whippet puppy

[bigbutsrus1]

Looking for tips and advise and a general chat (as I am obsessed) about whippets!! We have reserved a boy who is only 2 weeks old. To say excited is an understatement! We are going to visit again in a couple of weeks but obviously he won't come home until he's ready at 8/9 weeks. So what shall I start with first? Need bed ideas and ideas of stuff I need to buy. I have been reading a lot about training and socialisation etc. Also does anyone have a blue/fawn colour whippet? That's what he is and I spend all day googling this to try and predict what he may look like when older......told you I was obsessed!

[SunnyL]

Oh man I'm jealous. Whippet puppies are super cute.

Have you ever owned a dog before? Have a look for puppy socialisation classes and Gwen Bailey's book The Perfect Puppy is a good place to start.

If you can give the breeder a blanket or towel to line the puppies bed. It means when you bring puppy home they will have a familiar smell.

Same with food - ask the breeder what food they are using so you can buy some of the same to avoid upset tummy

[TrionicLettuce]

Whippets are truly the best dogs ever!!

This site is absolutely excellent for information about socialising, the stages a puppy goes through and what you should be aiming to do when. Whippets can be sensitive so it's important to make sure they're getting good socialisation without being overwhelmed by it all. I'd avoid "puppy parties" where the pups are all allowed to run riot, all of mine have found them a bit too much. Even if you're not terribly interested in showing, ringcraft classes are brilliant for socialisation.

If yours is anything like mine have been then I wouldn't bother with proper beds for a while, some have a real penchant for shredding anything soft Mine get vet bed type stuff when they're really small and can be trusted with something a bit more expensive.

Get started on teaching recall straight away, in fact ideally your breeder should have got the puppies started before they leave. It makes such a difference when they've got a good foundation to build on. My three came from the same breeder and they still all come running excitedly if I shout "puppieeeeeeeeeeeees" in a silly high pitched voice like she does when she's got a litter

Whippets do tend to be fairly monstrous puppies (you'll truly understand when you're practically weeping on the floor because you want to go to bed and your puppy is doing wall of death round your front room......) but it's so worth it as they are just the loveliest things ever.

[SunnyL]

Oh and look up 'zoomies'. My mother's whippets have created a race track in her garden for these mad moments.

[Lokibuddyboo]

Ahh the zoomies nothing like watching two whippets race around chasing each other.
I would invest in a few jumpers and a good thick waterproof coat as they feel the cold quite easily and really dislike going out in the cold and rain.
Also don't bother with a bed as the like to cuddle up and sleep next to you or should I say on you lol.
But they are great dogs to have.
Here's some pics of the two whippets in my life (because one whippet isn't enough)

[bigbutsrus1]

Thanks for your replies and lovely pictures! I have indeed read about whippet puppies being crazy! But then other stuff on how easy etc. I think I will prepare myself for the worst! We are planning to crate train and I have been reading about clicker training, have any of you done this? I think our poor (spoilt) cat is not going to know what hit her! We also have chickens...my plan is to intergrate them on a daily basis and see what happens. The other reason for the crate is when we are not in puppy and cat can have time out. I think we can get through until 14-16 weeks without having to leave pup and work, and then it will only be a few hours (once or twice a week) with a dog walker coming in. I am really excited but also nervous as this has been a big decision for us, but feel the kids are the right age and we both had dogs, cats and horses....so why not!

[Merrylegs]

I have a blue whippet. He is almost an elder statesman now at 9 years old and is turning a v distinguished silvery grey. He does still have his mad zoomie moments - usually a nice stretch of beach or a big field. Is true they can be monstrous pups - separation anxiety and stressy chewing mainly. But my boy loved his crate (sleeps on sofa now- they all do eventually!). It's good you are introducing cats and chickens from the get go. I'm afraid they would be fair game for chasing in this house as would any fast running small furries.

[LilyLilyLilyOiOiOi]

Here is our 15w old whippet pup! He is a good boy, no accidents inside and walks well on his lead. Only thing that drives me bonkers is his crying! But we are working on that

[bigbutsrus1]

Oh my goodness! He is gorgeous! What did you do about collars? Should I ask the breeder to put one on him? Or is 8 weeks ok? Will need to keep him on a lead in our garden to begin with as its in construction . Also what size coat for a little one? Getting VERY excited now!

[CMOTDibbler]

Awww, he's so cute!

My ddog2 is whippetish (he's a rescue, and mum is v whippety) and was a lovely blue as a pup. Now he's a very unusual mink colour with fawn eyebrows and markings. I love the way he jinks and spins like a whippet which drives ddog1 (prob greyhound x saluki) barmy as he can't do that!

Milgi coats are great, and if you contact them you can get some advice on coat fitting

Here's a pic of ddog2 as a gorgeous fat puppy

[ImBrian]

My mams whippet is one of the monster types! Destroyed half the house and was a bugger to house train but he's settled down now (age 3) into a lovely dog.

He's very routine orientated though and will fret if they're not back when they should be.

He's got a lovely nature and everyone adores him. He's a total bed/sofa hog and apparently has to sleep under the duvet!

[TrionicLettuce]

If he needs to be on lead outside immediately then I'd definitely ask his breeder to get him used to being on a collar and lead. I just start mine when they come home at 8 weeks (although it's just a formality as, beyond if/when I show them, I don't use anything on their neck as adults) but it usually takes a few days for them to be comfortable walking around with them on. They can be a bit overly dramatic, DWhippets 1 and 2 weren't too bad but DWhippet3 screamed the place down the first time he had a collar put on

[monkeyfacegrace]

CMOT that's an EGLR puppy pen if ever I saw one

I foster whippets and sight hounds and so am completely biased. Pups aren't as mad as a lot of other breeds.

In fact I'm happy to foster for you and return a beautifully behaved 1 year old dog

[Ooogetyooo]

Here's mine...you won't regret it!

[CMOTDibbler]

MonkeyfaceGrace - it is indeed, ddog2 was born with them, ddog1 was from there, and they go to one of the fosterers (who ddog2 was with when we adopted him) for boarding

As Fishslice says, MeggieMoo collars are great. Her fleece and webbing leads are lovely too as they are so soft to hold

[CMOTDibbler]

I love that one! We have a velvet lead as well for special occasions, and now ddog2 has stopped chewing leads at every opportunity I may get another.

My fave collar from Meggie is this which we have a teal and blue fleece lead to go with. ddog2 has this set.

[monkeyfacegrace]

I used to love Milgi, but unfortunately there doesn't seem to be much whippet sized stock any more

My dogs are all fairly petite and need an 18" coat. I like a lady called Samantha Scott at Dogztogz on Facebook. She makes me bespoke fleece pyjamas

[bigbutsrus1]

Oh wow velvet leads! Think this pooch is going to be spoilt! I love the floppy ear, head cocked to one-side, look they do!

[LilyLilyLilyOiOiOi]

Herbie is just wearing a soft puppy collar til he is fully grown then I will get him a lovely one!

[TrionicLettuce]

I absolutely love Equafleece stuff, especially as they do special slim versions for pointy dogs.

Forest Fleece do some really fun character jumpers I'm not at all biased because my boys are modelling on the website

If you fancy trying a harness I can't recommend the Indi-Dog Houdini Ultra enough. Made to measure and completely escape proof.

[TrionicLettuce]

Oh, and a word of warning. They're very addictive.

We only got our first whippet back in the summer of 2011 and we've somehow ended up with three of the damn things already