WW: From there how long did it take to become involved in the competitive aspect of the breed, and which areas do or have you competed in? 

Whipcat: After several shows with Cindy, I saw some UK imports at the shows - one was Ch. Hammonds Simple Simon. I felt in love with him and found a german breeder near our home who had a bitch puppy left from a litter by him. FlicFlac Flying Flame was just 6 month old when we got her from Thomas Münch and Reinhard Seim’s FlicFlac Kennel.
So we got our second Whippet. A year later Thomas Münch gave us the chance to visit England with him as well as two Whippetshows and the famous Courthill Kennel of Roger Stock. With Roger we saw the sweet 4 month old Courthill Crystal Ring; a cute little thing with a great pedigree. Her father was the BIS Crufts Ch. Pencloe Dutch Gold. We bought her immediately and took her home - where our family thought we are crazy having 3 dogs now. We started now „serious“ showing with FlicFlac Flying Flame „Betti“as well as our Courthill Crystal Ring „Puzzle“. Both gained her national and international titles in very short time. Puzzle also went top dog twice, at the German Whippet Club in 1996 and 1997. In 1996 she got the Res. World Champion at Vienna. We absolutely prefer showing and we try to do this all over Europe if the judges are interesting for us. 

WW: How did you come up with your kennel name?

 Whipcat: We applied our kennelname „Whipcat“ in 1995 with the FCI. It needs a little bit longer to get a kennelname. All the names we liked, ha been registered before in other countries. After a while I found the name Whipcat; a combination between Whippets and cat - we had 3 cats at this time.

We had our first litter also in 1995. In our second litter we had a very nice bitch „Whipcat Blue Velvet“. We sold her to Denmark and she had been successfully shown - normally our puppies go into pet-homes; showing dogs is not very fashionable over here. She was shown 3 times in Germany and won CAC and BOB under Pip Campell/UK and a CAC, CACIB under a German breedspecialist. Than sadly the owner stopped showing her. For our C-litter we used Ch. Hammonds Simple Simon and this litter gave us Int. , Germ VDH Ch. Whipcat Conquest of Paradise and Ch. Whipcat Color of Night „Piri“. Both had good success in the showring; Piri was top winning Whippet at the German Sghthound Club in 2000. Also Whipcat Casanova came from the same litter; he had lovely success doing agility. 

WW: Who has been your Mentor(s)? 

Whipcat: A lot of thank to Thomas Münch who introduced us to the English showscene. A lot of help we got from Roger Stock. After having Puzzle, and taking her to her titels - we visited the UK several times and learned a lot. In 1995 we saw Courthill Cafe Society (just 6 month old) with Roger but he did not want to let her go at this time. A year later I tried again to get her. Now he gave his okay but he wanted that we mate her to the new German Import Lorricbrook Bandleader from Max Magder/Thomas Münch. We agreed and if there should be something nice, he could have one or two puppies back. The litter was nice (our F-litter) and Roger got 2 puppies back to England. The bitch Whipcat Faithful at Courthill won 3 ResCC and had a litter by the Eng. Ch. Rum Punch of Falconcrag; the dog Ch. Whipcat Fire Island at Courthill made Whippet-history and was 3. foreign Whippet ever, gaining his English Championtitel. Both are now back with us on the continent and will be shown. 

WW: What do you feel about our breed standard and how it has evolved?

Whipcat: In Germany we have the F.C.I Standard - in some important points very different from the US-Standard. The most important thing for us in Germany in the former days was size. A few years ago size was the most important thing for the judges over here. You could have had a „World Champion“ on the lead if he was a millimeter too big, than you was send out of the ring, you couldn't breed with that dog and so on. at this time you only saw these small red-fawn/black masked Whippets in Germany. After the foundation of the German Whippet Club (WCD) in 1990 and lots of Imports from UK, USA, Canada, the look of the Whippet changed also in Germany and the Whippet Club made it easier to breed also with bigger dogs (a long story - maybe you will hear it another time).
Today the breed standard has not changed but maybe the view of the judges is a little more open - and they look at the whole dog and not only at size. It will be great to have one standard for all Whippets in the world; also there are some nice things in the US Standard which describes our Whippets better than the UK standard. A combination will be great. Also size must be corrected! 

WW: How do you feel the breed has evolved?

Whipcat: In Germany a lot since the last 6 or 7 years. I told you before. But a good Whippet is a good Whippet all over the years.

 WW: What lines have you based your kennel?

Whipcat: We had the luck to met Roger Stock and his beautiful Whippets. Most of our breeding is based on his lines - going back to BIS Crufts Ch. Pencloe Dutch Gold. 

WW: What are your breeding priorities?

Whipcat: The most important thing for us is temperament. Whippets with a nasty temperament are awful. Second is a good, sound movement - not only spectacular! We try (I think like all breeders) to breed Whippets which fits the standard; also in size - which is not easy. 

WW: Could you briefly describe your breeding program?

Whipcat: As I said, we have only one or two litters a year and we do not want to have more than 3 litters per bitch. We try the English kind of linebreeding but for me not only the pedigree is important also that dog and bitch are looking nice together. I must have a good feeling about this combination. 

WW: How do you keep, feed and care for your Whippets? And your puppies? Could you describe where your dogs live?

