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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To get a whippet puppy in a small flat

91 replies

Wantaskinnydog · 14/08/2018 19:40

Following on from lots of whippet threads I wondered whether it would be unreasonable to consider getting a whippet pup in my circumstances. We have 2 small children and 2 cats and live in a small 3 bed flat with a patio. We have always wanted a dog, always hoped we could afford to move to a house but it will never happen. Should I resign myself to never having a dog? We can't move for a whole load of reasons. Lifestyle wise we are totally geared up for a dog. Anyone?!

OP posts:

Kpo58 · 14/08/2018 19:46

Are you close to a park?

Margaurette · 14/08/2018 19:47

Your cats are unlikely to approve of that!

WhatInTheWorldIsGoingOn · 14/08/2018 19:49

Yes you can get a dog. We happily had a dog in a first floor flat for 3 years. It sounds like you are ground floor anyway so no different from a house or a bungalow surely?

Whatsthisbear · 14/08/2018 19:50

Do your children play out on the patio? Would you be happy them playing in an area that a dog has pooped/peed on? Because it isn’t always possible to take a dog for a walk every time they need to go, even with 2/3 walks a day they will still need to go out and relieve themselves in between. Realistically would you be able to hose down/disinfect? Every time? Puppies are hard work, kids are hard work. I’m not saying it unreasonable or impossible just wondering if you have thought through every aspect?- twice over!
Could you borrow a dog for a day to see how it would all work with your life?
But agree with Magautette, your cats would hate it.

Beamur · 14/08/2018 19:51

I have a garden, but my dog is terrified of being in it (rescue dog with issues) so we always have to walk her out of the house, so a flat isn't that different.
Whippets are pretty high energy though and how are your cats with dogs? There could be a lack of escape space for your cats in a flat which might make them stressed and miserable if they don't like the puppy.

Flyme21 · 14/08/2018 19:53

My friend's whippet killed a cat that ran past him, so no I wouldn't get a whippet or any other hunting dog in your situation.

SingaSong12 · 14/08/2018 19:53

I don't know, but think of it as two questions - getting a whippet pup and separately getting an adult whippet.

Flyme21 · 14/08/2018 19:54

No chance to save the cat by the way, grabbed by the neck and over in an instant. It's what they are trained to do.

EdisonLightBulb · 14/08/2018 19:55

Aren't whippets from the greyhound family? Is it fair to get a dog that has a strong pret drive when you have two cats?

I think not. The size of the flat isn't the issue here.

TheVanguardSix · 14/08/2018 19:56

If you’re next to a wonderful green space, then it is doable for sure. Whippets are racers so you will absolutely need to run (any dog but especially) this dog daily.

We have a cat. Cat was here first. Didn’t take to the dog at first but going on 3 years later, they’re good mates. We trained our dog (who is a docile soul by nature) to absolutely not chase the cat in the early days. We worked hard and carefully on the cat and dog dynamic. But the cat and the dog are mellow fellows by nature.
The reality is you just can’t predict how the cat-dog dynamic will be.

Original poster

Wantaskinnydog · 14/08/2018 19:56

Thanks everyone. Spoken to breeders and all said puppy not an adult re the cats. We live 5 minutes from 4 large parks, plus 2 different woods, walkable to beach and open countryside a 15 min drive. Little ones don't play outside at all as we have steep steps down to the patio and we spend all day at parks, country parks, nature reserves, forests etc. Thanks for all the replies!

OP posts:

adaline · 14/08/2018 19:57

I wouldn't get a whippet with two cats, I think it's a recipe for disaster.

Aintnothingbutaheartache · 14/08/2018 19:57

Whippets need to run! By all means get a pup but I think you need to think about the breed

adaline · 14/08/2018 19:58

we spend all day at parks, country parks, nature reserves, forests etc

But you can't take a puppy out all day. You need to be at home with them so you can toilet train them. They can only walk 5 minutes/month of their age (so 15 minutes a day at three months old) for example. You won't be able to walk them to a park, nor will they be able to manage stairs so you'll need to carry them.

BoiledFrog · 14/08/2018 19:58

We had a whippet cross lurcher puppy who was deathly scared of any cats in the garden and happiest horizontal and under a blanket. He never met a blanket or cup of tea he didn't like, he was happy with a couple of walks a day, not a high energy dog at all.

Obviously he was very zoomy on a walk, but happy to chill otherwise, I could think of worse dogs to have in a flat.

Larasshadow · 14/08/2018 19:59

Have you thought about a retired greyhound? They need a lot less exercise than a whippet and some are cat workable. Ours couldn't manage the stairs in our house so just had downstairs and the garden so like a small flat.

hungryhippie · 14/08/2018 20:00

Its the toilet training that might be an issue.
Do you have a shared patio?
My puppy is 11 weeks and she poos and wees everywhere. It would be a nightmare in a small space with no garden.
Can take months to toilet train too.

TheVanguardSix · 14/08/2018 20:00

If the cats are indoor cats, you’ll be ok. What was hard for us when our dog was a pup was going out into the garden with the cat. All instincts to chase just kicked in and the chase was on!
But now the pair of them lie down together in the sun on the grass and just hang. The chasing days are long past.
Whippets and cats can and do coexist in relative peace. You’ll have your work cut out for you.

adaline · 14/08/2018 20:02

If the cats are indoor cats, you’ll be ok.

Not necessarily. I've heard plenty of horror stories of cats being killed by sighthounds indoors. I think it's potentially worse indoors as the cats don't have as much chance to escape. Our puppy loves nothing more than to chase our cat around the house - they're playing but I would never, ever leave them unattended. All it takes is the puppy being too rough or the cat misjudging a jump for it to end in disaster!

Lucisky · 14/08/2018 20:13

Why is it that someone ALWAYS suggests a retired greyhound? They are big dogs, so probably not best for a small flat, and aren't they trained by running after stuffed furry thiings?
OP, I would think with two small children and two cats you have your hands full already. Having a puppy is like having another child for a time. Whippet puppies are delicate and easily suffer fractures by jumping from people's arms or jumping off furniture, or even your steep patio steps. I would have thought a more staid type of dog would be more suitable.

CrispbuttyNo1 · 14/08/2018 20:15

Your best bet is an older rescue dog, that has lived with cats, and doesn’t need much excercise. Not a greyhound or whippet type breed.

Original poster

Wantaskinnydog · 14/08/2018 20:15

Thanks everyone

OP posts:

ithoughtisawapuddycat · 14/08/2018 20:17

Our family dog is a whippet and he is happy with two short walks.

Lives alongside two cats and tolerates them. If he has a long walk he sleeps the rest of the day. Had him since he was a puppy so it will be in the training.

He rides the tube, spends half his life in the pub and can be the laziest dog I've met!

rainydayahead · 14/08/2018 20:22

My whippet escapes from the house to chase and terrorise cats. She has been like this with cats from being a pup. Best check they pup will tolerate cats first.

Original poster

Wantaskinnydog · 14/08/2018 20:23

We would only consider a pup from a breeder who has cats. We have found one who breeds and shows whippets and has 6 cats as well so puppies are raised with cats.

OP posts:

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