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[mrsmcd]

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Hi everyone,

I'm new to the forum!

Myself and my husband are thinking of getting a whippet. We know quite a lot about the breed, but would love some advice and stories of those who already have whippet(s)!

Is there anything we should know before we commit to a beautiful whippet? Anything will help!

Thanks in advance....

 

[Dr B]

Hi there and welcome.

I have 2 whippets, one I have had from a pup, Ash and a rescue, Hector. People are under the assumption that whippets are quiet, timid little things. How wrong they are, especially when you have more than 1. Ash was a typical crazy puppy with far too much energy and curiosity. I wanted to get him a playmate that was as fast as he was and hopefully quiet him down a little hence 3 year old Hector. Well didn't work! I now have 2 crazy whippets! And I wouldn't have it any other way.

I swear in the chaos that is my life if I didn't have my whippets I would go crazy(er)! They make me laugh!

You didn't say whether you are having a pup or a rescue. Either way, you are in for a whale of a time. Enjoy it and can we please see the pictures!

 

[Hula]

There's only one problem I can see :teehee:

You can never have just one because they are soooooooooo addictive :-

Hello and welcome !

 

[meddling]

They Steal, they're destructive, they lay all over the furniture, they kick you in the middle of the night, they ignore you if something is more interesting...

They're the most wonderful, cuddley, huggable, funny, adorable, WONDERFUL creatures who have EVER walked this earth!!!

Welcome to the forum

 

[eve]

Hi and welcome

They Steal, they're destructive, they lay all over the furniture, they kick you in the middle of the night, they ignore you if something is more interesting...
They're the most wonderful, cuddley, huggable, funny, adorable, WONDERFUL creatures who have EVER walked this earth!!!

Welcome to the forum

I would agree with all that!

+ you can never own a whippet, it owns you!

+ very few people have only 1 whippet!

+ whippets suffer from selective deafness and recall is not often their strong point!

To give you an idea, I have just rescued a 4kg rib roast that I got out of the fridge and set carefully at the back of the worktop. I went back to the fridge and in less than a minuite, the rib roast had moved to the very edge of the worktop (w00t)

Fortunately, none of my dinner guests will be reading this!

Look forward to hearing about your whippet / whippets

PS. A childgate for the kitchen is a great investment (just remember to close it!)

 

[meddling]

Hi and welcome

They Steal, they're destructive, they lay all over the furniture, they kick you in the middle of the night, they ignore you if something is more interesting...
They're the most wonderful, cuddley, huggable, funny, adorable, WONDERFUL creatures who have EVER walked this earth!!!

Welcome to the forum

I would agree with all that!

+ you can never own a whippet, it owns you!

+ very few people have only 1 whippet!

+ whippets suffer from selective deafness and recall is not often their strong point!

To give you an idea, I have just rescued a 4kg rib roast that I got out of the fridge and set carefully at the back of the worktop. I went back to the fridge and in less than a minuite, the rib roast had moved to the very edge of the worktop (w00t)

Fortunately, none of my dinner guests will be reading this!

Look forward to hearing about your whippet / whippets

PS. A childgate for the kitchen is a great investment (just remember to close it!)

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: (w00t)

Bluebell and Molly have both got a veg fetish, so although there was meat on the side, they stole a carrot each, several bits of sweet potato and some parsnip!!!

 

[Dr B]

Hector jumps my stair gates then sits the other side laughing at Ash. Ash sits and cries because he is too stupid to realise that if Hector can jump it then so can he! Needless to say I have stairgates everwhere. :wacko:

 

[meddling]

Hector jumps my stair gates then sits the other side laughing at Ash. Ash sits and cries because he is too stupid to realise that if Hector can jump it then so can he! Needless to say I have stairgates everwhere. :wacko:

Oh love them!!!

 

[Dotty&Duke]

Ditto Ditto Ditto to all the abouve (w00t) :thumbsup: + They are adictive! You'l never be happy with just one :teehee:

 

[jinnyfizz]

Being a whippet servant is easy - just remember the following rules :thumbsup:

 

[TillynPip]

Got rescue number 1 (whippy X) ) , hmm she needs a friend, number 2 rescue arrives. Wouldn't it be nice to have a puppy, number 3 arrives. :- Great trauma and sadness as number 2 goes to the rainbow bridge. Now number 3 is pestering older number 1 so needs a playmate, here comes number 4, puppy arrives. :lol: Addictive? - thats an understatement.

