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fleur

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I am soon to get my first ever dog, a whippet and have got some rather silly, basic questions to ask anyone who can help. I am going to get a plastic bed and wondered what is the best size? What do people think of extending leads? What type of collar is best? I have seen greyhounds with those very wide collars and wondered if there is a reason for this. I assume a harness is not suitable for whippets because of their deep chests.

Any other advise would be gratefully received. Thanks :)
 
Re plastic beds, before you buy one place it flat on the floor and press hard in the middle of the bed. This may sound silly but we bought a cheap one that used to deform downwards with a loud POP (w00t) when a dog got in it and then POP (w00t) (w00t) back when the dog leaped out in alarm. (w00t) (w00t) (w00t)

We took it back and got a refund (and some very strange looks).

Paul
 
I personally think a crate/cage is a very useful thing, it helps with house-training, chewing, encourages them to be calm in the house etc. Also good if you have other animals like older dogs or cats ( or elderly parents :wacko: ) who might not appreciate a puppy bouncing around.

Collars - dont be tempted to buy a fancy one too early. The puppy will soon grow out of it's first one (and scratch it to pieces while it's getting used to it too). We just had a nylon one with and adjustable buckle to begin with, and he still scratched his nice French Samaritaine collar to pieces at six months.

If it was winter I think I might be tempted to buy an igloo-type thing, as whippets need extra warmth at night (ours has a pyjama fleece AND cot duvet - he's still grumbling in the mornings when the latter falls off) but as it's warming up keep things simple and washable while you're still at the accident-prone stage.

Goodluck, keep us posted with puppy progress.

Elizabeth
 
Firstly, congratulations on your choice of breed. You won't be disappointed.

The wide collars you have seen are that way deliberately. It is assumed (wrongly IMO) that whippets/greyhound's necks are more delicate by virtue of them being long and slender - the wider width spreads the load over a wider area if you have a dog that "pulls" on the lead. Having said that - as far as I know we are the only breeds that have a specialised collar - so buy one and revel in your uniqueness :) Extending leads are fine but do watch out when walking beside a busy road - I know of a dog run over while still on the lead because the owner had allowed it too much length.

Plastic beds ... hmmm. I have tried mine in the past with these beds - fully padded out with duvets and blankets etc - but I can honestly say that they didn't particularly like them. The fluffy, fur fabric types may seem less durable but they ARE washable, and probably less likely to be gnawed upon. If your new whippet is going to live in the house with you (and I wouldn't have it any other way personally!) then a bean-bag or scrunched up duvet on the floor will probably be their bed of choice :)
 
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Hi Fleur, welcome to K9. Congratulations on getting your whippet :thumbsup: a fab choice. And you made a good choice coming to K9 too because if you're anything like me you'll find that K9 will become your online bible and primary source of info. Addiction isn't in it :b

I hate flexible leads personally, although lots of folk seem to like them. Probably just personal preference. I've been tied up in other people's so often I run the other way when i see one coming. And it seems horrible for the poor dog who zooms off only to reach the end rather rapidly and fling up in the air damaging its neck :(

Crate-training YES!! Brilliant for housetraining and preventing your place getting wrecked while you're out. Use the search function - you'll find TONS of old threads about crates.

Plastic bed... may as well get used to the fact that whatever bed you give a whippet they will always prefer yours, or the sofa, or the beanbag, you get the picture :- " :lol:

A great tip I got from another K9-er was to use a cat collar at first to get your pup used to wearing one, and then go for the leather one later. Lots of previous threads on collars too :thumbsup:

As for a harness, I do use one in the car to put the seatbelt through. It's brilliant, and I have noticed that if Josie still has it on when she gets out then she doesn't pull as much :unsure: so I'm thinking of getting a thinner one for daily use. They don't seem to actually constrict the chest, but I'll be interested to see what other people say.

We'll need piccies of your whippet soon ;)
 
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Hi Fleur Welcome to K9- You will not be dissappointed with a whippet. :cheers: :thumbsup:

Firstly is it a puppy you are after or an older rescue or rehome dog maybe. Make sure you choose and decide whats best for your particular circumstances at home.

Make sure you fully understand the needs of a puppy, its like having a new baby in the house for a while :blink: :wacko:

Whippets are sociable dogs and dont like to be left too long on their own - they do need 3/4 walks a day preferably off the leader as they get older for a good run, they are extremely active.

