The Whippet (also English Whippet or Snap Dog) is a dog breed of medium size. They are a sighthound breed that originated in England, where they descended from Greyhounds. Whippets today still strongly resemble a smaller Greyhound. They are a sighthound breed that originated in England, where they descended from Greyhounds. The name is derived from an early 17th-century word, now obsolete, meaning 'to move briskly'. In the 19th century, Whippet racing was a popular sport in parts of England. Early specimens were taken from the race track by the dog fanciers of the time and exported around the world. John Taylor said that 'In all the shapes and forms of dogges; of all which there are but two sorts that are useful to man's profits, which two are the mastiffe and the little curre, whippet, or house-dogge; all the rest are for pleasure and recreation.' A UK breed survey puts the median lifespan at 12 years 10 months.