In 2006 The International Society for Animal Genetics published research conducted by Michigan State University's Microbiology and Molecular Genetics Department. The research centered on the canine FGF5 gene, which has been proven to control the length of coat growth in all breeds, resulting in the determination of hair length. Extensive testing was done with DNA extracted from several breeds of purebred dogs.

Examination of the genomes and alleles in each breed's DNA revealed that at least two major genes act to influence hair length and, together with modifier genes, function to produce variation in hair length.

Of the Greyhounds involved in the research study, 12.5% carried the long haired gene, amongst several breeds previously only thought to be smooth coated.

In addition, the report went on to state: "It is interesting to note that TS+(the longer allele) associated with long hair in most breeds is the more prominent duplication allele in shorthaired greyhounds."

The American Kennel club states in its section on Whippet History that "The Whippet is an English Greyhound in miniature." They go on to say "As a breed the Whippet is not one of our oldest, having evolved for over a hundred years it was not until 1891 that official recognition was given by the English Kennel Club."

The world's first Whippet club was formed in 1899 in England and "The Whippet Club" as it is simply named is still going strong today. Their breed history states; "The origin of the Whippet is somewhat obscure, although dogs of whippet type and shape have been known in England for many hundreds of years. In medieval days both large and small greyhounds were kept, and the latter would obviously be the ancestors of the modern Whippet. The word whippet was generally used to describe any quick moving little dog, and it is only in the late nineteenth century that the Whippet was recognized as a separate breed."

It is universally accepted that smaller Greyhounds were mixed with other breeds to create what were originally nick-named "rag dogs" - small, easily kept racing dogs owned by the farmers, miners and mill-workers of England in the late 1800s.

As the Whippet was evolving to eventually form a recognized breed, there were naturally several different types of coat expressed by genetics of the different breeds that went into making up these "rag dogs". In fact the wire haired coat was recognized in Whippets until the depression of the 30's when the last known kennel of them was put down. Wire hair is genetically dominant. When a dominant gene is gone, it's gone forever. The gene for smooth coat is also dominant.

Longer coats do not conform well to the original function of Greyhounds and Whippets - racing. Longer hair produces some wind-drag which in all sports, human and animal, has proven to reduce speed. Not only was it much easier to make the short hair the official coat standard for the Whippet as it is genetically dominant, but it was also more functional for racing dogs.

This doesn't mean that the recessive long haired gene disappeared. The long haired gene is recessive and can be carried by dozens of smooth coated generations without ever being expressed, or if it is expressed, not noticed much beyond a slightly longer than normal coat with a bit of feathering on the extremities such as the tail. This is the case for Whippets and Greyhounds.

In fact, in the book "Whippets" by E. Fitch Daglish published in London in 1964 with Copywrite W. & G. Foyle Ltd. and revised by Monica Boggia in 1980, that exact description appears: "There is sometimes a tendency for the coat to be somewhat longer and coarser than it should be, particularly on the tail. This may be corrected to some extent by grooming and judicious trimming, but basically the trouble is genetic and can be permanently overcome by careful selective breeding.”

Walter Wheeler Jr. who was responsible for reviving the longer coat in modern-day Whippets did not breed “instant Longhaired Whippets”. He sourced and bred purebred Whippets that had slightly longer coats, as mentioned above. He inbred them intensely on the basis of longer coat phenotype to an eventual long-coated variety. Anyone who understands genetics will know about genetic linking. Mr. Wheeler inbred on the genetic mutation for longer hair in Whippets. It took many years of the tandem (building) action of those recessive genes to eventually bring about a fully long coat.

Breeder-members of the Longhaired Whippet Association still go through a similar building process of the coats when breeding Longhaired Whippets to smooth Whippets. It takes a couple of generations for the recessive mutation for coat length to build back to full length.

To see 3 Generations of Longhaired Whippet Coats, Click Here.

Many of the other sighthounds have coated varieties as well, whether they are recognized by the kennel clubs or not. Most people don't realize that there are 4 varieties of coat in the Borzoi breed. There are smooth-coated Afghans and Longhaired Salukis. Basenjis have also been proven to carry the LH gene.

The research being highlighted here is not intended to refute the recognized breed standards for coat in the Whippet or the Greyhound. It’s simply to bring to light the scientific fact that some of what went into forming the Whippet in the first place is still there.