Meet a very charming lady called Pearl. I met Pearl in Islington on sunny Friday afternoon. As I walked home from work, I saw a beautiful whippet gently trotting along in their characteristic light-footed gait. Her looks and bearing reminded me of a whippet I used to know called Erin. In fact, she bore more than a passing resemblance to her. I picked up my courage and approached the dog and her owner, asking whether it was, indeed, Erin. It turned out that it wasn't her at all, but that the owner knew Erin, and what's more, we knew each other! We met once very briefly, a few years ago, via a mutual friend, and it was then when I met Erin and took this photo of her, which, incidentally, was one of the first entries on The London Dog.
Becca, Pearl's owner, has long been a whippet enthusiast, and it all started with her looking after her friend's whippets - Bas and Erin. Eighteen months ago, she decided that it was time to get her own share of whippet delight and she got Pearl. And real Pearl she is too. Dainty and delicate, with a silky smooth coat, and the stunning physique of fine runner, Pearl is a true gem. She really wanted to make the acquaintance of my Dachshund Kevin, who, despite his angelic looks and rather dimunitive size, isn't dog friendly. Kevin was watching, boot-faced, safely tucked away in my husband's arms, as I chatted away with Becca and was stroking and petting Pearl. He kept quiet until I started feeding Pearl treats. He immediately launched into a barking tirade, whilst Pearl, a real lady, was watching the little rogue, with a look of gentle puzzlement on her aristocratic, perfectly shaped little face.
Pearl loves running around it the park, and true to her hunting pedigree, she chases pigeons and squirrels. Becca also confesses to letting Pearl sleep in bed with her, which isn't at all surprising. Surely, you wouldn't let a princess like that sleep in a dog bed!
Whippets are hunting dogs, originally bred for sighting and outrunning small prey. In looks and posture, the whippet looks like a smaller version of a greyhound and, like greyhound, is an iconic English breed. They are especially popular in the north of England. In Crufts 2004, a whippet called Deedee won the Best in Show award, to the delight of all lovers and enthusiasts of this fantastic breed. Loyal, gentle and devoted, whippets make fabulous pets.
It was such a pleasure to meet an old friend and her fabulous dog. Being a massive fan of all sighthounds, I once again swore that a greyhound or a whippet will one day join our family. And Kevin will just have to learn some manners!
To meet other London hounds see Alfie, Mac, Conan and Teasel, and of course, Erin.
To find out more about Whippets visit The Whippet Club
