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The doghouse

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Original poster

DH says Whippets are shaky and neurotic, is he right?

47 replies

Pegglebot · 14/10/2015 06:22

So after loosing my lovely but bonkers Patterdale terrier to cancer last year DH and I both agreed 'no more terriers'

I've been researching and I love the sound of Whippets but DH is not keen, saying they are shaky,aloof and won't interact with the boys (we have three) He'd rather a Golden Retriever or Lab which are lovely but I'm worried about the exercise requirements and having such a big bouncy dog in the house. Oh and not to mention the shedding!

Can any whippetty experienced people tell me honestly if they are aloof and prone to being neurotic? Our household is very noisy at times and I don't want an overly sensitive dog. I should add my boys are very used to dogs and very gentle with them!
Thanks

OP posts:

Original poster

Pegglebot · 14/10/2015 16:36

Well I'm missing having a dog so much at the moment I'd probably take him, fox poo and all! My old dog used to eat poo and then vomit it back up again when the mood took him, still miss him though...

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RandomMess · 14/10/2015 16:55

My best friend has a very well trained lab and I adore her but couldn't cope with the level stimulation etc. required. Mine basically sleeps (preferably cuddled up to someone), eats and runs for the wind nowt else.

ChairRider4 · 14/10/2015 17:13

Peg I have a good size garden but my boy still needs at least two good walks (talking at least 90 mins each ) plus brain stuff otherwise he is a loveable PITA

For those that say should done my research I did and knew what be like and don't mind more just pointing out that peg DH may change mind about labs if knew how full on they are

Original poster

Pegglebot · 14/10/2015 17:21

That's the thing I'm not sure he really knows what labs are like, they are often said to be the perfect family dog but I think this is only when you can provide the exercise and stimulation.

He likes Goldens a lot too but I have my reservations...I've encountered some odd ones in the past although I'm sure the majority are lovely. Plus some of them grow to be the size of a small bear!

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ChairRider4 · 14/10/2015 19:20

Yes I think many think labs are a good family dog
they are but require quite a lot of effort

The Goldens here are slighter than my boy but then you have the long dog hair

Do you know anyone with a Lab that you could spend some time with so DH sees what are really like
Also who will be walking in the rain /cold /snow ? Would DH do that willingly twice a day

MartyrStewart · 14/10/2015 22:58

We lost our Lab a few months ago. In many ways, he was the perfect family dog.

But that was after nearly six years of constant training, and he was still a sulky git!

I am going to have a whippet as my retirement dog, I think they are fabulous little dogs. And I don't really like little dogs.

Original poster

Pegglebot · 15/10/2015 07:11

ChairRider no I don't know any labs personally. He is at the moment keener on a golden but as you say they do tend to be larger and yes the hair...I'm not particularly house proud but even so!

According to the wisdom of the Internet they are calmer than labs but I've heard of a few with dodgy temperaments although that may just be because there are so many of them.

Still think a Whippet would be the best breed for us!

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jgm · 15/10/2015 07:55

It's funny that lots of people mention wanting a 'proper' dog, I originally wanted a cavalier king charles spaniel and it was my husband that wanted a whippet, and since we've had her he's had so many men comment on how jealous they are whilst walking their small fluffy dogs - so I guess it is all relative! Fwiw my husband had a golden retriever growing up but still considers our whippet to be a proper dog :-)

TheCunnyFunt · 15/10/2015 07:58

Whippets are amazing, my friend had one and sadly lost her a couppe of years ago at age 3 to IBS. She was a brilliant dog, she was so good with my DD who was 2.6 when she died, she would play tug with anyone and would pull as hard as she could, but if it was my DD she was playing with, she'd only do the gentlest tugs possible. My friend is in her 60's (so no children) and she always said her dog should've gone to live with a family as she simply adored kids. When they walked past the local primary school at break/lunchtime when the schoolchildren were out, the dog would always hang back looking longingly into the playground :o

It was glorious to watch her sprinting all out on the big field near our house, and then when it was time to go home she would act exactly like a sullen toddler, walking back towards us as slowly as she possibly could with a bottom lip sticking out :o

One memory that sticks in my mind, were all on our walk and DD had a bag of Quavers and the dog was hanging around DD hoping for a dropped crisp, I said to her (the dog) 'DD's dropped a quaver in the pushchair if you want to eat that.' And immediately, she turned tail, trotted straight over to DD's pushchair (I always took DD out and left it near the field entrance so DD could run around) and ate this stray quaver

brokenvases · 15/10/2015 08:16

Funny you should say that cunny. Mine cries at the fence of the local primary and sits refusing to move.

