Whippets - what do I need to know?

[UnseenAcademicalMum]

We are currently looking for a dog and have two ds's aged 6 and 2. I've previously owned a collie x and dp has previously owned a schnauzer. I absolutely adore collies, but wouldn't want one whilst ds2 is so young.

However, on a trip to the local dog rescue today, they pointed out a whippet which they thought might be suitable for us. He's a year old, so only a young lad really, but I hadn't considered a whippet before. I've done a bit of reading around and they seem to be reasonably laid-back and relatively easy-going in comparison with "working" type dogs (like collies).

However, does anyone have any words of wisdom for me, please?

As I say, we hadn't really considered a whippet before, so I don't know anything much about them at all.

OP - I'm excited for you!! please keep us updated.

re settling in same as above. also make sure plenty of time for walks so he's tired and therefore hopefully less stressed

There is something called a buster collar. It's an inflatable alternative. I know whippet owners who yse them. Just google it and I am sure you will find one. I think that dogs find the lampshade things distressing.
Hope the knee gets better soon.
Cathie

Bah - feeling miserable tonight, had to get one of my boys PTS today. He was diagnosed with advanced lymphoma about a month or so ago, together with cateracts and a possible tumour behind his eye. Been off his food and looking miserable (more miserable than is usual for a whippet!) for around week and I looked at him this morning and decided that it would be cruel to keep him going any longer. He was 13, so a fairly good age, but I feel like a total bitch - even though it was the best decision.

Oldest boy was PTS in September, various reasons including age, fits and rectal bleeding and abscesses, so I'm left with only two now and the house seems so quiet.

Rambling a bit, so will bugger off to bed and try and be cheery for the kids in the morning.

Oh Boris, it is just so sad to have to do that. Over time, the sad space becomes a 'vacancy', but you need a bit of time. Ddog's knee is healing OK as far as I can see - it looks less 'oven ready', but he is very sad. He is tolerating the lampshade a bit better, but I take it off when I can.

Boris, sorry to hear your news.

boris - i am sorry to hear your news

Can I please ask yet another dumb question?

Obv whippets can jump really quite high. I'm looking for something like some dog gates in order to be able to contain him when I can't supervise (esp in the early days). Are the extra tall gates OK, do you reckon or is it more than likely that even these can be jumped?

Do you have any recommendations?

My Whippet can jump onto my dining table which is quite high with ease. An extra tall gate wouldn't be much of an issue to her. She doesn't jump very often though, it's really not worth the effort. Whippets are lazy and are creatures of comfort, plus they love food. Stick a big, warm comfy bed and some treats on the side of the gate you want them to stay and they won't bother trying to jump

Ah ha.

Thanks .

Gah! Kennels phoned earlier - our dog is ready to collect! We thought it would be at least another week or two as they are not letting anyone in the kennels atm due to a bug, so we've been unable to visit him again. Cue desperate panic to get everything ready/buy lead/collar/bed/crate.

have you collected dog? an update please?

No, we've not collected him yet. When we reserved him we'd asked for a few extra visits to get him used to the boys and vice versa, but that wasn't possible because they had a bug in the kennels and weren't allowing visitors in. We can go again on Monday, so all being well, we'll collect him sometime next week .

good luck. its great to hear a happy story and what a lucky dog he is

Thanks guys and sorry for highjack Unseen. Great news about your dog - hope you're able to pick him up soon.

In answer to your earlier question, my whips could jump a six foot fence and take a wander to the beach six miles away without a run up. Even up until my boy was PTS last month he was able to jump normal baby stair gates with ease. However, the younger two are waaaay lazier and possibly a bit thick and I don't think could even comprehend jumping anything over two foor high.

stleger - hope Ddogs knee is well on the mend by now.

Awwww

Photo now on profile .

OK, not working yet, will try again in a while.

aww, I wanna see now

It's on there now.