Advice For A Potential Dog Owner?

[Julie D]

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welcome and :luck: in your search, hope you get sorted soon...........tickled me to see you wanted to get a lawn ready for them.............we had a really nice lawn before our whippie but now it's patchy and completely wrecked, she doesn't dig, obviously bitch's wee kills the grass and I defy anyone to religiously water EVERY SINGLE WEE on the grass :- " it just seems to be worn out all over !!

keep looking you'll be lucky eventually.

 

[Nicky Co.]

welcome and  :luck:   in your search, hope you get sorted soon...........tickled me to see you wanted to get a lawn ready for them.............we had a really nice lawn before our whippie but now it's patchy and completely wrecked, she doesn't dig, obviously bitch's wee kills the grass and I defy anyone to religiously water EVERY SINGLE WEE on the grass  :- "  it just seems to be worn out all over !!
keep looking you'll be lucky eventually.

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Well we moved in just over a year ago, so have only just turned our attention to the garden - it was a giant bramble patch! We've hacked everything back and dug out most of the roots, but thought a lawn just for the dog would be a good idea - he can wreck it as much as he likes as it'll be his, but I will attempt to do the gardening thing with the other half of the garden, depending on whether or not he takes a fancy to it! :lol:

 

[JAX]

I dont want to put you off having a whippet ( why should I when I have 10 (w00t) ) but have you thought about getting a retired greyhound ? ok they are bigger , but are real couch potatoes and dont take up alot more room than a whippet ,and you could be saving its life )

We are lucky with whippets as we usually have more homes waiting than whippets available

Just a thought :huggles:

welcome to K9

jackie and the Mulcairs

 

[FeeFee]

I dont want to put you off having a whippet ( why should I when I  have 10  (w00t) ) but have you thought about getting a retired greyhound ? ok they are bigger , but are real couch potatoes and dont take up alot more room than a whippet ,and you could be saving its life  )
We are lucky with whippets as we usually have more homes waiting than whippets available

Just a thought  :huggles:

welcome to K9

jackie and the Mulcairs

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There are always pairs of greyhounds looking for homes together, too.

I know of a lovely pair of 2 year old girls in Gloucestershire at the moment, described as very petite greyhounds not much bigger than whippets........

 

[Nicky Co.]

Well greyhounds are lovely, but I'd heard they are more prone to various illnesses and injuries than whippets, which would be heartbreaking.

I'd also heard they are not as good with other pets, although I don't know if that is true? I have a cockatiel, although she is getting old now, and also have a marine fish tank - its big and heavy so I thought if a whippet got a little too interested and put his paws up on the glass his weight wouldn't be enough to shift it, but wasn't so sure about a bigger dog like a greyhound!

Oh, and Jax your photo was brilliant - what a beautiful family! :wub:

 

[whippetmad]

I THINK YOU FIND IF YOU GET ONE OFF THE WHIPPET RESCUE THERES USUALLY A LONG WAITING LIST.

I WOULD CERTAINLY CONSIDER A GREYHOUND,THEY MAKE EXCELLENT PETS,THERE ARE PLENTY OUT THERE LOOKING FOR LOVING HOMES AND ONES THAT WOULD FIT INTO YOUR HOUSEHOLD.

GOOD LUCK WHATEVER YOU DECIDE :luck: :luck:

 

[JAX]

EX Racing Greyhounds must be one of the healthyiest breeds out I would have thought . Strong and sturdy dogs , they are usually better behaved than whippets on the lead too , having been exercised in a group they wouldnt get away with pulling

Mine lived uptil 16,14 and 2 to twelve ..I raced them and they lived with my then 8 cats (w00t)

I also have a fish tank and they took no interest in it what so ever , neither do the whippets . My pond was of no interest to them either

But its up to you , Greyhounds are the most wonderful of dogs , I just wish Id got room , but as you see Ive been `taken over` by whippets (w00t) :lol:

 

[JAX]

Just thought , I dont mean ITALIAN Greyhounds . which are much smaller and can be prone to injuries

 

[Louise_Simon]

I have two whippets and a retired greyhound, I can honestly say the greyhound has been perfect o she was 4/5 years old when we got her, brilliant on the lead, good with small dogs, not fussy about food as long as there is some (w00t) she spends her days reclining on the sofa and nothing will shift her. If she had a catch phrase it would be ' Am I bothered'

 

[Nicky Co.]

