Whippet advice

mtbbuxton

I have a whippet and yes, they are as loyal and loving as they are made out to be. What they most definitely are not is mini greyhounds - their personalities are very different. Whippets tend to think for themselves and when being trained, need to have a good reason to do something. That good reason may be pleasing you, but if they don't fancy it, it's not happening :rotfl:They also have higher energy levels, so need more physical and mental stimulation. I'm not talking collie or lab levels here, just more than a greyhound.

Mine lives with two cats and is as good as gold with them. Outside is a different matter and she would kill any other cat she got hold of. She's had a few squirrels, rabbits and even birds, despite wearing very loud falconry bells attached to her collar. If your cat is an outdoors cat, be careful when they're both in the garden as whippets will sometimes chase "their" cats outdoors.

If you want a dog that will walk along at your heel without a lead or will gently mooch through the country lanes, then a whippet probably isn't the best choice. Their prey drive is innate. Sometimes it can be tamed or even controlled, but mostly if they see something furry, feathery and/or edible, they're off :eek: They also go deaf and use their athletic abilities to jump far highter than you ever imagined possible!

Whippets are prone to separation anxiety and this seems to be the biggest reason for them being surrendered to Rescue (I volunteer for a sighthound rescue) so if you go ahead, make sure you don't over-indulge them with too much affection - easier said than done Keep them lean, they're not meant to be well padded dogs and I would strongly recommend you take out a good Insurance policy. A broken leg can cost £3,000 and a running dog with a quick turn can easily damage themselves. Whippets also have thin skin which can easily tear when playing with other dogs or running through the rough and hedgerows.

All that said, I can virtually guarantee that if you open your home and your heart to a whippet, you'll be rewarded with so much love, laughter and joy that you'll be loathed to ever have a different breed :T

M x

zaksmum

Couldn't agree more. But Jack will walk alongside me off lead as long as there are no small furries around - he's hopelessly in love with me and gets separation anxiety if I so much as go to the loo!

He could NEVER live with a cat though. He's had cat claws embedded in his muzzle on more than one occasion with no cat in sight.

His athletic ability amazes me. He can jump 6ft railings around the park lake to get to a squirrel who thought he was safe there and chase rabbits through dense shrubbery on the side of a vertical cliff. He can swim really fast too.

He does have good insurance because at the speed he runs he could well hurt himself.

He really is a much loved and fabulous dog.

Danili

My mum and dad have an 8 year old female whippet...

Negatives - she steals food, is hyper and is not very good off the lead. She also humps everything!

Positives - she is fantastic with children and is so loyal. She doesn't smell or moult too much either.

zaksmum

I think whippets and whippet crosses are fantastic dogs. In Jack I have the speed and agility of the whippet father and the calm temperament of the labrador mother.

A really good combination in my opinion.

PollyOnAMission

I have two whippets and here are my answers to your questions:

Do whippets get on with cats in their own home?
If a whippet is raised with cats at home, there is every chance it will be absolutely fine. I know many whippets who live with cats without issue. Other cats out and about may be seen as fair game though, as may squirrels, rabbits etc.

Do boy dogs hump everything?
My two boys sometimes hump each other in play, but they never hump people. One of them occasionally humps a particular bed but I've hidden that in the loft now. Both of mine are castrated and this will vary from dog to dog, but I've certainly not found humping much of an issue having boys.

Are they as loyal and loving as they sound?
Every whippet is different, but overall they are EXTREMELY loving and like nothing more than to snuggle up with their owners for cuddles. My two boys are quite different in their personalities. One absolutely LOVES every single person or dog he ever meets. He is great at charming strangers/new people because he just gets so happy to meet new people and would sit on their knees all day if he could. Within his "family" he is extremely loving but more on his own terms; he's a funny little character and can be quite demanding. But when he's in the mood for a cuddle he is SO sweet and he's amazing at reading my emotions. If I'm ever upset he is right there, cuddling up to me and being lovely. My other boy is 100% totally and utterly devoted and loyal to me. He would pick me over any new person and it takes him a while to get comfortable around people. Once he knows you though, he is incredibly affectionate and loyal. Both dogs have such funny, quirky personalities and make me laugh every single day. They make other dogs look a bit boring in comparison!

Any other things to consider?
Whippets are reknowned thieves and very agile. They are opportunists and will take a chance at counter-surfing; one of mine can jump onto the kitchen worktop from a standstill. You do need to watch their prey drive and speed (don't forget what they have been bred for; even the most well trained dog still has instincts) and for this reason it's wise to be careful where you let them off lead. It's very important to work solidly on recall from a very early age.