Although if i play wrestle teen dd she joins in and gets dd not me

BagelSuffragette · 15/10/2015 20:37

Retrievers are very big, can be quite smelly and shed a lot.

A friend of mine has one and I notice these ^ things when I visit. It's a lovely dog but huge. Even as a puppy, she was too strong for the friend's daughters to take on a lead and nearly pulled my friend's shoulder out of the socket (many times).

And guess what, it was her DH (and the older DD) who really wanted the retriever! I would always prefer a smaller size dog, SO much easier in the house, the car, when you visit friends etc.

I would go for a whippet

ChairRider4 · 15/10/2015 20:59

Honestly I would have a whippet next time in a heart beat

Original poster

Pegglebot · 16/10/2015 10:06

Ah more replies, this thread has been so interesting for me!

Bagel one of the things that does concern me about getting a retriever is lead pulling. I'm a fairly small person and wouldn't exactly describe myself as strong! My Patterdale used to pull terribly on the lead which made walking him very unpleasant at times. One of the things that appeals to me about whippets is you rarely see them pulling on the lead, I'm sure they do but they certainly seem less prone to it than other breeds.

Luckily we're not planning on getting a dog until next year as DS3 is too young at the moment so plenty of time to debate with DH!

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Original poster

Pegglebot · 16/10/2015 10:08

Oh and a question in case any other whippet owners read this; I've seen a few in rescue described as only getting on with other sighthounds or not good with smaller dogs, anyone know why this is and if it's a common trait? Thanks.

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tabulahrasa · 16/10/2015 10:38

"only getting on with other sighthounds or not good with smaller dogs, anyone know why this is and if it's a common trait? "

That's because they're rescues...sighthounds play differently to some other breeds, they like to chase rather than wrestle and enough bad experiences with dogs bouncing on them and hurting them and they'll go off them, sometimes they see smaller dogs as prey animals rather than dogs.

You've also got that it is just that they've only ever met other sighthounds and don't know how to deal with other dogs.

But it's all to do with their previous life and a lack of good positive socialisation.

Original poster

Pegglebot · 16/10/2015 11:02

Thanks tabulah that makes sense. It's just my parents have two dogs (an older very laid back terrier and an affenpinscher) and they would be the ones who would look after the dog if I ever was out for the day etc.

Wonder if an affenpinscher would be seen as prey?!

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tabulahrasa · 16/10/2015 11:10

If you get a puppy or a dog that's been socialised well it wouldn't be an issue.

It's just a combination of prey drive and not meeting small dogs to realise that they're also dogs that's usually behind it.

Well there's always the slight risk of predatory drift...but that's not a breed thing.

It's more that there is a higher risk of rescue dogs not having being socialised properly and then add in that sighthounds are more often than other dogs kept as multiples and add in breed traits...but it's all to do with their early life really.

It's the same reasons that make other breeds in rescue more likely to be dog aggressive, they just show it slightly differently.

monkeyfacegrace · 16/10/2015 11:16

I foster and home check for 2 whippet rescues so you could say I'm biased

But they are awesome dogs.

Don't moult, smell, make a noise, dribble, swim, take up space.... They are all the good bits of dogs without any of the bad bits!

monkeyfacegrace · 16/10/2015 11:19

They do like a sleeping child to curl up on....

DH says Whippets are shaky and neurotic, is he right?

ThatsNotMyRabbit · 16/10/2015 12:59

God I love to see Whippets run. Poetry in motion.

All sighthounds are a thrilling sight when they're at full speed but whippets, being lighter just seem to skim over the ground. Beautiful.

Original poster

Pegglebot · 16/10/2015 13:45

I love to watch them run too, such elegant dogs!

Thanks for explaining that tabulah, I think we would be getting a puppy anyway so hopefully it would not be an issue.

Very sweet pic monkeyfacegrace they look perfectly in harmony with one another.

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TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 16/10/2015 22:51

Whippet x Staffie here. Currently snoozing with his head on my feet, in bed.

He's fine with most other dogs. Various family members have dogs and he's fine with them all. He did fight a Westie once (and a Staffie, and a Jack Russell )but they started it (biased). I remember him once spotting a little white Jack Russell puppy across the park and he belted towards it and then stopped dead and looked embarrassed - he'd realised it was a dog and not a guinea pig.

Does an excellent hard dog impression to the postie/strangers at the door. Used to pull terribly (think that's a Staffie trait).

V snuggly, though! Oh and he doesn't really smell or get that dirty. My mum had retrievers and they honk. Also, they have oily coats and the oil/dog smell comes off on your hands.

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