Whippets were commonly known as 'snap dogs' for their tendency to 'snap up' nearby prey. Whippets have been called a 'poor man's racehorse' by the colliers in Lancashire and Yorkshire.Despite being bred for racing, Whippets can be couch potatoes. When not running around, they are usually asleep or cuddled in their owner's lap. They are not prone to fighting but have been known to chase small pets, due to their sighthound nature.