Hello...

[Wooliewoo]

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Hi, I’m a complete newbie! We’re due to welcome our new addition to our family around the 13th August. We are super excited as we have not had a dog in the family for over 20 years and never had a puppy before. So in preparation I’m spending a great deal of time searching for information, advice and guidance to ensure we give him the best start..... and to ensure effective training takes place to make our lives easier in the long run. We are fully aware bringing a puppy into our lives is a huge commitment, which we are 100% prepared to provide.....

Hoping to find some helpful tips within this forum.

Here’s a sneaky peek at him, taken Sunday...

 

[Violet Turner]

Awe! Sweet photo

 

[JudyN]

Oh lovely!! What breed is he?

My favourite puppy book is The Puppy Primer by Patricia McConnell. My no. 1 advice would be to let him sleep in your bedroom, at least to start with. It used to be common to leave pups to 'cry it out' for the first few days/weeks but it really isn't a good way to develop a secure, confident pup. They need to feel safe.

 

[Wooliewoo]

Thank you, he’s a Whippet.

Thanks for the book recommendation, I’ve been looking for a good one.

The only rule my other half is insisting on is that he doesn’t sleep in the bedrooms (yeah, right, we’ll see how long that lasts) so the plan is to give up our comfy bed and take it in turns to sleep on the sofa downstairs with him until he settles. We shall see!? Me.... I’m happy for him to snuggle and snore next to me, I’m sure he’ll be quieter than the OH, and take up less room!

 

[JoanneF]

Ooh, lovely. @bikerjohn and @Whippylove have whippets and may have more to add.

 

[leashedForLife]

.

seconding the motion to have him in the bedroom [crated, beside the bed], at least until he's dry & clean overnight, which is around 15-WO, generally.
U'll need to get him out overnite to pee, anyway, & setting the alarm to get up around 3-AM, it's easy when the pup is right there to get up, toss on a coat or robe, feet into slippers or boots, & grab the leash off the roof of the crate... then open the crate, PICK UP the pup, & carry them outdoors.
Of course, 3-AM assumes U go to bed abt 11-pm - 'cuz U set the alarm for approx 4-hrs later than bedtime.

Having Pup in the bedroom is not only convenient for U, it reassures the pup, & helps them to bond - dogs don't sleep "together" past puphood, but they do sleep as a group activity, just each in their own space. So hearing U breathe, smelling U nearby, these are all things that build trust & closeness. What else can help build a relationship when U're asleep, after all? - U don't need to "do" anything. Just be there.

- terry

.

 

[Mad Murphy]

Dont be too sure about the less room theory, fact is the smaller the dog the more bed space they need!
Love that you are getting prepared already and he looks really cute, does the little man have a name yet?

 

[Whippylove]

Welcome and Congratulations on your new whippet he's beautiful fawns are my fav
I have 3, 15 weeks being my youngest they're addictive little puppies lol
They are a joy to have very loving and hyper when babies lol i adore the puppy stage.
For bedtime i know people that keep their whippets in their own beds but my boys are with me! Lots use crates but its not something I've used for very long.
Where are you getting him from if you dont mind me asking? Hes gorgeous
If i can be any help just ask

 

[arealhuman]

Welcome! What a lovely little fella. Good luck with it all, keep us updated!

 

[Wooliewoo]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome and the advice provided so far.....

We are getting him from a recommended breeder in cumbria. The breeder owns both his mum and dad and they are beautiful and healthy.

He’s a blue fawn and as yet he doesn’t have a name, we are open to suggestions though please.

At the moment my son likes the name Ozzie, I like Ace and my other half likes George!

 

[JudyN]

I’m sure he’ll be quieter than the OH, and take up less room!

Quieter maybe, but as for taking up less room - pointy dogs, even whippet-sized ones, have this knack of streeeeeetching out their legs and gradually pushing you to the edge of the bed. Before long they will be happily sleeping right in the middle of the bed with their head in the middle of the pillow. As my dad once said of my mum's sleeping habits, 'She gets the middle and I get the edges'

 

[Whippylove]

Hi is he coming from Wigton? I know a couple off breeders there. Im not far South west Scotland . My whippet has blue in him as well, beautiful colour

 

[Josie]

welcome @Wooliewoo - can't wait to see more of your gorgeous puppy!

A whippet has never been the dog of choice for me but oh my aren't whippet puppies just THE cutest

 

[Wooliewoo]

Whippylove, near Wigton, Thornby....

X

 

[Teddy560]

He is cute. I like the name Blue

 

[Wooliewoo]

He is cute. I like the name Blue

I love the name blue, unfortunatly a friend of mine has a full blue whippet called Blue, so it would feel wrong pinching his cool name and calling our little man blue. But thanks for the suggestion x