Whippet 'what ifs'

[SarfEast1cated]

Hi everyone, we are thinking of getting a dog in a few years time when we have moved to the coast. I have started researching and am thinking of a Whippet. I've had Cairns before so a fast dog like a Whippet will be a bit of a novelty. I wondered about the following:

1. Apparently their bones can be liable to breaks, so would running on a pebble beach be bad?
2. What do you do if they actually catch a wild rabbit? (never had the problem with my Cairn!) Do you have to notify someone? Is it an offence. What would happen if it was a squirrel in a London park?
3. Would a Whippet prefer another doggy friend and if so, which breeds would be compatible? A Cairn maybe? Any thoughts would be appreciated, although I have a few years to decide. Thanks!

-not a whippet owner so can't answer about the potential for brittle bones or need for company.

You do not have to report it if your dog kills a rabbit, squirrel, rat or mouse. It's a very different story if they kill a cat, sheep, pig or deer.

Thanks Thewolfsjustapuppy that's really useful to know. I've seen whippets with loose muzzles on walks, so might think about using one of them if the future.
I love seeing the pics of your dog on the other threads by the way. Handsome boy :D

Whippets are arsebags.

They'll be fine on beaches. There usually isn't any prey on beaches

We've had 2 incidents of skin splitting open. First time all he'll breaks loose and you think they are going to die. Second time you shrug and throw on a plaster.

They do like company, but only in the form of another pointy face. They have a particular style of play that might not suit all dogs. Google 'bitey face lurcher play'.

I like them. And apparently dogs look like their owners. I've got the big nose, I'm now just waiting for the long legs and skinny waist.

Rabbits are fair game. Deer are too don't ask how I know

And no dog should be around livestock off lead anyway, so horses/pigs/sheep aren't a concern if you're careful.

Monkey Your dog is beautiful. What colour is s/he? I assume there is a technical term rather than just golden! I have a big nose too, so my choice of dog seems appropriate. So If I wanted to get two whippets, (excitement) would I get two from the same litter?
Would a whippet go for a seagull on the beach? Or what would happen if it caught a squirrel in a London park, the rules might be different.
I do have lots of questions, sorry!

They're definitely a lot more robust than they look. It does tend to be torn skin that's more of an issue than broken limbs. Like monkeyfacegrace says though, you get used to it and the vast majority of the time it looks a lot worse than it is!! Nipped ears have been very common here whenever we've a new puppy, taking a chunk out of the ear of the next whippet up is apparently a right of passage

Seagulls would very likely get chased if the whippet thought they were in with a chance. Mine will chase crows (who I swear enjoy taunting the dogs), wood pigeons and on a couple of occasions they've almost brought down silly pheasants who try to hide before fleeing noisily when they get trodden on. They'd go after squirrels given the chance but we tend to only see them on lead which usually results in hysterics from at least one of them so not had to deal with them going after them. Although it's not legal to hunt squirrels with dogs but if it's a one off and you did your best to stop it (i.e.e you're not going to the park every day looking for squirrels to set your dog on) I highly doubt you'd get into bother. I've seen several posting on breed FB groups where people's whippets have got squirrels but never heard of anyone getting into trouble for it.

Two from the same litter isn't a good idea at all, it's far more than double the work of one puppy and can be very detrimental to the puppies themselves to be kept together unless you're able to keep them separate most of the time and do everything like walking/training/playing/etc. separately as well. Have a read through this article if you're still tempted!! I had two only a year apart and that was bad enough.

If you're getting puppies I'd leave an age gap of at least 18 months although 2 years plus is preferable, depending on the older dog. DWhippet1 wasn't remotely troublesome during adolescence and we added DWhippet2 when he was 18 months old without issue. DWhippet3 on the other hand has been much harder work and he's only just getting to the point now (at over 3 years old) where I'd even consider getting another puppy.

Obviously another option is to rehome a pair together (whippets are often owned in multiples and seem to come up in rescues as pairs fairly regularly), get a rescue then look at getting a puppy once they're well settled or do the reverse, get a puppy then when they're past the teenage stage look at getting another adult from a rescue.

Noooo never ever get two pups from the same litter. Ever.

Mine is a fawn. I have my eye on a blue and white boy though

I foster for a whippet charity, so have had a fair amount of experience with them.

I'd wait until whippet 1 is at least 18 months/2 years before you introduce whippet 2. You need to make sure they have bonded to you, entirely and utterly. It''s the only way you'll cracking important things like recall.

A dog catching a squirrel while you're screeching it's name isn't going to get you into trouble at all. If you set your dog on an animal then it's a different story.

Mine used to pelt after pheasants and it was hilarious, but those pesky birds have wings and we're usually one step ahead. I say usually. We did have a fair few birds in the freezer for a while. Now she's almost 4, she can't be arsed any more. The ONLY thing that recall goes out the window for is deer. I've tried and tried and trained using every method until I'm blue in the face. A deer is just Too. Much. Fun.

cornflake I've read the link and will NEVER buy two pups from the same litter. I promise.
monkey why do whippets usually end up in rescues? Is there a common theme? I would worry about behavioural problems, but an older dog would be so much easier...