Whippets can be quite a sensitive breed and as such respond well to positive training. They are independent thinkers and respond well to clicker training and problem solving tasks. They really do not cope well with harsh training methods and the now outdated dominance theories.

Other things to consider specific to whippets and similar breeds are that they can get cold easily (no undercoat, little fat and fine hair) so there's a good chance they will need some kind of coat/jumper in cold weather. They really like their comforts and you may find it tricky to keep them off the sofas etc! Their delicate necks also mean they are best walked on a harness, head collar or proper whippet collar that spreads the pressure. Bear in mine that their small head means they can slip certain collars easily, and their wide chests mean they can slip certain harnesses easily (look for one that has a third strap around the slimmest part of the waist).

Overall they are the most amazing pets. They are low maintenance, don't shed much, don't have a doggy odour and curl up really small Make sure a puppy is not over-exercised too early on before its growth plates fuse and make sure you feed a good quality, additive-free food and you'd be giving them a great start in life.

I also recommend The Whippet Forum for loads of whippet-specific advice
http://www.thewhippetforum.com/forums/

Tropez

I have four whippets and the advice given by Polly is accurate, hence I wish her success in her mission, which I assume is very top secret and hush hush.

What I do think is worth mentioning is that baby whippets are evil. I'm not a religious man, nor do I pay particular interest to those who profess to have some sort of connection to the paranormal but there is no earthly reason why whippet puppies are the way that they are so I can only assume it is some sort of temporary demonic possession, possibly similar to how Vigo the Carpathian operated.

Don't worry though, eventually the barking spiritualist will recite the holy words and rid your puppy of this infestation and then it will become a lazy couch potato, perking up for walks and food, and then going back to snooze land. Be aware that whippets will learn every single word you have for any type of food that they may consume and give you the doe eyes if they hear it, but they may attempt to forget their names if it suits them, so rigorous training is needed.

Georgia40

Thank you to everyone for all the helpful replies.

A quick update, we have put a deposit on tan and white whippet, currently 4 weeks old so we are picking him up in October. We met his mum and the rest of the litter, the breeder was lovely, very enthusiastic about her dogs and answered all our questions.

The breeder has 2 whippets and a cat, the cat was fast asleep on the sofa and the dogs just left it alone.
The puppy we have chosen was very interested in my DH when handled, gave his fingers a nibble and a puppy kiss, stumbled over to the breeder and fell over so hopefully we'll have a right little character.
We are getting weekly updates on our pup and can't wait for him to come home. We need to sort some bits and pieces out for him now - bed, crate, bowls, collar, lead, newspapers and a few toys. Love and attention will be plentiful.

DH will be taking him to puppy classes and he'll visit the vet when we get him home.

I don't know how to post photos so if anyone can help?

Georgia40

Tropez wrote: »

I have four whippets and the advice given by Polly is accurate, hence I wish her success in her mission, which I assume is very top secret and hush hush.

What I do think is worth mentioning is that baby whippets are evil. I'm not a religious man, nor do I pay particular interest to those who profess to have some sort of connection to the paranormal but there is no earthly reason why whippet puppies are the way that they are so I can only assume it is some sort of temporary demonic possession, possibly similar to how Vigo the Carpathian operated.

Don't worry though, eventually the barking spiritualist will recite the holy words and rid your puppy of this infestation and then it will become a lazy couch potato, perking up for walks and food, and then going back to snooze land. Be aware that whippets will learn every single word you have for any type of food that they may consume and give you the doe eyes if they hear it, but they may attempt to forget their names if it suits them, so rigorous training is needed.

Strange you said about whippet puppies been evil, my photo update yesterday showed the pup with a demonic glint in his eyes!! :rotfl:

Better_Days

We have a rescue lurcher (not sure what the cross is) and I would agree with what has been said above. Affectionate, sweet tempered, thin skin easily torn, OK with cats in the house, but will chase furries if let off lead etc. Likes to greet visitors by sticking his head between their legs and lifting upwards:eek:

He is also somewhat neurotic and does suffer from separation anxiety. Every morning I shut him on his own in one of the bedrooms for a couple of hours which helps.

Loves to sunbathe and follows sunbeams round the living room like a cat. Needs a coat in the winter. Will seek out the softest warmest spot to sleep in.

He is not the brightest star in the sky which can be frustrating.

Loved by just about everyone who visits and especially by my nephew and the couple who have him in their home when we go on holiday (he came back from kennels depressed and it took him 3 months to get back to his normal self, so we avoid kennels if possible).

Overall not an easy dog - though hard to say how much is down to breed and how much is down to his difficult start before we had him.