food, at a healthy weight, with no digestive issues, has no need to switch just because of general breed tendencies.
Common questions
- Why does my Whippet look so thin even though it eats well?
- A lean build with visible ribs and a clear waist is normal for a healthy Whippet and is not a sign of being underfed. If you are unsure whether your dog's weight is genuinely healthy rather than too thin, your vet can assess their body condition properly.
- Do Whippets need more food than other dogs their size?
- Not automatically. Energy needs depend on how active an individual dog actually is, not just the breed. A Whippet doing regular proper exercise may need more than a less active dog of similar size, but portion should always be matched to your own dog's activity and body condition.
- Why does my Whippet seem to need a coat in cold weather?
- Whippets have very little body fat and a short, thin coat, which means they lose heat faster than a heavier-coated breed. A coat for cold walks is a sensible addition for the breed and is separate from anything to do with their food.
- Should I feed my Whippet a sensitive-stomach food as standard?
- Not necessarily, but it is worth knowing sighthounds are anecdotally reported as prone to sensitive digestion more often than some breeds. If your Whippet has never shown any digestive issues, there is no need to switch, but a single-protein recipe is a sensible first change if problems do appear.
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.