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Whippet or chihuahua?

BeckyT

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Hello Everyone,

I am new here and was after some advice please. We would really like to get a puppy at some point in the future. I have had dogs before, a Shih Tzu and a long haired Chihuahua. I loved my chi, she was beautiful. Good natured, not yappy so loving etc etc.

Things is I have 3 children now so I wondered what your views are on whippets and chihuahuas in my situation. I really do love whippets, would they make a good pet for us as a family and will they be happy in a busy family? I fear a chihuahua may be too small for us as my children are fairly young. Not that they are mean to animals or anything, but I would be worried the puppy would get stood on by accident or something.

They are my two favourite breeds, whippets and chi's. What do you think?

Many thanks :flowers:
 
Hi!

I do like bigger dogs and for that reason I would automatically go for a whippet.

However, my brother has two chihuahua's. One is lovely, the other not so much. A bit barky.

I think the key for a small dog is to treat them as a normal dog. The mistake a lot of people make is picking them up. You wouldn't do it with a big dog so not sure why people do it with smaller dogs.

People do make the mistake that smaller dogs need less walks, less training and generally easier to train.

In regards to whippets I have never owned one so cannot comment on if they're right for you but I do know there are a few whippet owners on here who maybe able to help.
 
If youve never had a whip then you need to be careful, run very fast dissapear very quick but great dogs.
 
Yes Whippets are indeed great dogs, and the ones I know of that live with children of various ages are all great with them. As to lurchermans comments yes they can and do run very fast, which is why teaching them recall is more important than with most dogs. And using kind, gentle, positive training in general they are good to train. My advice would be to visit a good breeder near you and talk to them.
 
Hi Becky

In your position I think I'd go for a whippet too. They're very good at being homebodies and couch potatoes as long as they have their exercise needs met, and they're very sensitive souls. Chihuahuas are generally sweet but if you've got a boisterous home and boisterous children then such a small dog can be very much at risk of either being treated like a toy (have you seen how most children treat their toys?), of being stood on or injured accidentally by the members of the household or of becoming scared or ending up with behavioural problems as a result of not coping with the children.

Of course, the same could be true of any size of dog. I've seen way too many GSDs that have been ridden by children, or had their ears or tail pulled so are now very non child friendly, and any dog that has a gentle or delicate nature could end up with behavioural problems as a result of being scared of boisterous children. This can be one of the hardest parts to manage with sharing a home with children and animals- teaching the children how to treat the animals and the animals how to treat the children, and then enforcing the rules.

Can I suggest that as you prepare for getting a dog you go to your local rescue centre and arrange to take some dogs from their kennels for family walks together so that you and the children have lots of opportunity to see the sorts of times that the dog and the children may come into unsuitable contact with each other? You may even find a different sort of dog that you love too :)
 
Hi i would deffos go for a whippet we got one called sky amd we now have three and our bitch has just had a litter of 8 i love my whippets if you are looking for. Pup i have 4 dog pups here they will be kc reg if ypu are intrest my number is 07946259143
 

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