 

[LM1981]

They are born thieves and you can’t tell them off because they just give you this look as if butter wouldn’t melt o . Your couch is never your own again and not satisfied with on the bed mine has to be in the bed. They are like heat seeking missiles; god forbid you get in between a whippet and a heat source; mine will squeeze behind me through even the smallest gap to get to the radiator.

I get up at 5am to take Mae for a walk before work but if there is the slightest bit of rain or cold in the air I get this look of ‘you must be kidding!’ before she promptly turns around and goes back to bed (actually not really a bad thing, I don’t want to go out in it either, just gutted that I could have had an extra 30 minutes in bed!).

As a puppy they are very energetic and can be destructive if you don’t wear them out with lots of walks and play. However, as has been said by everyone, you will not find a more loving and affectionate dog, they are just a fantastic breed that provides endless laughs and lots of cuddles if you are feeling down. I can’t imagine my life now without Mae in it and can’t believe she is coming up to 1. :wub: :wub:

One thing is for sure if you get a whippet you will never regret it, but I can vouch for how difficult it is to stick to just one, I really want another already.

 

[Sarah86]

I think I am going to have to send Penny off to learn how to be a proper whippet lol She has never been destructive or pinched things :teehee:

Lots of luck finding your perfect puppy, I hope you're not waiting too long. The best thing about whippets is there fantastic natures, they are so sweet and friendly. They also don't have a doggy smell to them either always smell nice and clean unless having rolled in something! Remember we need lots of pictures when he/she arrives!

 

[mrsmcd]

Thanks everyone!! At the moment all I can think about is whippets!!!

Some more questions we have...

* We work full time but I'd be able to get home at lunch about twice per week, and we'd also invest in a dog walker.

- how would this be for the dog?

* We really feel ready for a dog and have lots of love and time to give to a dog/puppy.

- is a dog as much of a 'tie' as people make out? (we love just being in and arou d house on our weekends and week nights-walks and attention galore!)

* Anyone with 2, or more, whippets that then brought children in...

- how was it? Logistics? Dogs with baby? Baby reacting to dog?

HELP!!!!

 

[TillynPip]

I don't know if I'm the person to reply to your last post as I wouldn't have considered a dog and certainly not a puppy, when I was working. I'm sure it can work for some and people are able to get home but I try never to leave my three for more than two hours. I'm sure the older two would be okay but Milo is destructive and would have to be crated (he's only eight months) and I would never consider this for any length of time.

Regarding them being a tie. Yes they are. They're not cats that will happily stay outside for the day if I'm out, we don't holiday abroad at all, except for four days in France a year ago when my God Daughter got married. Gracie went back to the breeder as she was only 6 months old and the other two went into kennels together. I wasn't at all worried about Gracie but I hated leaving the other two, thought about them every day and wished I was home. I will only go to places that are dog friendly and that includes the location as it must be safe for them to be walked off lead.

Finally, my children were in situ when we decided to rescue our first dog and were animal savvy so that was never an issue. However, as long as careful introductions are made and all children, whatever age, are taught how to behave around and respect animals, then I can't see it being a problem. From my experience whippies get along very well with children who know how to treat them.

I hope I haven't put you off! These are my opinions only and with determination and organisation, I know people can make all sorts of situations work. Good Luck! :luck:

 

[whippetsrus]

Hello and welcome. Not much I can add as you have already been told what a great breed they are.

 

[eve]

Thanks everyone!! At the moment all I can think about is whippets!!!
Some more questions we have...

* We work full time but I'd be able to get home at lunch about twice per week, and we'd also invest in a dog walker.

- how would this be for the dog?

* We really feel ready for a dog and have lots of love and time to give to a dog/puppy.

- is a dog as much of a 'tie' as people make out? (we love just being in and arou d house on our weekends and week nights-walks and attention galore!)

* Anyone with 2, or more, whippets that then brought children in...

- how was it? Logistics? Dogs with baby? Baby reacting to dog?

HELP!!!!

I agree with Angela (TillynPip)

To be honest, if you are planning to have a baby in the next year, do that first.

You may find that more than enough to cope with both financially and the amount of time required.

One of my preloved whippets belonged to a couple who worked full time and then had a new baby.

They could not cope. It broke their hearts to part with their whippets but did what was in their dogs best interests.

