Whippets: Why always more than one?!

[Pegglebot]

We've been thinking about getting a Whippet for our next dog, we lost our Patterdale to cancer last year and we've only owned terriers before.

Whippets are very popular around where I live but I can't help noticing that they seem to come in pairs. There's one man in the park who has six! So why o why is this? Whilst I wouldn't mind having two dogs eventually I would rather start with one.

Hoping you are not going to tell me it's because they are prone to separation anxiety if you only have one....

[Mumsywumsywoo]

I don't know why they come in pairs but i have a dog and after a year bought another one. In hindsight I wish I bought two to start with, they are great company and (as long as you have the space) no more trouble. I'd take the plunge and get two from the start! Whippets are lovely breeds.

[CMOTDibbler]

A lot of people with sighthounds have more than one because sighthound play involves zooming round in big circles barging each other to run faster (sometimes I think it looks like roller derby) and other dogs just don't get it. Add to that that whippets do an amazing turn on their back legs at full speed, and they don't find playing with non sighthounds very fulfilling in comparison.

We have two lurchers - one salukixgreyhound (possibly) and one whippety. Both mine are rescues from EGLR, who, if you were thinking of a puppy often have litters born with them. DDog2 was born with them

[Pegglebot]

Yes mumsy I'd like two dogs eventually, think it's nice for them to have canine company. Think it'll take a while to adjust to having one dog again though.

I'm hoping it is because they are fabulous dogs to own because I know for sure owning two Patterdale terriers would have sent me potty!

[Pegglebot]

Thanks CMOTDibbler I had noticed they have a very particular style of playing. I noticed one in the park zipping past a very elderly looking French bulldog who was trying in vain to catch up, the whippet was enjoying itself anyway!

[MuttonCadet]

We now have three greyhounds, started with one but they are such amazing dogs, and very little trouble (sleep around the house most of the time), so three isn't much more work than one.

[PartyCityGhoul]

Cos nothing can keep up with a whippet but another whippet! My friend has one (I love her, keep trying to steal her, unsuccessfully so far) and she just gets SO excited when she meets another whippet so they can run.

Also they are the most chilled creature ever so multiple can't be much hassle!

[CMOTDibbler]

Party - my other dog is faster in a straight line than whippety, but it drives him batshit that ddog2 can twirl round. Ddog1 is a dragster, ddog2 is a drifter.

It is weird how they get so excited to see another pointy though, far more than seeing any other type of dog.

Mine are just having a morning tug of war, and then ddog1 will go and sleep in ds's bed, and ddog2 will curl up on the bed next to my desk. They'll wake up at lunchtime to go running with me, then go to sleep until ds comes home from school.

[Pegglebot]

All sounding good so far. I thought it was either that they were easy dogs to have so two was no bother, or else that they became neurotic without another dog around, I noticed a few in rescue that said they needed to go to a home with another sighthound.

Oh I so want one. However DS3 has just turned one so must be sensible and wait!

[TwistAndShout]

This thread has made me so happy! We have a one year old delightful whippet and pick up our second whippet puppy next week. Our first whippet is lovely- he's delightful on walks and sleeps most of the rest of the time. We really hope having two will be great company and finally he'll have someone to chase him!

[TrionicLettuce]

SexLubeAndAFishSlice has got it They're wonderful little things and are generally so gregarious, especially with their own kind, it's hard to stop at one.

DWhippet1 arrived in the summer of 2011 and by January 2014 we had three of them

I love having a little gang of them. Nothing can wear a whippet out on a walk like another whippet and it's lovely having them draped artfully round the room snoozing the rest of the time.

[Lokibuddyboo]

Because one whippet just isn't enough. Lol
After having one you just want to get another and two really are no more trouble than just one.
Plus like previous posters have said they love to run and have the zoomies and only another pointy hound can keep up with them.

[Pegglebot]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I think the long term plan will be to get two (or three...) but of course we need to see how we get on with one first