EX Racing Greyhounds must be one of the healthyiest breeds out I would have thought . Strong and sturdy dogs , they are usually better behaved than whippets on the lead too , having been exercised in a group they wouldnt get away with pulling
Mine lived uptil 16,14 and 2 to twelve ..I raced them and they lived with my then 8 cats  (w00t)  

I also have a fish tank and they took no interest in it what so ever , neither do the whippets . My pond was of no interest to them either

But its up to you , Greyhounds are the  most wonderful of dogs , I just wish Id got room , but as you see Ive been `taken over` by whippets  (w00t)   :lol:

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That's good to know - shows reading up on things is only useful to a point - its best to speak to people with experience! The website I looked at said greyhounds live 10-12 years but ex-racers may live to only 7! Also said they had problems with their skin, spine, legs, teeth....

I'm keeping my options open at the moment - I think I'll see if my local greyhound rescue place will let me visit so I can see them up close and personal, and see if I could cope with them size-wise, as thats the only thing I'm still a little nervous about. My husband has had a dog in the past, but I haven't apart from dog-sitting for a friend before, so thought a big dog might be a bit much for a beginner!

 

[whippynit]

EX Racing Greyhounds must be one of the healthyiest breeds out I would have thought . Strong and sturdy dogs , they are usually better behaved than whippets on the lead too , having been exercised in a group they wouldnt get away with pulling
Mine lived uptil 16,14 and 2 to twelve ..I raced them and they lived with my then 8 cats  (w00t)  

I also have a fish tank and they took no interest in it what so ever , neither do the whippets . My pond was of no interest to them either

But its up to you , Greyhounds are the  most wonderful of dogs , I just wish Id got room , but as you see Ive been `taken over` by whippets  (w00t)   :lol:

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That's good to know - shows reading up on things is only useful to a point - its best to speak to people with experience! The website I looked at said greyhounds live 10-12 years but ex-racers may live to only 7! Also said they had problems with their skin, spine, legs, teeth....

I'm keeping my options open at the moment - I think I'll see if my local greyhound rescue place will let me visit so I can see them up close and personal, and see if I could cope with them size-wise, as thats the only thing I'm still a little nervous about. My husband has had a dog in the past, but I haven't apart from dog-sitting for a friend before, so thought a big dog might be a bit much for a beginner!

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just to say keep your eye out on here too - sometimes whips and/or greyhounds may come up needing a home ( i.e returned to breeder, or a link to a rescue site, etc) :luck:

 

[Macha]

In the two years I've been a "k9member" , I have come across at least two cases where rescue groups were looking for someone to rehome a pair of whippets and also a few cases of a pairs in which one was a whippet (one paired with a terrier, one with a smallish wire-haired lurcher). Many rescue groups WILL send dogs for adoptions to homes very far away; I think in this case most would ask a nearby rescue group to do the homecheck for them.

I got two dogs at about the same time, but from different places. One was an adult dog who was used to kennels (not indoors) and the the other was a four-month old pup who was still with his breeder. There was indeed havoc with the dogs play-fighting and with chewing, but minimised by keeping them in a hallway with no furnishings. At first I used a barrier to separate them when I wasn't supervising, but now they are adults and friends and I have no problems leaving them. Usually on weekdays they are home with only each other for company about 6 hours a day (too long to coop dogs up in a crate, but my hallway is larger than the average kennel run), so I make the effort to give them good exercise before I leave and when I return. They aren't showing any signs of stress and I feel a lot happier knowing they do have each others' company. I deliberately vary my homecoming time a bit so they aren't expecting me back dead on time. Occasionally they are left for a couple of hours longer than usual, but if I think I might be away more than 10 hours I would be sure to have someone else look after the dogs. Some people even take their dogs to kennels as day-boarders on a regular basis; I don't think that is any dearer than hiring a dog-walker.

I've often thought if I had a secure enough premises, I would love to be able to allow the dogs in and out of the yard via a dog gate as you are proposing.

 

[Macha]

What is your reason for wanting a whippet?

My family got a whippet when I was 10 years old, so the breed is fairly "imprinted" on me.