Beds - I prefer the softer squishy type - but you will soon see which kind your dog prefers. Usually the one in your bedroom. :- " :lol: :wub:

I would definitely buy a crate - its brilliant when you have guests or just want the puppy to have somewhere to call his or her own for some quiet time and brilliant for overnight.

I have leather leaders and collars - but its personal preference at the end of the day. And Yes Wide Fishtailed Collars as puppy gets older but a much softer thinner one at first till they get used to it. :thumbsup:

Good Luck :luck: with your search - and please let us all know when youve chosen and of course WE LOVE PICTURES. :thumbsup:
 
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IanGerman said:
The wide collars you have seen are that way deliberately. It is assumed (wrongly IMO) that whippets/greyhound's necks are more delicate by virtue of them being long and slender - the wider width spreads the load over a wider area if you have a dog that "pulls" on the lead.
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Yup, I'd agree with that. They also have another advantage, one I hope you'll never need. Just a couple of days after ours moved onto his proper whippet collar, a traveller's lurcher sprang out of the bushes on a local bridle path and attacked his neck visciously. Very fortunately the new collar protected his neck, although the relatively thick leather was bitten right through in several places and he would have probably had a very nasty injury with a less substantial collar.

I'm not a fan of extending leads for any dog, but I think they're esp. bad for whippets. On a pavement you will want your dog to walk neatly by your side, and not wander in front of other people, or dart into the gutter to grab edible rubbish (possibly straight into the path of a car). When you are in the park or common he/she will want to run around and play freely. They could possibly build up quite a lot of momentum before the long lead checks them quite painfully.

Ooh, don't get a chain lead but something that is quite soft as if they suddenly take off and your hand is round the chain IT IS AGONY :lol:

Elizabeth
 
Well , you have been given some really good advice already , but crates are Great , you can leave the house knowing full well that it will be the same on your return . :- " . Now Im not saying that your whippet will chew , but they do like a place to call there own , mine go in ours all the time , Some times 3 or 4 of them will try to get in together ( Ive got 8 (w00t) )

What a great name you have , My whippet `Fleur `is due to have pups next Saturady , how about that for co incidence :thumbsup:

Some of us on K9 have had whippets longer than we care to admit too :eek: , so any help / advice you need you know where to come

Welcome to K9 , Jackie and the ..... [SIZE=14pt]MULCAIR WHIPPETS [/SIZE]
 
Crates are great! I would get one instead of the plastic bed. We get hold of old carpet and use it on the bottom of the crate - if it gets yukky you can just throw it away and put in a new pit. We then fill the crate with blankets from second hand shops! Go and buy all the blankets you can find in second hand shops - our second whippet still gets through about one a week! (w00t)

I like extending leads but only for teaching recall in a park or somewhere you can't let your dog off the lead - don't use them on the road! They do learn where the end of the lead is quite quickly so they don't hurt themselves.

Good luck with your new pup! :luck:
 
I would not use an extending leash for the reasons already stated by others. But if you for some reason want to get one, get a really good one (the cheaper brands locking mechanism is not very good) and practice somewhere safe. It takes a while to master its controls! I have one that I used to use when I exercised my Borzoi with a pushbike in area where it was forbidden to let dogs of the leash. Also that way I did not have a loose leash tangling in my wheels. But she was well trained and trotted just beside me; she did not need to be on the leash at all.

Start training your puppy to come from the moment you get her. And practice the recall continuously every day, on every walk. That way you should not need extending lead anyway. And right from the beginning do not allow her to pull.

I like the plastic beds, I have several and they lived already through 3 litters (over the past 3 years) remarkably unscathed. I place various soft bedding, donut beds, sheepskins and eiderdown doonas in them.

Definitely get a crate.

:luck:

Lida
 
Hi Fleur,

I'm in the same boat as you. Glad you asked some good questions and got some great responses. I'll be watching the boards with you.

:)

John
 
Great choice of dog. My first dog was a working sheepdog - nightmare in the house. Great outside but never really bonded as a companion, didnt realise it then but really wanted a lap dog!! Now had a whippet for 3 years and had to have another after 18 months - they definately grow on you. Would never have another breed now.

Agree with all the other comments, re beds, I use the plastic ones but have a babys cot duvet in them (perfect size) I have spent many an hour buying these cot duvets from e bay and they have proved excellent.

