Breed comparison
Scottish Deerhound vs Whippet
How the two breeds compare on the American Kennel Club's 1 to 5 trait ratings, and which one suits which home.
Scottish Deerhound
5Affection with family5
3Good with young children5
5Good with other dogs5
3Openness to strangers3
3Playfulness4
3Energy level4
3Trainability3
3Mental stimulation needs4
3Adaptability3
3Watchdog / protective3
1Barking1
3Shedding2
1Coat grooming1
1Drooling1
The biggest differences
- Good with young children: the Whippet scores 5 out of 5, the Scottish Deerhound 3.
They score the same on affection with family, good with other dogs, openness to strangers, trainability, adaptability, watchdog / protective.
Which one should you choose?
Pick the Scottish Deerhound if you prefer a calmer dog. Pick the Whippet if you have young children, you want an energetic exercise partner, you want less dog hair.
Ratings are general breed tendencies from the AKC. Every dog is an individual, so meet the dog, and its parents if you can, before you decide. Not sure? Try the breed selector.
Source: American Kennel Club breed ratings (compiled February 2022). How we check.