Whipcat: Our dogs live in the house and they are sitting mostly on that chair I do prefer for watching telly - so sometimes the dogs are on the sofa and chairs and we are sitting on the floor - I think like Whippetlovers do all over the world. At the moment we have 6 bitches ( Betti 11 years, Puzzle 10 years, Piri & Coffee 5 years, Maya 3 years and Macy 2 years) and now 2 dogs (Ludo 3 years & Connor 1 year). Downstairs we have a kennel with a run to separate the dogs if a bitch comes in season, they sleep together downstairs by night only two of them are in our bed at night (the privilege is changing from time to time). We are also taking them with us when we are going to our holidays to Denmark in autumn. So thy all can run at the beach and we all have a lot of fun together. We are feeding soaked dryfood, mostly Eukanuba or Purina Pro Plan. For them who are „bad“ eaters with a little tinmeat. Our puppies are raised with puppymilk until they are 3 or 4 weeks old. Than they get also soaked puppyfood. But we try to give them as soon as possible food for adult dogs because of the high protein. 

WW: What do you consider the most important part of raising Whippets?

Whipcat: The most important: Not to isolate them. When we have a litter we ask as many people as possible to visit us and the pups (also with children if possible). It is so important not to have shy and aggressive Whippets.

WW: What do you do to pick and train your Whippet that you compete with?

Whipcat: To pick a puppy is so difficult! We are not making our decision until the pups are 8 weeks old; but okay mostly you have a favorite. We spend as much time as we can with the pups, so we can see how they grow. The color of a pup is not so important but at the end it is nice to have a attractive color with good markings. We start to train them very early to stay on a table but only for a few seconds a day. Later we let them be happy puppies and try the showlead with 4 or 5 month.  

WW: What do you feel makes a „Dual“ Whippet?

Whipcat: Okay, we prefer showing Whippets - I do not really like coursing and racing. But our Whippets are used to run free on meadows and I am sure that they can hunt- and this is the thing what the breed is built for and what the standard wants us to breed. I think a well constructed Whippet (show/or racing bloodlines) which fits the standard is a „Multi“ Whippet! 

WW: Do you feel there is an „American“ Whippet? If so, what do you believe to be the biggest difference between the English and American type?

Whipcat: Yes, I think there is an „American“ type of Whippets (also the American standard is different from the F.C.I. standard). Maybe they are more flashy, attractive in color, maybe a little bit more extreme in some ways - longer necks, more angulation - but they are still Whippet who find a place on your lap! 

WW: Do you feel that a „separation of type“ is inevitable if a breed is to excel in multiple venues?

Whipcat: Yes, sorry I think so. In German Sighthound Club they tried to find the perfect combination between „beauty and performance“. But at the end they have medium successful Whippets at racetracks which are looking sometimes very ugly! You can do only one thing good, you need to train Whippets for the showring and for the racetrack but only one thing can be done successfully.

 WW: Are various types of Whippets coursing, race, show, American, English a natural result of evolution?

Whipcat: If natural means that the breeders have there own ideas of their Whippet and try to breed this idea to perfection, yes it is natural. Is it „Form follows function“? 

WW: Do you feel, given is tremendous success in so many areas - especially the track, field and show ring, the Whippet could be called the „ultimate example“ of a dual-purpose Sighthound?

Whipcat: Yes. The Whippet is the perfect dog. You can work with him, they love to learn (Agility; Obedience) but he is as happy as a familydog and a couchpotato. Only a shame when some breeders are having them only in a kennel and they will see the world only at tracks or show rings!

 WW: What do you feel is impact on a breed when one kennel has a heavy influence?

Whipcat: There are some kennels with a big influence and the type of Whippets are sometimes changing in this way. But there are so many different types of Whippets that there is - for me - no real danger for the breed. No kennel I know, is Top over 15 or 20 years. There are ups and downs and so the Whippets are under a permanent evolution. 

WW: What health issues concern you and do you feel enough concern is given to the overall health of the breed?

Whipcat: Whippet are a healthy breed but we have to be so careful. I know that there are problems with Demodicoses, testikleproblems, heartproblems, PRA and Epilepsy. I wish that the breeders will be a little more open to this problems.

 WW: What Whippet(s) do you feel are the epitome of the breed and why?

Whipcat: For me certainly Ch. Pencloe Dutch Gold. He is a real character and we had the luck to meet him in flash. A great mover and showman. But there are so many wonderful Whippets all over the world.

 WW: How do you compare the Whippets of today to one of 20 years ago, 10 years ago and where do you see it in the future?

Whipcat: I think 20 or 10 years ago there has been beautiful Whippets which can also win today. A good solid Whippet is timeless. 

WW: What things would you suggest to a „newbie“ coming into the breed?

Whipcat: We are now only 11 years in the breed and really „newbies“. But when I see some new Whippetfriends today, maybe planning a litter or something - they know everything! Sorry but I think you never find an end with learning about the breed. Look around. Talk with other breeders, also when they maybe do not have your „type“ of Whippets and think over what you really want. You need time to find the right puppy, maybe you have to wait. Do not breed for a quick success! We have the luck to know now many „old“ breeders in the UK and it is so interesting to hear their opinion.

WW: Tell us what you feel to be your biggest accomplishment.

Whipcat: There are some: Taking our Puzzle from England and bring her to her International title. Having the first selfbred Champions and last but not least at the moment: Our English Champion Whipcat Fire Island at Courthill.

 WW: What would you like people to know about your kennel?

Whipcat: The most important for us is the Whippet. They are all Members of our family and we love them more than we can say. We love to have puppies and we try to do the best for them. For us it is more important to find a wonderful home for our puppies than the absolute professional show home - maybe without love. Every Whippetfriend all over the world is invited to visit us - you are welcome!