The Whippet is a small-to-medium sighthound, essentially a smaller cousin of the Greyhound, bred for chasing game and racing over short distances. Whippets are gentle, quiet and affectionate, and they have the classic sighthound rhythm of explosive sprint followed by hours of contented sleep. Indoors they are calm, undemanding couch companions; outdoors they can hit remarkable speed in short bursts. Most weigh around 9 to 19 kilos, with a fine short coat, thin skin and very little body fat, so they feel both the Sydney heat and cold snaps and love a soft warm bed.
Whippets reach Sydney and NSW rescue through owner life changes and moves, and sometimes through owners who did not expect the strong prey drive or the need for secure fencing. Purebred Whippets place quickly, so Whippet crosses turn up more often. The cross usually keeps the gentle, quiet temperament, and the foster carer or shelter notes on the individual dog, especially how it goes with cats and small animals, matter more than the breed label.
A Whippet suits an owner or family who wants a gentle, low-fuss, affectionate companion that is calm at home but needs a secure space to run and a lead in open areas. Browse the Whippets and Whippet crosses currently listed from rescues and shelters across Sydney and New South Wales.
Get notified when a Whippet is listed
We will email you when a Whippet or Whippet cross becomes available for adoption in Sydney, from a rescue or an owner rehoming.
Need to rehome a Whippet?
If you can no longer keep your Whippet, listing it for rehoming on LocalPetFinder connects it directly with adopters across Sydney and NSW, and keeps it out of a shelter. It is free.
List your dog for rehoming →Whippet Adoption FAQ
Where can I adopt a Whippet near me in Sydney?
LocalPetFinder lists Whippets available for adoption from rescues across Sydney and New South Wales, including the Inner West, Eastern Suburbs, Northern Beaches, Western Sydney and the Sutherland Shire. Rescues that regularly take in dogs of this type include RSPCA NSW at Yagoona and Animal Welfare League NSW at Kemps Creek, alongside foster-based groups. Listings update regularly, so browse the Whippets above and apply directly through the rescue.
Are there Whippet rescues near Sydney?
Yes. Several Sydney and NSW rescues regularly have Whippets and Whippet crosses, including RSPCA NSW, Animal Welfare League NSW, Sydney Dogs and Cats Home, Monika's Doggie Rescue and Maggie's Rescue, plus breed-focused foster networks. A dedicated single-breed rescue is not always active, so the fastest path is to set an alert here and watch the general rescues. Use LocalPetFinder to see which rescues currently have Whippets available near you.
Are these Whippets for sale in Sydney?
Not for sale, for adoption, which is usually the better deal. Every Whippet here comes from a Sydney or NSW rescue, not a breeder or classified seller, and the adoption fee already includes desexing, vaccination and microchipping. That fee is typically a few hundred dollars, against often several thousand from a breeder with none of the vet work done. If you searched "whippet for sale sydney", adopting gets you a vetted dog for a fraction of the price.
Where can I buy a Whippet in Sydney, and should I?
You can buy from a registered breeder, but it is worth weighing against adoption first. A reputable breeder often charges several thousand dollars and may have a waitlist, while a rescue Whippet costs a few hundred dollars fully vetted and may be available now. Be cautious of cheap "for sale" ads on classified sites and marketplaces, which are a known hotspot for scams and backyard breeding. The ACCC Scamwatch has documented deposit scams for pets that do not exist. For most Sydney families, adopting a rescue Whippet is cheaper, faster and gives a dog in need a home.
Can Whippets be let off-lead in Sydney?
Only in securely fenced areas. Whippets are sighthounds with a strong prey drive and extraordinary speed, so if something small bolts, a Whippet can be gone before you finish calling it, and recall becomes unreliable the moment the chase instinct engages. In unfenced parks or near roads, keep a Whippet on lead or a long line, and use fully fenced off-leash reserves for a proper run. Careful, supervised training can improve recall, but the safe default is a secure space or a lead.
Do Whippets have health problems?
Whippets are one of the healthier purebred dogs and often live long, sound lives, but there are a couple of breed-specific points. Their low body fat makes them sensitive to anaesthesia, which your vet needs to know before any procedure, and the thin skin cuts and tears more easily than a thicker-coated dog. Some Whippets develop heart conditions later in life. A rescue Whippet arrives desexed, vaccinated, microchipped and vet-checked, and any known issue is noted. Ask your vet about anaesthesia sensitivity if surgery is ever planned.
Are Whippets good family dogs?
Yes. Whippets are gentle, sensitive and affectionate, and they are usually very good with children, being patient and undemanding rather than boisterous. They are quiet and rarely bark much, which suits many homes. The one thing to check is how the individual dog is with cats and small pets, since the prey drive varies a lot between dogs. Each rescue listing notes how the dog has gone with children and other animals in foster care.
How much exercise does a Whippet need?
Less than most people expect. Whippets are sprinters, not endurance runners, so a couple of walks a day plus the chance for a good run in a fenced area is plenty, and they tire quickly and then sleep for hours. Two moderate outings of around thirty minutes usually suit them well. Because of the thin coat and low body fat, they feel the weather at both ends, so in a Sydney summer walk in the cooler hours, and keep year-round paralysis tick prevention up if you walk in bushland or coastal areas.