Bedlington/whippet cross. Good mix?

[blueblizz]

We are looking for a gentle small/medium family dog that is good with children and happy to go for walks. Our last dog was a lab/whippet/jack Russell cross and a great pet. Someone has a bedding ton/whippet pup and we were thinking it ticks many boxes. We are not in a rush but thinking we should see it. Anyone got one or have experience of these breeds as family pet? Thank you

[oldandcrabby]

I have a bedlington/whippet cross, she is a great dog: gentle and loving. I live alone but she loves visitors and has to be discouraged from sitting on their knees. She is a bit intimidated by large dogs but she was attacked by a staffy cross when a young dog. She is a PAT dog and has just finished doing some phobic work.
She looks a bit like a cartoon dog or a mini deerhound . Her hound side predominates, she is not as feisty as my Bedlington, nor as bright but can run like the wind and recall goes out the window when she sights a squirrel, neighbour's cat etc. She lives quite happily with my cat but it is a very confident cat. She hardly sheds, is very healthy. I'm not claiming she is hypo-allergenic but very nearly. Very easy to groom, just a brush and check her nails; no tedious clipping like the Bedlington.
There are quite a few locally and I have not yet met one who is not a delight. Beware, if you go and visit you may fall in love!

[Itsnotahoover]

My friend has this cross and it's a wonderful dog :)

[Booboostoo]

The best way to get a good dog is to go to a responsible breeder who breeds for temperament (and health), who keeps the puppies in similar conditions to your own (e.g. in the house with children), who has chosen really suitable parents (you should be able to meet at least the mother), and to then spend a lot of time socialising and training.

With a breed mix you have to ask the breeder why they chose to mix these two breeds, what they were hoping to achieve, why they chose the particular lines from each breed, etc. Unfortunately there is a bit of a fad for mixed breed dogs and some people breed them more for the money than the good of the breed and the people who end up owning them.

[blueblizz]

Many thanks. Sounds positive. Yes the mum is there too see and they know her history. I'm expecting early oct and although we have always had a dog I've got to make sure it works as most people would'nt do new dog and baby understandably!! It's just this dog sounded suitable for us. We'll take a look and have a long think.

[oldandcrabby]

I would second what booboo says, I already knew the breeder as I got my Bedlington from her. Her dogs were brought up with young children. She bred whippets as well and knew the cross resulted in delightful dogs. My cross is very sturdy, I do think many crosses have fewer health problems than over bred pedigrees.
Have a good talk with the breeder. I toyed with the idea of breeding from mine, because of her temprament, but she came from a litter of nine and I baulked at the idea of ensuring good homes for so many pups.

[blueblizz]

Saw dog today. She was with an active brother pup and mum was friendly and playful. The bitch we went to see was shy and didn't come to us or play. She was gentle but very quiet preferring to stay with breeders. She's only 10wks but not sure if this is good sign. Don't think she's for us as may take lots work socialising?breeders said bouncy enough usually but usually sleep around now. Love the cross though. Think go and try look at some others. Any opinions welcomed!!!

[Booboostoo]

No not a good sign at all. She sounds like a very shy puppy at that stage they should be happy to greet strangers, play with toys, etc.

You should also have a think about what age you want the puppy to be when you get it. Personally I like to have my puppies at 8wks so that I have the longest possible time to socialise them until the window closes at about 14wks. At 10wks if you pick her up in the next couple of weeks you will have missed out on most of the socialisation window of opportunity and if she is already a shy pup things could become difficult.

At of interest had the breeder screened the parents for all the diseases that are commonly controlled for both breeds?

[Booboostoo]

"out of interest" even!

[Itscoldouthere]

I have a bedlington/whippet and he is lovely.
I do think they are marmite dogs, some people just love him, we get stopped and talked to all the time, others think he is a scrawny, scraggy mess of a dog.
Mine is quite small and looks like his legs could snap off, but he's actually quite a tough little thing, he runs like the wind and tells off much bigger dogs if they pester him too much.
He loves other dogs and people, he's always trying to make friends.
We have a cat but the dog is slightly frightened of him as he's been swiped a few times but sometimes they have a bit of a play together.
Some of my dog friends love him as his favourite thing is being chased so he makes their dogs run after him, as he is so fast they never catch him so they end up having a really good run if he is around.
At home he's a bit of a couch potatoe and sleeps, usually on his back with legs in the air a real lurcher thing.
He is a terrier as well though, so he can be a bit barky, he digs holes in the garden and hides stuff.
He's not very good in the car and does lots of panting and his heart races sometimes he is sick, don't know if that's a bread thing or just him, he's also rather pathetic about getting wet, doesn't like swimming or the sea much will just about get his lower legs wet, if it starts raining he heads for home.
I think he is a very easy loveable dog, he loves cuddles and lies in my arms like a baby.... You can see I'm very attached to him

[oldandcrabby]

