whippet puppy

[bigbutsrus1]

Looking for tips and advise and a general chat (as I am obsessed) about whippets!! We have reserved a boy who is only 2 weeks old. To say excited is an understatement! We are going to visit again in a couple of weeks but obviously he won't come home until he's ready at 8/9 weeks. So what shall I start with first? Need bed ideas and ideas of stuff I need to buy. I have been reading a lot about training and socialisation etc. Also does anyone have a blue/fawn colour whippet? That's what he is and I spend all day googling this to try and predict what he may look like when older......told you I was obsessed!

When I read about training they talk of giving treats as rewards like doggy biscuits or cheese etc. At 8-9 weeks though is this ok for their tummies? I really want to start the training especially recall early but worried about giving a little pup the squits if eating too many treats they're not used to. The clicker training gives lots of treats one after each other!

You can start out with their normal kibble and cuddles as treats. Its good to mix in the high value treats now and again as this ups the ante. I liked to chop up cocktail sausages - you can get big tubs of pre-cooked cocktail sausages in most supermarkets.

Chicken is good as a high value, but not upsetting treat. Aldi/Lidl precooked chicken breast is good value and easy to dish out. My dogs are not incentivised one bit by kibble tbh.

The book Total Recall is very good btw, and I find using a whistle (we have a number of matched gundog ones from our local countrywide store) really makes a difference

My whippets favourite treats are those packets of dried fish skins, absolutely vile strong smelling stuff, but he will jump through hoops for them.

I also use plain chicken cut into tiny pieces as treats for puppies for the reasons CMOT says.

I'd also recommend the Total Recall book, it's excellent.

I have lurchers now but I did have a beautiful whippet which had been badly treated by his previous vile owner.
I sewed up a fleece blanket for him into a sleeping bag as he always went in head first and would sleep completely covered up. The first time he did it I was worried sick thinking he would have suffocated by the morning!
I wish I 'd known about these snuggle sacks. He'd have loved one.
www.slouchinghound.co.uk/default.html

Yes to sleeping covered up- spot the pup in his Frozen blanket

Whippets are the most fantastic pets- I think we are a bit obsessed with our girl. It's the whippet welcome every day as if she hasn't seen you for a year that I love, she is so comical and makes us smile everyday!

Yes to PP who recommended recall training as soon as possible. They are very food motivated- We dry liver in the oven on a low temperature and break it into little bits and she will do anything for it.

Lily I think I am a little in love with your Herbie- I just had to share this of our Mrs Whippy on her frozen blanket too!

Love that so much!

Being able to sleep covered up (and preferably upside down) is definitely pretty high up a whippet's list of priorities........

My three