Thanks Serf, but I think you may have me confused with Wolfiefan, she has a wolf hound pup. I have a humble little irish terrier wolfpup .

Whippets don't usually end up in rescue. There aren't many compared to other breeds.

The ones who do, can be marriage break ups, living arrangements, finances. It's very rarely we get them in due to behavioural issues. Obviously ex owners don't always fully disclose the real issues, but we don't have many problems. Usually just 'not cat friendly' or separation anxiety. We get amazing seniors in too when their owners sadly pass away. They are tough to rehome.

Seconding the thin skin and the damage that can be caused cos of that. Chasing cats can be a problem if you do not keep them on a lead say where houses are where cats might be. Bear in mind they are sight hounds and react to movement rather than the animal itself say just sitting there and they are fast, little chance of stopping them unless their recall is excellent. Not many whippets in rescues. Seconding bitey face lurcher play and also the wish that I had their elegance and streamlined figures!

That's a gorgeous face Thewolfsjustapuppy and a lovely colour too.

We would keep dog on lead until safe in a field or on the beach, so hopefully local cats would be safe.

You've all given me so much to think about, and a lot of inspiration, thank you!

Aww, she is my ginger princess there seems to be no 'terrier' in my Terrier - she is all love no kill

We have a whippet, had her since a pup she is now 1 year and honestly has been the most delightful dog ever. Very calm, doesn't chew, has been left the run of the house since early, such a gentle dog.

She is happy to sleep all day on the sofa or bed but excited when you go for walk unless it's too early, will be stubborn and try and get back to bed! One thing is they like their comfort, they are sofa /bed dogs ours won't lay on the floor at all. We made the mistake early of letting her sleep in our bed which we would like to get her out of ideally at night.

She seems happy without another dog, loves playing with others when we go out especially with other whippets and they can have a really good run.

It's our first time with this breed but wouldn't consider anything else now.

I can second what the others say. We have a 4 month old whippet puppy and he's delightful. I am completely smitten by him and he seems to be a whole lot easier than most of the other puppies I've met.
There are too many pros to list and only three cons for me:

1. I worry he won't come back he's very very fast and when he sees something he's off. He has always come back but he hasn't (yet) been off lead in open countryside
2. as others say he plays differently from other dogs - more like a cat with a ball than a dog with a dog. I worry about that he will injure another dog. That said I have two spaniel owners who seek me out in order to play with the pup because they get a really great run around!
3. he is not food motivated which makes training difficult. I can take him out hungry with some liver or chicken or cheese (or all three) in my pocket and every dog in the neighbourhood sniffs me out and comes to say hello but whippet pup barely notices and isn't motivated to perform for it. If I show him his yellow stick that's a different matter altogether!

So far he hasn't caught anything he's chased (phew). A friend of mine has a cat and I have taken him there a lot in order for him to feel afraid of the cat (it hasn't worked!).

Whippets are the best.

Yes whippet play is very full on. Mine seems to love nibbling on floppy, furry ears on other dogs

Mine is very food motivated Heidi but there are downsides to that as well. He's a consummate counter surfer and I won't be surprised if he works out how to jump up on the kitchen bench tops soon

Have you thought about a greyhound? Similar traits to a whippet but 100s if not 1000s of ex-racers needing homing - and you don't have to go through the puppy stage, they just slot beautifully into your home, your heart and onto the sofa.

They're a bit big for me confuzzled but beautiful dogs. I'm a bit torn, because I love the terrier temperament and understand their ways and body language, getting a different kind of dog would be a whole new experience... Thanks everyone for your help.

We have a gorgeous whippet girl. She is 6 amd we have had her since she was 6 months old.

She is tougher than she looks tho did trar her carpal pad almost off trying to catch a duck. She is very food orientated so was easy to train and her recall is probably about 99%. She will come back even if she is chasing wood pigeons or crows but am not sure if she would if we saw a cat.

She is very much on lead where we might bump into cats.

She is a lazy beast when not walking. Unless she is trying to steal food.

They are lovely dogs and I wouldn't be without her.

Here she is

She's gorgeous Frouby is she a brindle?

She is, a red brindle.

I think they are ideal house dogs unless you are fussy about dogs sleeping on sofas. She doesn't shed much, never smells doggy, dries off quickly when it's muddy outside (quick wipe with wetwipes and she is good to go), are generally happy to snooze somewhere comfortable between walks etc. She does steal food if given the chance. And rolls in fox poo or stinky dead things if possible.

She has on the odd occasion been left longer than I would like due to emergencies or unexpected traffic etc and always been fine. But gets stressy if she sees me walking across to the shops!

She is fun to walk and will play ball etc. And there is nothing like seeing her in full flight around a field playing speeding. She is good with other dogs but gets a bit defensive if they come bowling up to her while she is on the lead. But off lead she will play 'tag' all day with any other dog who looks like it might play. She loves other whippets and greys and her best field friend was a springer spaniel. Hates Labradors tho.