whippet, greyhound or italian greyhound? which is the better pet?

[juicychops]

im desperate for a dog although not yet 100% if its going to happen or not yet as im still doing research.

These are the three dogs i will choose from. the size isn't really an issue its mainly

temprement
good or not with kids
good or not with cats
expense to keep
overall rating as a pet

please could you give advice based on your own experiences thanks

I don't know much about Italian greyhounds, I have a greyhound and am thinking of getting a whippet.

As far as I can see there really isn't any difference in temprement between whippets and greyhounds, inc kiddy and cat compatability. Greyhounds generally aren't available as puppies as they are bred to race and won't be retired until its found out they're useless at racing. So it may be harder to find a cat friendly greyhound as they will have been trained to chase and won't be used to cats. Saying that I have 2 cats, rabbits, chickens and my ex racer doesn't show any interest. But there can be long waiting lists for a greyhound that is likely to be cat friendly. I was lucky and got one straight away, they thought she would be ok as she was a useless racer but she had to come to me for a "cat test visit" before we knew for sure.

Greyhounds are cheap to feed, £12 for a bag of food that lasts 6 weeks. I'd have thought that whippets would eat the same food, just a bit less of it.

The reason I'd get a whippet next time is size. Greyhounds are big, I have a camper van and when we have the bed pulled out there isn't much floor space for her. Also if we get to a stile when out on walks we have to turn back as I can't pick her up over it. She can't even get through kissing gates, well she refuses to try and is too big for me to pesuade. I'd be able to pick a whippet up.

We grew up with whippets from birth until about 15 when the last one died. They were great very gentle, slept down my bed (well mine did) and great family dogs.

Oh and we also had a cat, when I was a baby my mother used to find their whippet and the cat in my cot with me.

Want to type you a lovely long answer, but have a banging migrane, so will give you a low down instead.

IG - Wouldn't have with very young children, are quite fragile and don't tend to like much hurley burley, can be very hard to house break, tend to cost £££££.

Whippet - Great family pet, nice size, usually good with animals they are brought up with,l though just because they love and happily sleep with your own cats they may try to get any they see 'off territory', they can do 35mph so need excellent recall training, cheap to feed, need approx 1-2 hours walking a day (but can walk for much longer) some excercise must be free running, you will need a garden that is securely fenced to six foot minimum, very loving, very loyal, cannot be kept off the furniture.

Greyhound - As above but bigger, and a bit more lazy and laid back, still very loving with children but probably less inclined to play, as mentioned unlikely to get a puppy, so really looking at a rescue, you may have to wait for one that is cat friendy, but the do come up fairly often.

For any more advice can I direct you to The Whippet Forum for advice on all things sighthound related .

Actually that was quite a long answer, please ask if there was anything else, or ask/search on the forum.

Sorry about the crap spelling etc poorly head.

What about a lurcher - we had a greyhound/irishwolfhound. So mellow but lots of fun too, loved running around with the kids and was best friends with my 2yo dd. He died at grand old age of 11 last year, Much missed!
You can also get whippet crosses and they are so so lovley and not as expensive to buy, also not as fragile iykwim?!

bedlington terrier

We got our greyhound as a pup from the Dog's Trust.

She's great btw, but only playful about once a day for about 10 mins

What SugarMousePink said. Absolutely, completely and with knobs on.

[http://www.greytexploitations.com/ Greyt Exploitations] education and campaigns.

[http://www.greyhoundrescue.co.uk/ Greyhound Rescue UK]

Oh sorry, soddin' Firefox playing up!

DOn't know about Italian greyhounds but I would say a whippet. I love them all but I've heard some horrible stories about greyhounds and cats

thanks everyone so much for your responses.

i think i will rule out the italian greyhound for now. i would prefer something bigger anyway. i would definately be rescuing a dog as would much raather do that than buy off a breeder.

i want one now!! but cant until i move into a bigger house next year with an enclosed garden - at the moment there is a walkthrough bit to the gardens either side. which gived me plenty of time to do more research. i have looked up insurance and its not as much as i thought it would be either.

what about greyhound whippet cross? there were quite a few of them on various websites for sale

I would go for a greyhound or a lurcher. rescues are full of them both unfortunatly.

There are cat friendly ones available, they get on great with children and other dogs, they (greyhounds) also have the benefit of being very genetically sound so don't suffer from hereditary diseases like some other breeds, which could be considered good for costs as it may help to keep the vet bills down!

I personally don't think an italian greyhound or a whipped would be very suitable for children as they are very delicate, especially the IG's as well as being a bit timid, rough play may scare/injure them.

I have always wanted a greyhound and a friend nearly got me a non-racer a few years back, a puppy would of been ridiculously expensive due to potential race winnings.

I think out of the 3 you mention a greyhound would be best but what about a lurcher, they are usually easier to find. Then again if you get a rescued/retired greyhound then you get huge brownie points

I'd say whippet - I have four, along with two small children. Great with kids, sorry but I wouldn't agree that they are too delicate for small children, as long as they've got an "escape route" when it all gets too much they're fine.

Very lazy dogs, until you take them out! From experience I'd say that dogs are much more obediant than bitches.

Beware though - they're not keen on sleeping on the floor and will take over beds/couches etc.

Whippets arn't 'delicate' in the slightest, Iggies maybe yes, but not Whippets, for alot of owners they are still a working or racing dog!

Oh, it may be worth having a look at/word with LurcherLink (online, given up with trying to post links!) too. Kaye, the owner, and her volunteers and members are very knowledgable and helpful and who knows, you may just find your dream dog on there.

Had my greyhound for 2 yrs now. As others have said, great with children and other dogs, very lazy and take over the sofa. Mickey has laid claim to one sofa and always sleeps there! He hates cats and barks madly if he sees one (although i believe it is rare for a GH to bark!).
Not too bad with our rabbit and guinea as long as the hutch is shut. DD2 once opened the hutch when he was outside and he leapt in and grabbed the guinea pig. Luckily didn't actually pierce its skin and dropped it when i shouted!

He doesn't play much but does like chasing a ball if it is a squeaky one. He loves anything that squeaks and soft toys!

I got him from the Retired Greyhound trust Devon branch. Would love another one day but have also taken on a friend jack russell!

Oh and be warned, their wind can clear a room in seconds! and they produce poo alot and in big piles!!

Blimey Tortoise, yours is an odd Grey! He barks? Never heard a peep from the one I fostered, the friend's I dog-sat for or those at the rescue I help at.

AND your chap gets on with a little dog and doesn't consider him an odd looking cat?

Very odd!

Yep he barks very loudly! Rare GH indeed lol. Luckily not often! Mainly at cats.
He get on ok with Patch (JR). I think he finds him a bit OTT and he has so much more energy than Mickey. He does like it that Patch licks in his ears .