Whippets Function

[jinnyfizz]

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both border collies and whippets are high IQ dogs
the key difference being.. BC's will jump through burning hoops to get your attention where as with whippets it's the other way around

So true, so true :b :b :sweating:

........ pmsl :lol: :lol:

 

[cairo]

interesting views on this topic, maybe as whippet people we need to rise above 'snide comments'Noise I envy your ability to have found a whippet that understands conversation and needs little training-what is your secret? I'm sure others would welcome you sharing the technique with us!

Interested in others views about what comes 'natural' to whippets, seems to me as a very new owner that just about anything comes natural and that most exist to please themselves first and the rest of us second. Having said that I guess really they like doing most things when they want to, be that show work lure obedience agility and anything else we think may be fun for them.

we are lucky to have such a wonderful obliging breed-lets all just enjoy them for what they are.

Here Here.....its not WHAT you do with them....its about ENJOYING what you do together!!!!

Happy dog makes happy owner and a great relationship between the 2.

 

[jakers]

interesting views on this topic, maybe as whippet people we need to rise above 'snide comments'Noise I envy your ability to have found a whippet that understands conversation and needs little training-what is your secret? I'm sure others would welcome you sharing the technique with us!

Interested in others views about what comes 'natural' to whippets, seems to me as a very new owner that just about anything comes natural and that most exist to please themselves first and the rest of us second. Having said that I guess really they like doing most things when they want to, be that show work lure obedience agility and anything else we think may be fun for them.

we are lucky to have such a wonderful obliging breed-lets all just enjoy them for what they are.

Here Here.....its not WHAT you do with them....its about ENJOYING what you do together!!!!

Happy dog makes happy owner and a great relationship between the 2.

:thumbsup:

 

[wild whippies]

I think the mistake being made by those that Noise refers to is that there is no intelligence needed in order to chase an object or quarry. The other issue is misconceptions as to what exactly demonstrates ''intelligence''.

Anyone who's witnessed whippets racing bend tracks will know that a great degree of intelligence, analysis and judgement are required by the dog throughout the course of the race and at times phenomenly fast thinking to get out of trouble or to see an opportunity to win.

I've seen a little lure coursing and many a time there'll be dogs that learn the course of the lure very quickly even if this does result in penalty you cannot ignore the fact there is inteliigence in the dogs actions.

I'm sure there's many owners of working whippets who can also tell stories of the intelligence of their whippets.

It's no mean feat taking a dog that has been bred for a particular purpose for generations and using it at that purpose. However it's possibly more challenging (and therefore more rewarding) to take a dog and train it a new skill that it may not neccessarily have been bred for. Don't get me wrong I wouldn't expect it to be of the same high standard as those that have got generations of highly tuned genetics behind them but I think with an intelligent owner and a good relationship any owner can train a dog to be competant at a task within reason.

Choosing a specific breed for a function that may preempt them to a disadvantage with that particular function and simultaneously complaining about it makes me more criticial of the individual than the dog. Any owner making such a choice should go in open minded and appreciative of any achievements made along the way.

No dog is stupid, after all they seen the advantage of socially integrating with man. :thumbsup:

 

[Noise]

interesting views on this topic, maybe as whippet people we need to rise above 'snide comments'Noise I envy your ability to have found a whippet that understands conversation and needs little training-what is your secret? I'm sure others would welcome you sharing the technique with us!

Interested in others views about what comes 'natural' to whippets, seems to me as a very new owner that just about anything comes natural and that most exist to please themselves first and the rest of us second. Having said that I guess really they like doing most things when they want to, be that show work lure obedience agility and anything else we think may be fun for them.

we are lucky to have such a wonderful obliging breed-lets all just enjoy them for what they are.

If that's a serious question, I'll answer - I don't have high expectations, not in the sense that I'd think he is not capable but rather I don't feel the need to determine his worth by the amount of tricks he can do. he is what I want him to be and not because I have somehow trained him or drilled it in to him but because I want what he is by default. a lot has to do with temperament, I do feel like I got the golden ticket - Eskil is one in a million.

I feel some have got it wrong what I was trying to say - I am not against whippet agility, or formal dog training, neither am I criticizing anyone on this board, why would I. it is just hurtful to hear such things about a beloved breed and having to face misconception. I have believed for a while now - if people thoroughly researched their chosen breed prior purchase, there would be a lot less disappointment and a lot less dogs in rescue.

regards showing - I know it's not their MOST favourite thing in the world to do, but to be fair, I put up with muddy paw prints on my egyptian cotton sheets, the least they can do is stand on a table and go up and down

 

[quintessence]

I don't do anything with my boys atm, I am agreeing that you should not do something because they're supposed to, rather the fact that some people ''force'' upon sighthounds to do things they're not naturally meant to do, and if they don't do it to a standard they expect, call them stupid.

