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Original poster

Whippet owners! May I ask some questions?!

28 replies

manuka · 29/11/2007 20:46

What are they like as pets? Are they good with small children? I have a cat, if we got pups would they kill her when they're adults? What are they like to house train? Can they be let off the lead when out walking? Do they shed much hair?

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ImBarryScott · 29/11/2007 20:56

We had 2 greyhounds, which I guess us just a jumped-up whippet .
They are fabulous pets. They need less exercise than you would imagine (a good morning run off the lead and another short walk later). ouse training no bother. The cat thing really depends from dog to dog, but dogs who grow up around cats tend to get put in their place by the moggy from a young age. Hair shedding was minimal.

ImBarryScott · 29/11/2007 20:58

is just a jumped up whippet.

Original poster
manuka · 29/11/2007 21:03

Your name always makes me laugh!!
I think I'll try and find a breeder. Its a miracle that dh agrees we can have one!

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DaisyNightingale · 29/11/2007 21:14

we used to have one. she was a fab pet, and was very good with our cats. she would try to catch rabbits when out, but only ever managed one!

She was a bit of a nighmare to toilet train, but she had come from a kennel (a failed racing dog) so wasn't house trained when we got her at a year old.

Thay are natural born thieves as well, and she was known to steal things out of the oven when my mum's back was turned.

We used to let her off to run quite a lot, and they need a fair amount of walking, but no more than any other medium sized dog.

I think she used to shed quite a lot, but can't remember.

she was a fab dog though, very placid and didn't really bark (so not a great guard dog). I'd recommend one as a pet!

DaisyNightingale · 29/11/2007 21:16

please try greyhound/whippet rescue centres...

a lot of them end up in shelters after being no use as a racing dog.

MuffinMclay · 29/11/2007 21:43

MIL has one. Hers is:

Good with cats
Snappy with small children (can't leave ds in same room as her)
House trained (rescue dog, came ready house trained)
Can be let off the lead when walking, but has to be called back if other dogs approach (starts snarling at them)
Sheds lots of hair, but it isn't very obvious (very short hair, so you can't see it but cushions feels prickly IYKWIM)
Doesn't need much walking
Barks incessantly, especially at men

Many of this dog's faults are to do with training (or lack of), and necessarily common traits of greyhounds.

Original poster
manuka · 30/11/2007 13:44

Well as it's the only animal dh and I can agree on its going to have to be that or nothing! I've been reading about them on various websites and they seem like good family pets.

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LadyOfTheFlowers · 30/11/2007 13:50

I had a rescued one when I was a teen and I can honestly say she did no wrong ever. She was a dream.
The only thing she did was steal, which is normal, but for months she would eat anything she stole, including an Imperial Leather soap complete with the metal bit, as she still had it in her mind that she could not guarantee getting fed for another 2-3 months.
She did shed quite a lot, but as has been mentioned, the hairs are only small and more prickly than anything.
Very loving and placid dog though. I never heard her bark, ever,

Iklboo · 30/11/2007 13:51

I have a whippet greyhound cross
Doesn't like cats but one beat her up
Very very affectionate - loves to cuddle
Lazy - sleeps most of the day but likes a short walk & run (she's 12 now so we let her off)
Great with children - v patient with DS
Sheds a fair bit but its very small fine hairs
Highly recommend one - try your nearest rescue centre

NutterlybloodandgUts · 30/11/2007 13:51

They have quite thin skin so ideally need coats in the winter and can get injured easily which is something to look out for rather then a problem iyswim

They need whippet collar (like so ideally as they have long thin necks and these kind of collars put the least pressure and do the least damage

(sorry if you know this)

LadyOfTheFlowers · 30/11/2007 13:53

Forgot those bits!
Mine too had a wide whippet collar and a green wax jacket type coat with a tartan fold over collar!

If it started raining though while we were out, she would run home!

Original poster
manuka · 01/12/2007 19:38

I'm looking forward to buying little jackets and fleeces for them!! We're going to get two and I'm going to name them Roland and Parsnip!!
Thanks for all your posts.
The stealing thing- do they all do this?

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ggirlsbells · 01/12/2007 19:41

My friend has the most gorgeous whippet with gigantic bat ears.
I am so jealous.

scotsgirl · 06/12/2007 19:43

My whippet steals all the time, and at first would usually destroy what he stole - I've lost a mobile phone, lovely filofax, several nice bits of home baking and numerous toys belonging to my five-year-old. But i have to say that six months on and he now often just stashes what he steals in his bed without chewing it (unless it's food of course ).

Re exercise, I'd say whippets are quite a bit more energetic than greyhounds, and need a good hour's walk/run every day. But they are such fun to watch when they're running full pelt, it's worth the effort!

From my - albeit limited experience - they are really affectionate and like nothing better than to curl up next to you. Mine tries to climb into my lap all the time.

This is a great place to buy whippet coats and accessories from www.jaycoats.co.uk.

