Are Whippets Really That Bad?

[suzeanna]

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Our rescue lurcher is a whippetxgrey, bit bigger than a whippet but not nearly as big as a grey, he's a lovely boy, give or take some lead aggression to other dogs when walking. I've fallen head over heels for the pics of whippet puppies on here, but my OH has been reading the threads about the one dog house demolition experts that seem to be some whippets and although he agrees they are beautiful dogs, he says his bank balance wouldn't run to new suites...shoes...books...carpets...well anything really. Are they all so destructive, or are there some blood lines who seem to be worse than others? We are lucky with Dylan, the only things he tends to rip up are tissues and wrapping paper, doesnt touch anything else, although many years ago when I had a litter of dobe pups, they reduced everything around them to firewood!

 

[Janimal]

Dont let things you read put you off whippets please. I have owned two previous whippets before the two I have now. (w00t) They have lovely natures and not all are destructive. All puppies need to chew - so providing you give them plenty of toys and chews and things to help their teeth develop, and start off as you mean to go on with the discipline , I dont think you would have too much trouble.

It depends on how long you want to leave them alone - mine are never left for more than 4 hours and my youngest dog is 11 months - he sometimes chews things - but Oscar who is 2 in July this year hardly ever chews at all now - apart from his bones of course.

I had a crate to start off with and the dogs were left inside the locked crate and gradually let out more ad more until I could trust them and they felt safe too, as I have 3 cats and didnt want them chasing them all over when I wasnt there to supervise.

Whippets are very lively characters but they arnt all the same, like people they all have very different characters.

I am sure that some K9 members have multiple whippet households and would be able to advise you better than me, but I wouldnt be without my two. :wub: :thumbsup: and can I just add this is a first (having two) for me.

 

[~Helen~]

I going to agree with everything Janis has said!

I've got two whippets, the older wouldn't dream of chewing anything that's not meant to be chewed o The younger pup will have a nibble on things, but usually she'll fetch her own chews and toys from her toy box when she feels like chewing (she's actually very clever like that). If she does chew something that's not hers, it's because we've not been vigilant or we've left something precious in a place that she considers "hers" (ie the sofa) and then it's fair game. And that's our fault, not hers!

Please don't be put off whippets - you'd be denying yourself the utmost pleasure. They are an absolute joy to live with, so affectionate and clean and easy.

A bit of extra thought with regard to not leaving precious stuff lying around when your whippet is unsupervised is a very small price to pay for the amount of happiness they bring

 

[*Lesley*]

yep I agree with whats been said already, they will chew stuff if you leave it about, not surprising, but I'm on my fourth so they can't be that bad can they :wub:

 

[TC]

OMG Please do not be put off I have only recently owned this breed, bringing one pup home in January 2005 and then one in April 2005 :- "

They are wonderful, wonderful dogs, and I feel that they are certainly easier than a lot of other breeds to bring up, and you get all the extra bonuses of having a beautiful, amazingly loving, funny as anything, clean, gorgeous, athletic, graceful, intelligent, soulful, playful, mad, sleep for England, fast, beautiful, nosedabbing, sofa-hogging, stunning, roo-rooing, bedwarming, big time personality bestest friend.

Did I mention that I think they are sooooo wonderfully handsome :- "

Sorry, I get a bit carried away when it comes to talking about whippets. I absolutely love my boys (and having previously owned rotties this is a major jump for me (w00t) )

I won't lie, one of mine was the perfect pup in everyway; never chewed a thing ever, clean in 36 hours with no accidents, perfect recall when out, KC Good Citizen etc etc. I could go on forever, but basically he is the love of my life :wub:

No 2 pup was slightly different :b He took about two weeks to grasp the art of housetraining (still quick IMHO) and has dug a few holes in the back garden and was inclined to chew things if anything exciting was left around (which I put down to human error rather than whippet trait) and we have had no major incidents (w00t) Jake has now matured into a fantastic whippet, he never ceases to amuse us and hasn't attempted any naughty chewing for a long, long time. He is however partial to soft toys, and believes that it is his job in life to destuff them :blink: (w00t)

I am a big believer in crate training, and this alleviates most problems (again IMHO) as any traumas that then happen are normally because a pup isn't supervised :wacko:

Hope this helps, I know I'm biased but I can't promote the breed enough, they are fantastic :wub:

Good luck wahtever you decide

Tracy

edited to say that No 1 pup Ollie was bought home at 7 weeks and 6 days, Jake (No 2 pup) was 14 weeks when he came to us and had been kennelled so think that this plays a part in not only his outlook on life, but also feel that we missed the crucial "learning" phase. No worries though, it didn't take him long to catch up!

 

[running_free]

We have had 2 Whippie Pups for a couple of weeks now and have had nothing chewed as of yet, they more like to run around and play. They do like a bit of cardboard tho and the odd magazine. We all play with them all the time with balls, squeeky toys etc.

Its most rewarding when they are tired and then curl up on your lap.

Infact our 3rd pup a Hungarian Vizsla with the 2 boys were all piled onto my lap sleeping last night :wub:

Beautiful Pets make sure you get one or two or three

 

[Nicola]

Mine have been chewers...but it depends how closely you can supervise them. Mine have all chewed corners of furniture and I've had to tape tiles to table corners, foam around table legs etc.

