How To Talk Round A Reluctant Oh...

[bella wood]

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Can anyone out there let me know your closely guarded secret ways of persuading your partners to let you get another dog?

I have been a whippet lover for years and years and have always dreamed of owning one. Now my three children are no longer babies (aged 3, 6 and 12) and I'm not always walking with a pushchair I know that I could manage two dogs. We already have a male Bedlington terrier and I am desperate to get a whippet puppy (probably a bitch).

My problem - as always! - is my husband who says that we should be starting to get more freedom now and not less. He is a dog lover but doesn't like whippets as he says they just 'sit and shiver'.

I know many of you out there have large numbers of dogs, but is that because you all live with like-minded, reasonable partners who just want you to be happy???!!!! Please let me know as any advice would be gratefully received.

 

[pat cope]

Take him to watch the non-ped whippet racing. Lots of men with whippets there.

 

[FeeFee]

Hypnotism (w00t) :wacko: :blink:

 

[Hula]

Think of the biggest breed you can . Tell him they are lovely and you are thinking of getting one . After that a whippet will seem like a good compromise :thumbsup:

 

[Esty]

Perhaps you need to do it in stages......get a beddy/whippet cross first, then in three or four years when he realises that the whippet side is nicer than the beddy side, get a full whippet :thumbsup:

Seriously, my husband didn't grow up with dogs around as I did, and took some persuading (like 9 years) before I actually put my foot down and said that I was not going to spend another year without a dog. He realised I was deadly serious and we got two whippets. I had never had whippets before but had wanted one for years - and God knows I'd had plenty of time to decide :lol: Luckily he agreed with my choice. I knew that whatever dog we got, given that it would be his first, had to totally fit in with our lifestyle so he didn't feel at all limited by it. The dog that made me fall in love with sighthounds was a rescue Afghan that I had from age 11, but an afghan wasn't going to seamlessly slip into the family.

He now cannot believe we didn't have one earlier, can't believe the change in me (I'm so happy that I don't spend money cheering myself up with clothes etc!) and says we will always have hounds from now on. In fact, he thinks other dogs 'look weird' now we have whippies! He thinks they are a cool dog to have as a bloke, and he's not embarrssed to walk them as he would be with a Shi Tzu or similar as they are a traditional working man's dog. And they only shiver if you don't put their coat on lol. Our weekends also seem much longer as we actually get out and about instead of feeling compelled to do housework.

If you already have one dog, another is not going to limit you any further. I am working on getting Number Three but no chance at the moment...

Why don't you see which one of us lives closest and we could visit with a couple!

 

[bella wood]

Thanks Esty! Some great tips there - except that I honestly think I will explode if I have to wait for a couple more years for my whippet!!!!

The silly thing is that I think he would really love one as he adores our Bedlington and that's not exactly the most stocky and macho of dogs...

I have always been such an animal lover and just adore the day to day taking care of them all, etc, so I don't find that they tie me down at all. I am so drawn to how loving everyone says that whippets are. I want to throw myself into looking for a pup, but can't when my OH is dragging his feet so much.

I know its not fair to make him do what I want when dogs are a lifetime commitment, but then instead he is wanting me to do what he wants! Very confused and a bit miffed too.

 

[bella wood]

By the way Hula, I love your suggestion!

Going to leave some Rhodesian Ridgeback breeders websites on the computer ACCIDENTALLY.....

 

[cairo]

Lots of people percieve whippets as being nervous and shaky...but that really couldn`t be further from the truth.

Oscar IS loving, cuddly,adores his home comforts....but....when outside he is bold,confident,full of live and at times quite feisty!

good luck in convincing your OH.....am sure you will succeed and definately won`t regret it.

p.s My hubby always had staffs {many years ago] and have to say he adores whippets and now says he wouldn`t have another breed.

 

[~Annie~]

I do sympathise ... I kinda have the same problem ... for years (roughly 25 !) we have had 3, 4 even 5 dogs at a time but every time I want to add to the pack, even if it is because an oldie has died, I have to go through the same old battle with my OH. He's mellowed with time but it can take a fair bit of carrot and stick to get what I want. All I can suggest is that you persevere ... I do and I always win :lol: Suppose cos he loves me :wub: Yes you are making him do what you want but it's for his own good :thumbsup:

 

[bella wood]

I'm so glad I posted this thread - your answers are really encouraging me and making me laugh at the same time!

I am turning into an obsessive whippet owner already - just without the whippet!!! I've read everything I can get my hands on and am permenantly glued to my computer screen at the moment. If only my husband would give the go-ahead, even reluctantly, I could get so much more excited about it all - if that's possible.