I do use the stretchy leads and find that the dogs know when they are near the end of their tether! and therefore do not have a problem with pulling their necks. I started using these leads after my first whippet went poking around in a wood (as they do) and returned to me with a 7 inch tear right down the front leg, it was amazing all the structures were clearly visible, tendons, muscle etc. He was a very lucky dog and the vet did an excellent repair. Since then I am very fussy and anxious where they run free, and hence the extending leads.

Hope you enjoy yours, I WANT ANOTHER PUP -_- , but OH would freak!!! :rant:
 
Hi - Welcome to K9.

Agree with all the advice given already. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: I use a crate with Dolly who is now 15 months old, and it has been invaluable. Saves the house being chewed up when you are out and it really helped with toilet training. She has never had an accident in her crate. I always took her in the garden as soon as I let her out of the crate and this seemed to work well.

I have recently used an extending lead as Dolly is in season at the moment. But I wouldn't use one when walking by a road as I have heard of them failing, and the dog can suddenly dash off into the road. I just use it at the moment when we walk along the canal towpath and she does seem to know when it comes to the end and hasn't been 'jerked' yet.

In her crate I use a vet bed with a duvet on top. I cut up a large duvet into about 6 crate-sized ones, and then made soft covers for them which can be washed easily. However, as others have said, only use old blankets to start with as they will get chewed. :lol: :lol: :lol: I also have a baby's cot bumper (charity shop find) attached to the crate to stop draughts.

Lots of toys to play with are necessary - things like empty toilet rolls were played with when she was a pup. I buy toys from charity shops for 50p, but you have to remove eyes etc for safety.

Good luck - you have made a great choice. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
 
I am soon to get my first ever dog, a whippet and have got some rather silly, basic questions to ask anyone who can help. I am going to get a plastic bed and wondered what is the best size?

One that will hold at least two whippets as these are very collectable dogs.

Plastic is OK but better are the soft ones which your dogS :D will enjoy much more

What do people think of extending leads?

Definitely not IMO - many folk do use them and like them but I think a whippet should either be free running or at your side.

What type of collar is best? I have seen greyhounds with those very wide collars and wondered if there is a reason for this.

As a real baby a whippet could wear cat collar so the dog gets used to a colla- as the dog grows so does the collar size. Sight hounds use what is called a fish-tail collar (not just whippets BTW) which do not put so much stress on the neck when they pull. Whether this is a reason or an explanantion I dont know but would never use a narrow collar on any of my dogs (other than in the show ring)

I assume a harness is not suitable for whippets because of their deep chests.

Never understood the need for these - you may be able to use a Halti for better control

Any other advise would be gratefully received. Thanks :)




As for the suggestion they need 3 to 4 walks a day -I am sure some dogs would enjoy this but a whippet doesn't need a lot of walking they DO need free running.

The whippet was bred to catch small game ie rabbits. They would be kept alongside the owner and when a rabbit was seen would be released to chase and catch the family supper. On return to the owner the dog would go back on the lead until the next rabbit was seen.

 

A whippet loves free running and sleeping and eating and being with you.

They do not like cold winds, being left alone, and cats (at least mine dont :D )
 
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Janimal said:
I would definitely buy a crate - its brilliant when you have guests
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(w00t) I normally have my guests sleep in the spare bedroom Janis :lol: :p :teehee:
 
Greyhounds wear wide collars because their necks swell up when they are excited in anticipation of a chase. If an ordinary collar was fitted correctly it would become very tight across the windpipe and cut in, with the possibility of causing damage and choking. A wide collar spreads the pressure over a large surface area with no such problems.

Whether other sighthounds who were coursed originally followed suit for the same reasons or they just followed the example because they were sighthounds I don't know.

Trapper
 
The reason whippets wear wide collars is that in the heyday of whippet racing, dogs were encouraged to pull on the lead to help develop their muscles, a wide collar helped to stop them damaging their neck.
 
I think extending leads are lethal, particularly the ones with thin leads. Nana once ran straight through another dog's lead (we walk on an enormous meadow where most dogs run loose and the other person's dog was playing a long way away from her) she was going almost flat out, and the scream was ear piercing. She had blood blisters 4 inches long and aout an inch wide and about 1/2 thick down the inside of her right front and back legs, and a burn all the way down her chest.

Also I agree that whippets should either be running free or close to you and they move too fast for extending leads

Olivia
 
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