One reason I'm asking is that there is a Q&A in the May 2007 edition of Your Dog magazine, recommending the breed to someone who will be leaving the dog home alone while working. I thought that was rather pat! Whippets are indeed easy to keep in the house, but some of them are nervous and have separation anxiety. They almost all have a high chase instinct and because they are physically sensitive you have to be more careful about keeping young children from poking and pulling at them than you would have to be with some breeds (though care must be exercised with any breed).

some more tips I've thought of (as a non-expert)

1) if you have one dog, a kong or a good chewing bone will keep the dog occupied for long periods

2) with two dogs, edible chews are too contentious but they should enjoy playing with hard rubber balls and tug-of-war toys

3) I'm told some dogs cope better alone if there is a radio playing in the background (soothing classical music?) (it doesn't seem to make any difference to my two, who cope just as well when the radio is off)

4) You hope to have a baby. A pen or crate is going to come in very handy, all the more reason for getting your dog used to the crate from the beginning. And early on in your pregnancy you can gradually introduce changes in routine, such as different exercise times and restrictions on where the dog is allowed in the house BEFORE the changes all become necessary. When the baby is born, you can introduce the dog to baby's scent before they actually meet.

 

[stormydog]

some good ideas there pip !

"I'm told some dogs cope better alone if there is a radio playing in the background (soothing classical music?) "

my 2 could listen to "james brown" all day ! then when i come home all the little tarts from my area are in my garden dancing & wearing nothing but their collars !!

j :unsure: hn

 

[Macha]

I forgot to say, whatever the breed, a good rescue organisation will have assessed the dogs they are re-homing and will have a good idea of whether they are prone to separation anxiety and how good they are with children. So they can help you choose a dog which will suit you. Though I agree with what Urchin says: it's not just the dog who adapts to your lifestyle; you will make adjustments also.

 

[JAX]

EX Racing Greyhounds must be one of the healthyiest breeds out I would have thought . Strong and sturdy dogs , they are usually better behaved than whippets on the lead too , having been exercised in a group they wouldnt get away with pulling
Mine lived uptil 16,14 and 2 to twelve ..I raced them and they lived with my then 8 cats  (w00t)  

I also have a fish tank and they took no interest in it what so ever , neither do the whippets . My pond was of no interest to them either

But its up to you , Greyhounds are the  most wonderful of dogs , I just wish Id got room , but as you see Ive been `taken over` by whippets  (w00t)   :lol:

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That's good to know - shows reading up on things is only useful to a point - its best to speak to people with experience! The website I looked at said greyhounds live 10-12 years but ex-racers may live to only 7! Also said they had problems with their skin, spine, legs, teeth....

I'm keeping my options open at the moment - I think I'll see if my local greyhound rescue place will let me visit so I can see them up close and personal, and see if I could cope with them size-wise, as thats the only thing I'm still a little nervous about. My husband has had a dog in the past, but I haven't apart from dog-sitting for a friend before, so thought a big dog might be a bit much for a beginner!

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Could you let me know what web-site that is PM me if you like . All my dogs raced , Jemma was still racing at nearly 6 years old ( only sprints ) I never had or have ever heard of them having trouble with skin , spine or legs . 2 of mine( Barty and Jessie ) had cancer at 12, and Jemma and Bonnie died of general old age . Cheers Jackie

 

[Nicky Co.]

What is your reason for wanting a whippet?

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Thanks for the tips!

My main reason for wanting a whippet is their temperament - I've heard they are very friendly non-agressive dogs. I'm a little nervous around some dogs, because I've heard of them biting or attacking people, but all the whippets/whippet crosses I have met have been lovely laid-back dogs that had loads of personality and I felt comfortable with them.

Another factor was their size - no offence to anyone here who likes small dogs, but I'm not a fan of small yappy dogs, especially yorkies - my dad always called them 'rat on a string'... :b On the the otherhand, because I haven't much experience with dogs, I thought a big dog was to be avoided, and whippets seemed the perfect size.

Lastly, they're beautiful looking dogs! I love watching whippets and greyhounds running on our local beach - they're such graceful animals.

 

[Nicky Co.]

Could you let me know what web-site that is    PM me if you like . All my dogs raced , Jemma was still racing at nearly 6 years old ( only sprints  ) I never had or have ever heard of them having trouble with skin , spine or legs . 2 of mine( Barty and Jessie ) had cancer at 12, and Jemma and Bonnie died of general old age . Cheers Jackie

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No problem, it was this one:

http://www.petplanet.co.uk/petplanet/breeds/Greyhound.htm

Nicky

 

[hely]

we are now the proud owners of a lovely 19 month whippet girl................and she is the most laid back affectionate little thing, she is great with the kids and likes nothing better than to be cuddled on the sofa with you.....highly recommened