I'm loving looking at everyone's gorgeous photos on the forum. Your dogs are all stunning. And I can't believe how quickly they seem to grown up.

 

[Lal]

No tips to offer on how to win round the OH (I divorced mine!! ) However a friend of mine felt exactly the same as your husband when I got my Whippet, 'What do you want a Whippet for? Horrid shivery little things...) Four years down the line and guess what kind of dog she wants? :-

I love dogs in general but my heart is definitely whippet shaped!! :luck: :luck: With winning your OH round.

 

[Nicola]

I'm stuck at two dogs (one whippet only) and am not allowed anymore. However, in hindsight, I'm grateful for this restriction as it does give me more freedom on my walks, it's easier going away on holiday (we love going away walking in Scotland and The Lakes). It also allows me more freedom with my other hobbies, namely photography. A member of my family has been very ill over the last year, so only having the two has been more manageable, for visiting and staying away from home.

This isn't about me I know, but having said that all that I have above, I think two is a perfect number...two dogs are company for one another, and it is very satisfying seeing them interact and living and socialising together. Having two is no harder than having one really, a little more expensive, but the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Two dogs don't curtail your freedom any more than one dog once they are adults.

What a shame your OH doesn't like whippets. I've had the same problem and eventually got a mini schnauzer when I pleaded for a 2nd dog again. I would have stuck to whippets, but I do love my mini. Having said that, whippets are so much easier in many ways when they are adults. They are clean, no grooming needed (unlike bedlingtons), and so easy to live with (once they get past the puppy and teenage years)! If your OH needs persuading they are a mans' dog too, goto The Whippet Forum and get him to have a look at the working forum. No shivering whippets there (although my whippet does feel the cold and needs a coat)!

 

[john gregory]

It was the opposite with me, it was me who wanted a Whippet. When the children had all left home and I packed up work I thought thats it I am having one. Did'nt regret it at all. Then I got the urge for another and did'nt tell her, lol, when I brought Poppy home my wife never spoke to me for 2 weeks, it was great. :thumbsup: Now, dare I say it the urge is returning lol

You are a woman you should know how to win a man over, :thumbsup:

 

[k4tie-d]

begging and bribery usually works here :-

 

[Janimal]

Just make it sound like its all their idea.... :lol: Ive got 3 whippets now so didnt do too badly...

 

[Lolcoe]

I always had one as a kid, then went onto Greyhounds. I suggested to hubby that a whippet is a mini greyhound that will snuggle up with him at night so after saying I wanted one, my Grandad bought me Rebel!

There was no discussion needed getting Diamond as he liked the Collooney whippets. Then came Diamonds first litter and we kept Brian and then we'll keep one from this litter. So it's taken 6 years in total to get up to 4 Whippets.

Is he really adverse or just being awkward but may back down? I'd say the latter and only you know how to get what you want (w00t) !!!

 

[teachtrinity]

the thing that worked with my hubby was seeing Molly's reaction when she saw another whippet :wub: doesnt help if you don't have 1 whippet to start with sorry we then house/dog sat for a friend with 2 whippets and seeing how well they got on together it's now just a case of when, not if we get number 3 (and 4 :- :- )

I think your best bet is to meet up with someone with whippets and let your husband see how amazing they are :wub: :wub: what area are you in, I'm sure someone on here must be local to you

good luck ) )

 

[bella wood]

We live in Surrey so if anyone is local, please let me know!

I think he might come round eventually, but does that mean that I will be held accountable for eternity and a day if our dear little future Whippet is slow to housetrain, destructive, won't recall, etc, etc? It's bad enough that the kids are his when they behave themselves and mine when they don't!

 

[Hopscotch]

Lol great post. We are the proud new owners of Ziggy whippet and we already have 2 dogs (terrier crosses) so this will be no3. I did a combination of many things to pursuade OH

1) Took him to whippet racing (he Loved it, and lots of men there)

2) Partook in a small amount of bribery

3) Then took him to see the litter.

Hey presto I have my third dog. Good luck, it will all work out.

 

[gilliwigs]

Has you OH ever 'met' a whippet? I ask that because it was my husband who originally wanted a whippet when we first said we'd get a dog, as he'd grown up with one. My opinion was that they were horrible skinny things :- and I really didn't want one! But as is often the case, once the whippet was brought to my attention I kept seeing them everywhere and just fell in love with their beautiful faces and was completely won over. :wub: So then we had Josh (who died in 2005) and now we have Muffin and Jonah and I don't think I'd ever have anything else. So maybe you need to try and find a few whippets for him to meet in the flesh and I'm sure he'll be won over too.