Whippet puppies

[Emmylooagain]

Hello, a little while ago I posted about what dog breed would be appropiate for my family - we have a four year old and a 18 month old. Good sized fenced yard. A lot of people recommended whippets. Would a whippet puppy, from anybody's experience, be jumpy and bitey like other puppies or are they a little more reserved and gentle. I ask because I have been reading horror stories about puppies and toddlers and biting etc etc.

Thanks very much

[FuckyNell]

All puppies are bitey and jumpy!

Just like toddlers really

[Emmylooagain]

Thanks FuckyNell. Once again I am concluding a puppy with a toddler may be a disastrous idea! I went to visit the local rescue centre on the weekend and there was not a single dog there that I would feel comfortable putting my kids next to....they suggested a puppy.

But then everyone says no to a puppy and a toddler, so then I am back to the adult dog! I go around in circles!

[R4roger]

puppies are nippy but you can control all concerned I am sure. Keep an eye on toddler/puppy always

[NCIS]

I had two puppies with a 7 year old, a five year old and a two and a half year old, it was fine but I was seriously strict with both puppies and children. Would not advise getting two though ever, that was a mistake.
Previously I had a puppy with a newborn so am officially mad.

[whogrewoutoftheterribletwos]

Our puppy is now 7 months old and still jumpy. We got her at 8 weeks, when we had a 1yo in the house. Though she jumped, mouthed and played with our DS (8) she has NEVER nipped or jumped on our toddler. The only thing is that she tries to lick her to death. Regardless, you should never leave small children alone with a dog, no matter how well you think you know them (though I'm sure you've been told this already)

If you're getting any puppy make sure you go and meet the litter first, that way you get a bit of an idea of the personalities. We went for the most docile of the litter. When we visited and DD started crying the pup we eventually got came over to see what the matter was. That decided it for me.

[Emmylooagain]

Thanks all. Whogrewout - what sort of puppy do you have?

I have had a puppy before but I was 13 at the time. I don't remember it being jumpy but my sister and I were obviously much older than my kids.

And yes - I wouldn't ever leave puppy and child unsupervised.

My main thing is trying to find a breed which will be compatible with a toddler. Or are all puppies equally as jumpy and nippy?

[BehindLockNumberNine]

Get yourself to a dedicated Greyhound / Whippet rescue.
Their kennels will be full of adult greyhounds, whippets and lurchers.

If you cannot find a gentle, easy going adult dog there then I will eat my shoes!

Our Whippet cross came from the Celia Cross Greyhound Trust in Clandon. He (and there were several others like him) are docile, gentle couch potatoes and he is quite simply wonderful!

[CMOTDibbler]

How about Tasha? Old enough to be out of the annoying puppy stage, known to be good with children

[moosemama]

Neither of my Lurcher lads were nippy or jumpy with the dcs.

Ds2 was 18 months old when we got Lurcherboy as a pup and the dcs were 12, 10 and 5 when we got Pip.

That isn't to say all Lurchers will be the same, as a lot of it is down to personality and how you handle their behaviour and interaction (both dcs and dog).

[FreakinScaryCaaw]

My dog's a whippet cross and I got him at 16 months from rescue. He hates small children/toddlers, tries to bite them. Fantastic with everyone else. I'm thinking there's some history?

But I love whippet puppies and am sure if you're careful all will be well.

[moosemama]

Oh no! CMOT you made me look at the EGLR site and now I'm in love with Arna and Elsa!

OP, I agree, a slightly older pup would be less likely to be full on nippy.

[CMOTDibbler]

They are gorgeous aren't they Moosemama

[LoathsomeDrab]

Whippet puppies are like normal puppies on speed. Evening zoomies become wall of death round the house once they've found their legs and realised just how fast they can run, even when they're tiny

I didn't find the biting too bad with my three, they were all easily redirected onto more appropriate things and they stopped biting in play pretty quickly. I've never bothered with time outs, ignoring them, squeaking or anything because shoving a toy in their mouths worked just fine.

Mine all started calming down noticeably at around 7 months old and weren't too obnoxious during the teenage phase. My youngest has just turned 1 year old and he's a lovely little thing to be around now. A terrible thief still but very sweet.

[Dancingyogi]

Dpup was quite bad with ds (11). Ds panicked with Dpup mouthed him and it was very tricky to get both of them to calm down. Clicker training solved the worst of it. The zoomies were pretty crazy and we all found the puppy a bit of a nightmare at times but that stage didn't last too long. 12-15 weeks was the worst. I have nothing to compare Dpup to, so I have no idea whether he was normal for a whippet.

[Dancingyogi]

Puppies are such hard work - I'd get a dog the next time. I spend lots of time training my pup, I couldn't have done that when the dcs were small.

[whogrewoutoftheterribletwos]

Emmyloo - we have a Vizsla. If whippet puppies are like normal pups on speed then a vizsla is supersonic. They are high maintenance though and need LOTS of walking.

Whippets can be really sweet, but I do know a few who are quite bite-y. That said, it's early socialisation that really matters. We were toying with the idea of one when we found out about the HV litter. Best thing we've ever done getting a pup, and this way DD will grow up with a devoted follower. Interestingly - DD was very attached to her stuffed toys until we got the puppy. Since then she has no interest, except in real dogs!

[RudePepper]

OP we are looking for the same with slightly older children - it's difficult. Behind you will have to eat your shoes I'm afraid, as I have been told by quite a few greyhound/lurcher rescue places that they have no dog suitable for a family of 8/11/13 (though we are asking for lowish prey drive).

whogrewoutoftheterribletwos love Vizslas - how long do you walk each day?

[Dapplegrey]

Whippets are lovely dogs and in my experience, good natured. They do need exercise, though, and we can only let ours off the lead in certain places because they don't always come when they are called.

[Emmylooagain]

Thanks all. I have my name down at the local greyhound rescue but they said they will take some time to match greyhound with family and at the moment they have more applications for dogs than the do dogs in foster care.