If you're at home all day then obviously you'll be able to supervise, and keep chewing to a minimum by giving them something desirable to chew on (a carrot, pigs ears, raw hide chews).

If you're not around for a good part of the day, and you don't intend to use a cage (I feel it would be unfair to cage a dog if you're at work all day), then i think it would be realistic to expect some damage. Restricting them to one room or having someone pop in to supervise and walk at lunch times would help.

They do grow out of it eventually and become lovely, laid back companions, and very easy to live with.

 

[jok]

Our rescue lurcher is a whippetxgrey, bit bigger than a whippet but not nearly as big as a grey, he's a lovely boy, give or take some lead aggression to other dogs when walking.  I've fallen head over heels for the pics of whippet puppies on here, but my OH has been reading the threads about the one dog house demolition experts that seem to be some whippets and although he agrees they are beautiful dogs, he says his bank balance wouldn't run to new suites...shoes...books...carpets...well anything really.  Are they all so destructive, or are there some blood lines who seem to be worse than others? We are lucky with Dylan, the only things he tends to rip up are tissues and wrapping paper, doesnt touch anything else, although many years ago when I had a litter of dobe pups, they reduced everything around them to firewood!

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I am new to whippets, Frankie arrived in January this year. I have a Dobermann, Chloe who is 2 1/2. I would honestly say that if you've coped with a litter of Dobes, a whippet pup will be a doddle!! Seriously though, Frankie is no where near the amount of work Chloe was as a pup, they are in a completely different league to each other. I can now understand why people don't just have one Whippet! I absolutely love Frankie to bits and im pretty sure we will be adding to our whippet family in the future. I originally wanted to have two pups but my OH wouldn't let me, largely owing to naughty Chloe as a pup! However, even he is now saying 'when we get the next one' etc. Knowing my luck the next one will be a devil though! Good luck whatever you decide. :luck:

 

[kim & Tilly]

All of the above....

You cant get more love than from a whippet :huggles:

 

[Hilary & Hounds]

I am a big believer in crate training, and this alleviates most problems (again IMHO) as any traumas that then happen are normally because a pup isn't supervised  :wacko:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

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Having a sofa eating whippet I would have to agree with this! All the eating has been done in lovely games unsupervised by mummy and only spoilt by her coming in at the wrong moment! (w00t) :- "

I still wouldn't be without them! :wub: :wub:

 

[Seraphina]

As others have already suggested; the trick is to train your family not to leave anything they value within the reach of a puppy. My adults are no problem; Genevieve (16 weeks) is just not left alone in the main part of the house. I give her cardboard boxes, bones, old shoes and toys she can chew and put all valuables out of reach. Crates are a good idea for the puppy's safety as well; after all you would not leave a toddler unsupervised in the house

 

[gavo]

I have had various breeds of dog over the years,,,,,

And my whippet was no different to any of them as pups.

All pups will chew,,, you just have to try to train them to know what is good to chew.

If you have a pup and it starts to take an interest in a certain part of your furniture,, you can get a bitter lemon spray from the pet shop.

I must admit I only found the spray after a while,,,, before that I used tobasco sauce.

Why are you all shreaking lol ,,, it is net cruel, Codie never tasted it, the smell was enough.

What I will say is from all the breeds I have had, the Whippet is ....

The most willing to please

The best natured

The easiest to train

The greatest with other dogs

The greatest with kids

and most of all the most loving dog I have ever had.

Go on go for it.

Regards

Gavin

:luck: :luck: :luck:

 

[aslan]

I have lost a number of shoes, hairbrushes, bras, etc in my time as a whippet owner but all were due to the fact that I left dogs free reign in the house whilst I was out.

They do grow out of it!

I do believe in crate training for youngsters.

De-stuffing toys is, I believe, inherent in whippets! Toys and things that they are allowed to chew really helps to lessen other things being destroyed.

Please do get a whippet - you will not be disappointed. They are wonderful dogs. I am 43 yrs old and have owned a number of breeds since I was 10. Whippets are THE BEST.

 

[suzeanna]

Thank you all very much for your encouraging posts, and special thanks to the people who pm'd me with fuller stories of their dogs, it was much appreciated. I dragged OH to the comp and sat him down to read...think it did the trick, cos I heard him talking to Dylan when he didn't know I was in earshot, saying well Dyl, how would you like a little whippety friend? I think I'll wait a while, we go on holiday in June, and although last year we got Dylan in March and left him in kennels in June, I dont think its ideal, so will wait until after our holiday and then seriously start looking. I've decided it doesn't have to be a pup...a young adult needing rehoming would be just as appreciated...watch this space!

 

[flossy]

after two pointers the whippy pup is a dream, although at 14 weeks she can clear the baby gate from a sitting start, (rubber ball of a dog). She loves getting into the recycled bin so as long as we keep it clear of dodgy stuff then the best toy in the world to race around with and kill/chew/toss/parade is a cardboard food box. Provided you are sensibly alert then damage is limited, i have a leather bed and she sleeps with me under the duvet (yeah i know.....) and so far we are damage free, just cuddles and snores.......