Itscold, typical beddy/whippet, although your boy takes after the beddy side, telling off other dogs and playing racy chasies. I have a Bedlington too, and half the people we meet love the Bedlington, the other the beddy/cross. My cross breed girl is more whoosy and whippety, sticks close to me, does not swim but does go into the water after treats, did you know gravy bones float? She comes out of the river with her 'french maid' look, as if she is wearing black stockings .
OP if you are going for a pup, 10 weeks is a bit late, puppies absorb new experiences up to about 3 months. My girl came from a litter of 9, I would ask how big the litter was and what the gender mix was, if it was a big litter, the mother might have been exhausted and a bit withdrawn.
You need to cram in as many events as possible. If they have not had all their jabs, still give them experiences, you carry them and take them to experience as much as possible: train or bus stations, pub, markets, the underground, etc. It looks like we are in for some thunder storms: great a puppy who is not scared will keep that confidence. That is not to say that adopting a rescue is not possible, but you need to be aware that you don't know what socialisation he or she has had. It can be harder work, but you don't have to train from scratch: swings and roundabouts.

[Itscoldouthere]

Ha Ha yes those little legs, my boy looks like a funny piano stool when he gets his lower legs wet, it always makes me grin.

[blueblizz]

Hi. Me again... we live 30miles north London and these pups seem to be gold dust!! Go very quickly as lots breeders further north. Does any one know by wild chance anyone who breeds them or has a good natured bitch pup for sale? Can but ask!!!! Cheers folk.

[OverTheFieldsAndFarAway]

I agree with The first paragraph of Booboos message and the second paragraph regarding mixed breeds in general but not in the case of a beddlington / whippet. It's a Lurcher, the result of crossing a sight hound ( be that a whippet, a greyhound, saluki or any of the sighthounds) with either a terrier or collie or both. This is done for a reason and is not a fad or a trend. They have been purpose bred this way for hundreds of years. Lurchers are a working( hunting) dog. The sight hound is used for, as its name suggests, it's sight. Terriers for their tenacity and fiery nature and Collies for their intelligence. I have owned and bred these dogs for twenty years, they make wonderful family pets, have brilliant constitutions and can only be beaten in my eyes by pure whippets.

[teafan20]

Dear Over the Fields are you still breeding beddlington whippets or do you know anyone who is? I have been looking for one for some time, but I am a bit wary of the ones advertised on epupz etc as some of the sellers seem a bit dodgy. Ideally I would like to get to know a breeder and the pup's parents first. I am prepared to wait for the right pup! Any advice would be very welcome.

[Pandora100]

Hi , have just spotted this on google and joined mumnet just to add to this thread
The Beddy x whippet is the sweetest most loyal family friendly dog, they are laid back gentle and easy tro keep. If any one wants to know a breeder we have one with us that will be breeding again soon. Her whippets are super and the Beddy dogs are copper toxicosis srcreened, really important!
They are true mini lurchers with all the instincts but if reared right wil happily live with children, cats and other dogs.

[Ladybirding]

Hi there
I just wondered if you managed to find a good breeder ? If so please could you recommend them to me a we are looking for a bedlington whippet also.
Many thanks

[Darkskates]

Hi,
Just stumbled on this thread and new to Musnet so not sure how it works but wondering if anyone could recommend a breeder for Bedlington whippets? We are in Hampshire but could travel. Thank you.

[2kids2dogsnosense]

It's a smashing mix - one of the more sensible crosses out there.

[VanellopeVonSchweetz99]

Following with interest. If anyone would recommend a Bedlington breeder for the Oxfordshire area I'd be very interested. My aunty had one as her first ever dog and it was absolutely lovely.

[GingerAndTheBiscuits]

Interesting reading all the recommendations here as my MIL has had bedlingtons - one PTS after biting a child (not in family home, was boarding with a family one weekend and despite efforts couldn't be rehomed apparently) and the other can't be left alone with my DD even now she's of primary school age as she's so territorial...

[amethyst74]

I have a wonderful beddy whippet rescue dog: he is fantastic in every way except he is variable with other dogs. He often ignore them, but is sometimes growly if other dogs run up to him, which can be a pain - we have done dog training classes and he's continuing to improve. They are a lovely breed, but not complete "couch potatoes" as greyhounds are reputed to be: they need decent amounts of daily exercise. One huge benefit is they don't shed much, don't smell and don't need a lot of grooming. If anyone's looking for a puppy, there's a good FB group called Bedlington Whippet Appreciation Group: puppies are sometimes advertised on this group. But I'd also say there are loads of lovely lurchers (puppies and adults) in rescues across the land - try Lozza's Lurcher Rescue, Forever Hounds Trust, Hounds First and Lurcher Link.

[pumpkin41]

Hi
We are hoping to get a dog and also are very interested in a bridlington whippet. We are looking for a playful and good natured dog, who can hopefully be a fun and cuddly companion for our 7 year old daughter. We are in no rush, but would like to start looking for breeders. Does anybody know a breeder not too far away from London?

[Bridie321]

Hi there - I saw your post from years ago re. Beddlington whippet crosses. Are you able to recommend a breeder? Our family are ready for a dog and are in love with this breed. Many thanks! B