Dogs are almost as much as a 'tie' as children, they are not like cats that can be content left all day.

They are pack animals and need company. It would be very lonley for a dog all day on its own with just a quick visit at lunchtime.

Dogs can become destructive due to boredom when left for long peroids of time. 3 hours at a time is about what my pack can cope with.

Have you checked out local dog walkers to see if there are any approved ones in your area and the cost?

You have to consider holidays, vets fees and or insurance costs, dog care fees.

I have to agree that your circumstances sound like a puppy would not be suitable.

Most dog walkers will not take puppies or dogs that are not neutered, nor will they take a dog that develops behavioural problems due to lack of socialisation or anxiety. They walk a pack and cannot risk 'problem dogs'

Yes, dogs are a great 'tie'

Hope this is of some help

 

[LM1981]

I have a whippet and also work full time. This is partly why I chose a whippet, they are less prone to separation anxiety than many other breeds (this can however be down to the individual dog), and after much research I found that this was the breed that best suited my life style.

Of course the ideal is to have someone at home but if you work full time and have a dog it is really down to commitment, you can't expect them to be shut up all day then just crash with you on the sofa all evening without any walks, play and attention. Mae gets 3 walks a day, 1 before work of 20 - 30 minutes if she will go out, I am fast discovering she is not one for early morning walks over winter, 1 at lunch for 20 minutes and then again straight after work for 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on time of year and weather.

She has never know any different than being left on weekdays and my neighbours say they never hear a peep from her o (living in a terrace you can hear everything). When I come back she is pleased to see me but doesn't rush out of bed or go nuts indicating she is quite relaxed.

I firmly believe that compared to a lot of dogs I know who never get taken for walks or get little attention even if their owners are at home or only work part time, I provide Mae with a much happier and healthier life despite being in full time work, she is a very happy well balanced dog (well slightly nuts but I will put that down to her age for now). I have to admit that I would like to get a second whippet to keep her company but I think this is down to my feelings rather than an actual need for Mae.

I have no children of my own so am probably not the best person to comment on this, but do have 2 visiting nieces aged 3 and 18 months who both adore the dog. However, I would probably want Mae to be a little older and calmer (not sure what age this will happen yet, hoping 2 years) if I was to have a new born of my own, or a child to be a little older (probably about 3) if I were to bring a puppy into the house.

Hope this helps.

 

[eve]

Of course the ideal is to have someone at home but if you work full time and have a dog it is really down to commitment, you can't expect them to be shut up all day then just crash with you on the sofa all evening without any walks, play and attention. Mae gets 3 walks a day, 1 before work of 20 - 30 minutes if she will go out, I am fast discovering she is not one for early morning walks over winter, 1 at lunch for 20 minutes and then again straight after work for 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on time of year and weather.

That is the kind of responsible comittment a dog requires and so many do not get.

That kind of comittment is what I meant saying that owning a dog is a 'tie'.

It is a comittment that will last for 15 or 16 years and will change your lifestyle much as having a child would.

A dog is dependant on you.

You have to consider the dog's needs, they come first before a social life after work, they need walking in all weathers

and for you to be sure that you have back-up to cover lunchtime if you cannot do it youself.

I am not trying to put you off, just ensure that you have thought of everything and respond to your questions.

 

[Eleanor Gibbins]

We work full time but I'd be able to get home at lunch about twice per week, and we'd also invest in a dog walker.- how would this be for the dog?

*

When I got my first rescue whippet, my beloved Fly, 15 years ago, I had arranged for a neighbour to come in and walk him at lunchtimes because I work. She had volunteered to walk him because she had recently lost her dog, and was keen to have a walking companion again.

The first day, she managed to get Fly to walk at least 200 yards down the road with her before he turned for home.

The second day she had to lift him off the sofa (where he was fast asleep, having not heard the front door opening) and managed to get him 100 yards down the road.

The third day, he refused point blank to get off the bed, turned his back on her and went back to sleep.

After this, we gave up on trying to give him a walk and a 'comfort' break in the middle of the day - he was much happier sleeping the day away until I got back in the evening!

People had warned me that whippets were either 'flat out' at 30 miles an hour, or 'flat out' asleep on the sofa - but I have been amazed at how easy-going they are as long as they are well fed, warm and comfy. My current boy, Merlin, has the same laid-back approach to life, and spends the day curled up with my siamese cat while I am at work!

Good luck with your new whippet, when you get him or her!