Potential New Owner- Advice Required

[nicandjohn]

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Hi all, this is our first post, but we've had a good read around the forum. My wife and I live alone (kids grown up and left home) in a 3 bed semi in doncaster. We have 8 koi carp from a handful of japanese breeders, most of which are show class though we've never been interested in showing. We have a decent sized back garden at about 35mx15m, with an 8ft fence all around, most of which is rough lawn. Our 4000 gallon pond is raised 1 metre above ground level. We would expect to be in the garden with the dog and that the dog spends nights and days (when we are at work) in the house.

We've thought about a dog on and off over the last few years but as we both work we didn't feel it appropriate to leave a dog home alone for a few hours 5 days per week. I am now in a community based job where I can pop home a couple of times per day for a few minutes if required.

Though we live in doncaster we are close to the racecourse, woodland and the huge town fields, so there is plenty of open space nearby. My wife likes to jog a couple of miles each morning (the last thing that I would want to do) and would like a canine companion. We also tend to have a stroll most evenings and have often thought it would be more fun with a dog. I had a border collie when I was a young lad, but always fancied a whippet, and used to go and watch the races that took place on the local fields next to the council estate where I grew up in manchester. I found the speed incredible.

We had thought about rehoming a greyhound but feel these may be a bit big, for our first dog and so our thoughts moved onto the whippet. Having read around the forums, the grooming holds no worries, nor do the feed, insurance, vets and kennelling fees (we go abroad for a couple of weeks per year). We would want a pet, a companion and we wouldn't be interested in showing at all. We would be interested in dog training sessions as neither of us has owned or cared for a dog since we were children.

Does it sound like we have the space/household for a whippet? Will a whippet be happy to jog for a couple of miles rather than sprint for a couple of hundred metres? Is a whippet an appropriate breed for first time owners? What haven't we thought of?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[FeeFee]

It sounds as though you have a great home to offer to a lucky dog

Were you thinking of getting a puppy or rehoming an adult dog? Puppies obviously need a lot more attention while they are babies, and I'd worry that a working household with someone popping in a couple of times through the day wouldn't be enough for them, but it could be fine for an adult dog.

I'm sure you are going to get lots of advice and thoughts about whippets here, but I wouldn't rule out a retired greyhound because of their size - most of them are very laid-back placid dogs in the house, and so long as they get a couple of good walks are happy to sleep most of the day.

All sighthounds are naturally sprinters rather than distance runners, so you would have to build up gently to regular jogging and make sure the dog was fit enough to manage the distance.

Good luck with your decision and finding the right dog :luck:

 

[wild whippies]

Would you consider a larger non-ped racing whippet? I have an 11month old youngster I am considering letting go to a pet home only, providing the home is suitable for him.

 

[nicandjohn]

Would you consider a larger non-ped racing whippet? I have an 11month old youngster I am considering letting go to a pet home only, providing the home is suitable for him.

Hi thanks for posts so far. We have an open mind at the moment. I'd guess some of the hard work as regards house training, walking on the lead etc will have been done with an 11 month old, so that would appeal from that point of view. Also I'd expect leaving an 11 month old at home alone for a few hours wouldn't be as much of an issue as it would with a younger puppy? Do you think the dog would respond well to enthusiastic beginners? How large would you expect the dog to grow?

 

[TTT]

You sound like you have really thought seriously about becoming dog owners. Good luck finding a new companion. About the pond....you need to be careful, if the dog fell in when you were not watching (and it can so easily happen) it could spell disaster for your dog, especially if the dog cannot get a grip to get out. Are your sides built from blocks and lined with fibreglass? I have a 4 ft deep pond but mine is sunk into the ground and has boulders round the edges, so in the past when my dogs have fallen in, usually when chasing koi pellets round the surface, they have been able to get a grip on the to get out themselves. If the water level was much below the wall top, your dog might be in trouble if you are not there to haul him out.

 

[wild whippies]

Sent you a message.

 

[wild whippies]

You sound like you have really thought seriously about becoming dog owners. Good luck finding a new companion. About the pond....you need to be careful, if the dog fell in when you were not watching (and it can so easily happen) it could spell disaster for your dog, especially if the dog cannot get a grip to get out. Are your sides built from blocks and lined with fibreglass? I have a 4 ft deep pond but mine is sunk into the ground and has boulders round the edges, so in the past when my dogs have fallen in, usually when chasing koi pellets round the surface, they have been able to get a grip on the to get out themselves. If the water level was much below the wall top, your dog might be in trouble if you are not there to haul him out.

Pond is raised by 1m. Having said that, the pup is very experienced with ponds :thumbsup:

 

[TillynPip]

Don't things move quickly! (w00t) Can't wait to see the outcome of this.

 

[nicandjohn]

PM returned.

On the pond front yes it is block built, water surface is about two inches below the sandstone copings, which are around a metre above ground level- I chose this height so it feels like I'm leaning on the bar in the pub when I stand there with a guinness in the summer. I guess a dog would need supervision regarding the pond. Our biggest koi is about 32 inches long and he doesn't like visitors in the water!

 

[TTT]

PM returned.
On the pond front yes it is block built, water surface is about two inches below the sandstone copings, which are around a metre above ground level- I chose this height so it feels like I'm leaning on the bar in the pub when I stand there with a guinness in the summer. I guess a dog would need supervision regarding the pond. Our biggest koi is about 32 inches long and he doesn't like visitors in the water!

Sounds like a good set up. Mine is sunk into the ground -that way I can lie on my sun lounger supping my Guinness in the summer with an uninterupted view of the fish :thumbsup: Good luck with getting a dog - it's another good reason to spend even more time out in the garden. Just remember to be aware of the dog jumping up and into the pond - easy to get in, not so easy to get out with straight sides covered in algae.