Good luck.

lumpybumpymummy · 11/12/2007 20:35

ok my whippet seems to be unlike any other whippet ive know shes now 18 months and ive had her since she was 8wks

good with kids yes shes fab and plays with my 2yr old all the time

shes fine with my cat and she was here before the cat they play together

she doesnt shed much just tiny little hairs

now just my own warning my dog is a handful shes very hard work i have a 8 yr old cross whippet and my 18month old whippet if left indoors she will chew up everything she can get hold off i have a dog cage and even putting her in that doesnt help shes worked out how to move it and chews up stuff she gets hold off even when i'm indoors she chews stuff i went on hoilday in september and my mum had her she chewed lots of stuff shes very very hard work and my mums refused to have her again

my cross whippet was the same when young she ripped my sofa to bits and we had a dog cage for her and she knew how to unlock it these dogs are not stupid

back to normal stuff my dogs cut there paws alot thats a main problem also there crazy when on the lead and run through bushs and get cuts but do come back when called but they will chase cats and rabbits and only come back when finshed

if you decide to get a whippet training is a must or they will become to much i have a dd of two and a ds of 8 months and i'm pregnant and im finding my dog realy hard work but i would'nt part with her she has a heart of gold and is a real lovely natured dog and even tho she is hard work id still have another one if we move in the future where abouts are you?

Original poster
manuka · 12/12/2007 20:07

Hello! Gosh that sounds like a nightmare to me!! What kind of cross is she?
I live in Leeds. Where are you?

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frogmarsh · 13/12/2007 09:39

I think whippets make the most wonderful pets, ours is 2 years old and just adorable, really affectionate and cuddly. He hardly sheds at all and is very gentle generally. We do not have kids yet (am preggers at the mo) but he has been fine with all children we have met although considers them as fellow dog rather than human and has to be watched incase he gets over enthusiastic

He gets 2 walks of about 30 - 40 mins per day but as long as he has a some off lead free running he is happy with less (it is fine to let them off the lead, in fact don't get one if you can't as they are definitely running dogs) In between walks he curls up and sleeps and is no bother at all - a definite couch poatato

I found ours a bit of a pain to toilet train, but every dog is different

I'm afraid he is a terrible thief too! but this is entirely limited to food (ie not slippers or phones) Everything foodwise has to be kept high up and far back on the countertops! No chocolate on the christmas tree etc! My moms whippet was the same with food, they are total scavengers (you might want to invest in some kind of bin lock)

try this site lots of very helpful people on here including breeders

BTW love your dog names!

lumpybumpymummy · 13/12/2007 11:42

frogmarsh my whippet came from that site do you know tanya? (poshtotty)? i got mine as a pup from her

lumpybumpymummy · 13/12/2007 11:46

well the one thats hard work is a pedigree whippet my other one is a cross whippet jack russell but don't let me put you off as ive talked to lots of whippet owners and it seems its just my dog other than that they are fab dogs now if they was that bad how do people keep lots ? it seems its just her but id still love another infact i can't wait till we move so i can have some more i find the addictive lol

frogmarsh · 13/12/2007 17:40

Lumpybumpy, i don't know tanya i'm afraid but when we first got monty i was always looking on that site for help. In fact it was a bit of an addiction until i found mumsnet! I would love to get another whippet, not sure i could cope with pregnancy and a puppy though

CountryGirl2007 · 17/12/2007 16:43

There are countless greyhounds looking for homes because nobody really thinks of them as pets even though they make excellent pets, they are very popular pets on the continent and in Scandinavia. would you not consider a greyhound? they are bigger but are very gentle and affectionate dogs like whippets. they don't need much exercise either, only the same as a ''normal'' dog (an hour or so a day should be fine) shed very little. and please try the rescues and call up the pounds as well and put your name down as looking for a whippet or whatever, and then if one comes in to the pound they will contact you. Also, any dog will be fine with cats it it is raised with them and even a lot of adult whippets/greys will be OK with them. :

minspugs · 17/12/2007 17:02

or a lurcher, theres always lots of these in rescue places. its a whippet or greyhound cross. i have a collie/greyhound cross and shes lovely, fab with kids, quiet, lazy and no bother at all. unfortunatly im having to try to rehome her as im having my 3rd child and our house is tiny. im seriously lacking in time to give to her and she does get depressed easily

CountryGirl2007 · 17/12/2007 21:26

minspugs, if your lacking in time for walking her etc, could you not hire a dog walker or ask a local person? someone might be looking for an excersize companion, or a animal loving kid that can't get their own dog might be willing to help out! it would be a shame if you had to rehome her as there is already such a flood of dog's looking for homes.....

lumpybumpymummy · 18/12/2007 11:53

i agree with countrygirl i don't think you should rehome her i'm expecting our third child i have 1 of two 1 of 9 months and i'm nearly 15wks pregnant i got two dogs there hard work but wouldnt part with them

Original poster
manuka · 18/12/2007 19:58

My God Lumpybumpy you're brave!! One child is as much as I can cope with!! She'l have to make do with dogs and cats instead of brothers and sisters.
Am going to check that website. Was originally going to rehome an ex racer but am concerned about psychological problems cos would hate it to be aggressive towards dd.
Anyone any experience with rescue dogs and kids??

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