Sorry but I have to say ....with no offence meant towards showers....that standing on tables doesn`t come naturally either but most show dogs seem to enjoy it!!!

Cairo, standing on tables comes naturally to one of my showers, Sparky, how else would he be able to reach the biscuit jar which is on the dresser near the kitchen table. All he has to do is stand on the table, put his paws on the dresser and then push the jar with his nose, BUT the really clever one is Dylan who just stands at the bottom and waits for it to fall. :lol:

 

[TTT]

I don't do anything with my boys atm, I am agreeing that you should not do something because they're supposed to, rather the fact that some people ''force'' upon sighthounds to do things they're not naturally meant to do, and if they don't do it to a standard they expect, call them stupid.

Sorry but I have to say ....with no offence meant towards showers....that standing on tables doesn`t come naturally either but most show dogs seem to enjoy it!!!

Cairo, standing on tables comes naturally to one of my showers, Sparky, how else would he be able to reach the biscuit jar which is on the dresser near the kitchen table. All he has to do is stand on the table, put his paws on the dresser and then push the jar with his nose, BUT the really clever one is Dylan who just stands at the bottom and waits for it to fall. :lol:

ha ha ha! My dog does the table thing so well that he had been witnessed standing with four feet right up on it and eating the butter out of the butter dish!

Luckily he was seen doing this !

 

[cairo]

I don't do anything with my boys atm, I am agreeing that you should not do something because they're supposed to, rather the fact that some people ''force'' upon sighthounds to do things they're not naturally meant to do, and if they don't do it to a standard they expect, call them stupid.

Sorry but I have to say ....with no offence meant towards showers....that standing on tables doesn`t come naturally either but most show dogs seem to enjoy it!!!

Cairo, standing on tables comes naturally to one of my showers, Sparky, how else would he be able to reach the biscuit jar which is on the dresser near the kitchen table. All he has to do is stand on the table, put his paws on the dresser and then push the jar with his nose, BUT the really clever one is Dylan who just stands at the bottom and waits for it to fall. :lol:

Now that really is worth standing on a table for........And as for Dylan......what a truly smart whippet!!!!

 

[whippetfan]

whippetfan, it wasn't directed at anyone on this board, rather what I've witnessed over time on all breed boards and bumping into people out on walks and snide comments about whippet's brain.
yes, of course they can be trained, but they have so much more than other breeds - it's like their intelligence come from whitin, they are wise. Eskil hasn't had any formal training, but by treating him as an equal, as a friend - he is very well behaved and a joy to live with, I don't need a clicker - I can just have a conversation with him and he'll know exactly what I want.

I guess the bottom line for me is that sighthounds are the most intelligent dogs.

I didn't take it that way Noise. I've already experienced the "you're going to do agility with a Whippet?????" comments from agility acquaintances. :lol:

I just answer with "I like a challenge - I bought a dog I want to live with, not a dog for the job". If he isn't a great agility dog, he'll still be a great pet and companion. I think that's the most important thing to consider in buying a dog.

Sighthounds don't tolerate fools, don't work for no good reason and will pack up and leave if you don't do right by them. They keep you honest - and humble. I believe all dogs benefit from leadership but that you don't have to be a tyrant to achieve that. I expect my dogs to do what I ask of them once I've trained them. We are a team but I am the one leading it.

 

[T Hoare]

whippetfan, it wasn't directed at anyone on this board, rather what I've witnessed over time on all breed boards and bumping into people out on walks and snide comments about whippet's brain.
yes, of course they can be trained, but they have so much more than other breeds - it's like their intelligence come from whitin, they are wise. Eskil hasn't had any formal training, but by treating him as an equal, as a friend - he is very well behaved and a joy to live with, I don't need a clicker - I can just have a conversation with him and he'll know exactly what I want.

I guess the bottom line for me is that sighthounds are the most intelligent dogs.

I didn't take it that way Noise. I've already experienced the "you're going to do agility with a Whippet?????" comments from agility acquaintances. :lol:

I just answer with "I like a challenge - I bought a dog I want to live with, not a dog for the job". If he isn't a great agility dog, he'll still be a great pet and companion. I think that's the most important thing to consider in buying a dog.

Sighthounds don't tolerate fools, don't work for no good reason and will pack up and leave if you don't do right by them. They keep you honest - and humble. I believe all dogs benefit from leadership but that you don't have to be a tyrant to achieve that. I expect my dogs to do what I ask of them once I've trained them. We are a team but I am the one leading it.

Great post.

Whippets are the dog for me, whatever I would be doing for fun as they are companion first and I know of no other breed that is so easy to look after.

