Should We Get A Whippet?

[cazzzz]

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Hi everyone

I am new to this site.

We are a family with 2 boys (4 and 7) who are playful but kind to animals.

I have grown up with golden retrivers, but my husband is new to dogs (and nervous about getting one).

I am seriously considering buying a whippet in the next few days (4 months, male, brought up in a family situation, but with a serious breeder sire : all looks very reputable).

I have been feeling fairly confident about this until I read the sighthound recall stories.

i want to be able to exercise this dog in my local park ( a good size, but not enclosed), and on the beach off leash. I wouldn't have worried about doing this with a golden retriever - is it going to be a very different experience with a whippet?

I would love your advice. I really want this to work, but don't want to do anything stupid.

Thanks, Cazzzz

 

[Hula]

I have had whippets for the last 17 years and never had any problems with recall .

If they on a good scent they may not instantly come back ( what dog would ) but I have never lost one and never had any problems .

In my opinion they are the nicest dogs you could ever meet and I have had various breeds . They are generally very healthy and have far less hereditary health problems than most breeds hence the reason vets often have them ( including my own ) They are very good with children too

Welcome to this site and let us see pics of your whippet when you get him

 

[meddling]

Firstly welcome to k9 Cazzzz :thumbsup:

As a whole whippet recall's tend to be pretty good, I was put off having one for a while because of exactly the same thing, but if you read on here the free running threads most people seem to let them off.

My 16 month old girl has an excellent recall, it has taken some work but she's great.

They can obviously be hunters though and it will depend on the area that you walk in as to how safe he will be, one of my main walks is edged by a rabbit infested railway track...not ideal obviously if you have a rabbiter.

Whippets are the most amazing breed, so funny, cuddly and loving.

But be aware that they are dreadful thiefs...and agile enough to get whatever they want :thumbsup:

They chew, strip wall paper and destroy kids toys if given the opportunity :thumbsup:

But they are instantly forgivable for all their misdemeanors...because they're just the best

:luck: :luck: Good luck :luck: :luck:

 

[cazzzz]

Hi - I'm replying to my own message here(!)...

another worry:

Our cat was killed by our neighbour's dog last year (pit bull terrier x staffy ) - a very unpleasant experience.

Other neighbour's cats do wander through our garden, and I would hate the same thing to happen to them if we had a whippet with a killer instinct. I also don't want to be on "red alert" every time the whippet goes into the garden...

How much of a problem is this likely to be?

Have your whippets ever attacked neighbours' cats?

Do you let your whippet wander in the garden unattended?

I'd be very grateful for any advice - thanks, Cazzzz

 

[Hula]

I'm sure most dogs would chase a strange cat in the garden but in my opinion a whippet is very unlkely to kill a cat . My whippets live with 2 cats and would certainly see off a stranger . My garden is enclosed and my whippets are free to run about their own garden .

 

[cazzzz]

Hi Meddling and Hula

So great to hear from you - thanks for your advice.

It's interesting that you mentioned they were destructive and thieves .. do you think this is more than other dogs? (A few cakes went secretly missing in my childhood to Golden Retrievers!)

 

[affieluver]

hi cazzzz my whippets are totally cat proof with mine but not 100% with others as long as they are well socialised from the start they should be fine :thumbsup:

 

[meddling]

Hi Meddling and Hula
So great to hear from you - thanks for your advice.

It's interesting that you mentioned they were destructive and thieves .. do you think this is more than other dogs? (A few cakes went secretly missing in my childhood to Golden Retrievers!)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

There's nothing secret about a whippets thieving :thumbsup: they are barefaced thieves and proud of it...Bluebell will jump up next to me while cooking given half a chance and I've been just as firm with her as I have my other dogs...she just has no shame...

..and this cute little face who can do no wrong and is sooooooooooo hard to get cross with, cos they are so sensitive as a breed too :b

 

[Hula]

I don't think they are any more destructive than any other breed . They do steal but I have always found that to be quite funny

 

[affieluver]

meant to add i certainly would never have another breed they are such loyal loving companions and im sure your boys will have a best friend for years to come good luck with your search :luck: the only warning i would send you is to do your homework as to where you get your whippie from as there are people out there breeding to make a quick buck there are plenty of good breeders on here im sure people will be able to point you in the right direction :thumbsup:

 

[cazzzz]

Sorry to be paranois about this.. but have you come across whippets that have killed a neighbour's cat (or badly injured it!) on this site or through other friends?

(Really need to have my mind put at rest about this one after my own nasty experience!)

 

[meddling]

Sorry to be paranois about this.. but have you come across whippets that have killed a neighbour's cat (or badly injured it!) on this site or through other friends?
(Really need to have my mind put at rest about this one after my own nasty experience!)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

I think you could find a dog of almost any breed who has killed a cat, but it doesn't mean that they all do :thumbsup:

Bluebell has had little experience of cats, but she ignores tham when we're out and was totally terrified when she spent the day in the company of one last week :b

 

[cazzzz]

By the way.. how do you stick a photo in here? I could send you a picture of this pup ... he is soooo cute!

 

[Hula]

Never known of a whippet to kill or injure a cat . They wuld probably chases the cat out of your garden though , what dog wouldn't ?

 

[affieluver]

hi cazzzz your not paranoid just being careful has this boy been used to cats ? more importantly what is the temperament of your cat one of mine will retaliate and one wont i really wouldnt worry too much as long as boundries are put in place whippets and cats can live together harmoniously but you do need to be firm about what is acceptable and whats not :thumbsup:

 

[peppermint sue]

to be honest I have 4 whippets and a lab my neighbour has a cat but the cat

has never come into our garden.

like most dogs they proberbly would chase somethink if it came into the garden.

but I think most cats are pretty good at avoiding strange dogs

we used to have a cat that got on well with our dogs but knew the g.s,d next

door did,nt like him he used to aggrivate him by sitting on the patio roof :lol:

goodluck with your pup you won,t regret it and they do love kids :thumbsup:

 

[Hula]

I think you would find once the cat knows there is likely to be a dog in the garden he will go elsewhere :blink:

 

[cazzzz]

We no longer have a cat of our own, but our neighbour's cat is gentle and quite timid in personality - I think she would turn and run... just hopefully quickly enough!

This is all sounding encouraging though - you all have obviously had lots of experience with whippets but no sad cat stories - good news!

 

[Hula]

It tells you how to post photos in the " Help and Ideas section "

 

[jinnyfizz]

Like people, whippets are all different.

Running as a pack, they become completely deaf to recall and will hunt and kill a small furry if they can, but as a single whippet (or possibly as a pair) you will find that they are far more obedient and less likely to run off :thumbsup:

My first whippet, Jinny, is trustworthy and never goes far from my side. She is very gentle with my cats (5 of them) and I have left her in the same room as a cat without worrying.

I would not, however, leave any of my cats in the same room with all my whippets (w00t) unless I was with them. Pack instinct would take over and I wouldn't fancy the cat's chances

My cats instinctively avoid my garden now the whippets live here - they go next door instead :lol: Interestingly enough, the cats were never bothered about my GSDs and shared the garden and fields happily with them :blink:

At four months old, your new little boy should be easily trainable. Spend alot of time with him and constantly practice recall, no matter how good he becomes. Yes, he will thieve and destroy soft toys (and hard ones :lol: ) but if you put the right rules in place straight away, with your children and your whippet, you will have years of enjoyment and love with the family :thumbsup: :luck: :luck: