Anyone got a retired whippet? Need advice

[BuffysMum]

I would really like to get a dog in a few years time (when dd's are a little older), I have no hankering to go thru the puppy stage, are whippets really the lazy wotsits I've been led to belive. My preference would be for a big dog rather than a skinny dog like a whippet but I want to give an animal a home that does it justice and a couple of short walks a day would be no problem.

Are they really happy on just that? Do they like people & children? What is there generaly personality like?

Would much rather have a doberman, red setter or ridge back but I think with 4 children that would not be realistic!

TIA

[Snowstorm]

My parents have had whippets since 1977 - they wanted a loving, affectionate, short haired dog that was small enough to curl up on their laps but not too small. When I was about 12 I used to find it hard when you overheard the odd snide remark about us mistreating our dogs or not feeding them or whatever (ignorant people who didn't know the breed obviously, particularly as ours were actually quite well covered for whippets) and obviously there are a number of people who simply think of them as small, nervous, shivery things but ... taking all of that on board, they are lovely dogs.

I have two siblings and when we were growing up the dogs (there were usually two at a time) endured the usual child'ish stuff from us with incredibly good grace and without any hostility (they may have snapped at us if we stepped over the line but they never bit us). They like people, will tolerate young children and are soppy, loving animals who enjoy lots of affection. They love to lie around in the sun/warm places but they do also need a good walk/run every day ... but then again I think the latter is true of all medium sized/large dogs and I for one would not have them unless I lived near really good dog walks where you could let them off the lead and let them get proper exercise every day.

For the last twelve or so years my parents have taken in Whippet Rescue dogs. They currently have three of different ages. I would not recommend rescue dogs to anyone with young children though as you will probably never know the complete story of their backgrounds and some of them do have a few behavioural problems (that take time, patience and experience to sort out) frequently as a result of neglect or abuse.

I don't have any personal experience of this but could you perhaps get in contact with Battersea Dogs Home - or a local vet/kennels or whatever and have a chat with someone as to what you have to offer a dog and what you want from a dog ... and perhaps they could recommend a breed that would suit you and your family?

[tortoise]

I'd love to get a whippet or preferably a retired greyhound.
My Mum has one and he is a really gentle giant.My DC have crawled over him and grabbed him with no response from him!
They were told by greyhound rescue that greyhounds only need two 20 minute walks a day.