 

[whippy kisses]

My ,my, what a can of worms ... and very interesting . As a dog trainer i believe a dog needs a job. If its its natural job then so much the better and also easier. But we choose the breeds we do out of a mixture of things, likeability, ease, comfort, challlange . There a a million and one reasons why we choose what what we have. As long as we have met his neeed for work in some way then that is what is important . Comparing breeds- well we all think we have the best breeds - i have whippies( for all the same reasons you have) , but i have always had border collies too. They are chalk and cheese- whole different lifestyle- You just ask my mum she has just stayed here whilst we have been on hols to look after Ben Molly and Dudley. She has always worked obediance to show standard all her life with BC s and does not get this whole whippet thing at all- in fact she is always glad to go home for a rest. She does say however that whippets brains are so clever and she finds them so comical, and quite understands that at obediance my whipps work totally differently than my BC s.

God i love ' em all of them :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[FifeJillandIan]

I had to smile as, whilst reading this, I have been witnessing a "normal" incident in our household ..............
Jinny wanted the chew that Tizzy had

In order to get the result she wanted she first went and took another chew which Irie was in possession of :blink:

Then she brought that chew to the bed next to the one that Tizzy was chewing the ultimate prize in ...........

Tizzy became curious about the chew which Jinny had brought along and took her attention off her chew for a nano-second

Hey Presto!! Result!!! Jinny quickly sneaks in and gains possession of the chew that she wanted all along

Now if that's not clever, I'm a monkey's aunt :lol: :lol: (ok, no comments there please )

I see dozens of incidents similar to this on a daily basis and Jinny has become more and more devious and clever over the years. She is the smartest of my gang and yes, levels of intelligence in whippets definitely vary, but I believe they are just as clever as a border collie (if not more so :thumbsup: )

.......... and, incidentally, if I ask Jinny to chase a plastic bag on a string she looks at me as though I am one brick short of a full load :wacko: :wacko: but show her a live bunny and she becomes the fastest and most lethal weapon in the whippet world ........... now that's clever too

I know exactly what you mean. A friend and I were amazed (and amused) a couple of days ago when Grace, absolutely silently, pulled the zip on her closed handbag and extracted a bundle of tissues which she fancied having. Whippets know exactly what they want and they are darned good at getting it

LOL I've got to agree with both these posts - when it comes to stealing things - especially underwear from the laundry basket, toys or chews from each other or food from me - they are as cunning as cunning things who graduated with a first class honours degree in cunningness from the University of Cunning. It was like a scene from Mission Impossible the other week in my kitchen but guess who ended up eating the lovely juicy raw sirloin steak I was getting ready to cook? Yip - Blue and Alfie! And they worked together to get it too - I was distracted for just long enough by Alfie for Blue to snaffle the steak then they were both munching happily on it before I caught on to what what happening! :lol:

 

[jinnyfizz]

I had to smile as, whilst reading this, I have been witnessing a "normal" incident in our household ..............
Jinny wanted the chew that Tizzy had

In order to get the result she wanted she first went and took another chew which Irie was in possession of :blink:

Then she brought that chew to the bed next to the one that Tizzy was chewing the ultimate prize in ...........

Tizzy became curious about the chew which Jinny had brought along and took her attention off her chew for a nano-second

Hey Presto!! Result!!! Jinny quickly sneaks in and gains possession of the chew that she wanted all along

Now if that's not clever, I'm a monkey's aunt :lol: :lol: (ok, no comments there please )

I see dozens of incidents similar to this on a daily basis and Jinny has become more and more devious and clever over the years. She is the smartest of my gang and yes, levels of intelligence in whippets definitely vary, but I believe they are just as clever as a border collie (if not more so :thumbsup: )

.......... and, incidentally, if I ask Jinny to chase a plastic bag on a string she looks at me as though I am one brick short of a full load :wacko: :wacko: but show her a live bunny and she becomes the fastest and most lethal weapon in the whippet world ........... now that's clever too

I know exactly what you mean. A friend and I were amazed (and amused) a couple of days ago when Grace, absolutely silently, pulled the zip on her closed handbag and extracted a bundle of tissues which she fancied having. Whippets know exactly what they want and they are darned good at getting it

LOL I've got to agree with both these posts - when it comes to stealing things - especially underwear from the laundry basket, toys or chews from each other or food from me - they are as cunning as cunning things who graduated with a first class honours degree in cunningness from the University of Cunning. It was like a scene from Mission Impossible the other week in my kitchen but guess who ended up eating the lovely juicy raw sirloin steak I was getting ready to cook? Yip - Blue and Alfie! And they worked together to get it too - I was distracted for just long enough by Alfie for Blue to snaffle the steak then they were both munching happily on it before I caught on to what what happening! :lol:

Sorry, Jill, but that is soooooooooo funny :lol: :lol: :lol: !!!!!

In my mind's eye I can see the assault on your steak happening as if it had happened in my own kitchen .... but luckily, this time, it was your steak and not mine :thumbsup:

 

[vernuskloyz]

Im very happy these whippets got homes. But its a shame when organizations cant work together for the best interest of the animals involved. However, it had a happy ending all the same.