Whippets off lead

[Bigfoot1]

So we get our Whippet puppy mid Feb. We’re beyond excited. We have a reasonable sized garden that we can secure, but my biggest worry is whether or not we’ll ever be able to let him off the lead when out walking (due to prey drive). I’ve had labs before who were not a problem. We have a big park near us and at the end there is a big field with two small exits which I think is about as secure as it will get round here.
We’re obviously going to work hard on recall in the early days.
Our friend lets her Whippet run between 2 people (one at each end of a field)
Any veteran Whippet owners able to advise?
Also has any one gone jogging with their adult Whippet on a lead? (just curious about this - Obv not as puppy)

This is all very reassuring. Sounds like intense recall training plus very cautious and limited off lead time in pre-assessed secure area with no barbed wire!
SO EXCITED but preparing myself for 2 years of hell.... DH has no idea how much work it will be. I, on the other hand, have had puppies before and i’m bracing myself although i’ve never had a sighthound..

I have an 18 month old whippet. Right from the word go we prioritised recall training. As soon as vaccinations allowed we walked off lead where we could, always giving high value reward for good recall. This is my second whippet although first was a sort of rescue and he was extremely good off lead and never left my side.

I now have a dog with very good recall but she does not have a massively high prey drive and likes to stay close to me. She does love to run however and when we can we run her between us for treats.

Regarding taking the whippet running - I do this! Especially when I am pushed for time on a weekday. I don't think its her favourite type of walk at all, especially as she would rather stay in bed in the mornings but she will do it. Mixture of off and on the lead.

Enjoy your whippet. Myself and DH are absolutely besotted by our dog. You wont regret your choice at all, good luck

We have a nearly 3 year old whippet. Got from a show breeder at 11 weeks. Did puppy training, always using high value treats. Still use the treats on walks (cheese is preferred) and do some recall. Also found he will retrieve - so have a ball lobber, which maintains his interest as well.

So yes, we walk him off lead everyday in parks. He spent most of the autumn chasing squirrels and watching them go up trees (so I don’t think his sight hound tendencies are that honed). He doesn’t start the chase until he’s pretty near so he’s not that alert to them.

I’ve got two ex racing Greyhounds who have good recall and are good with little fluffy dogs so go off lead.
I also recommend Pippa Mattinson’s Total Recall book. Helped us nail it.
Good luck. Sighthounds are amazing dogs. I love the joy on their faces when they zoom past me.

Our whippet was always off lead running free...a few mishaps when chased by larger dogs in that he didn't come straight back,but 99% no problems..we are next to a huge nature reserve so he was free to roam...sadly he passed approx a yr ago ..there's nothing like a whippet x

Thinking back...we let him off the first walk he went on..and always let him off if safe to do so...never used a long lead as he could break his neck if he started running on a lead and it stopped him hard.favourite treats in your pocket ,for each time he comes back to you

I have a longdog (saluki greyhound)
She goes off lead over the fields, woods and beach-all of which are away from roads, I would not let her off in a park.
She is brilliant! I carry cocktail sausages, which I randomly dish out through the walk for coming back to me. I find walking with another dog keeps her more focused on being with me and so in the pack, when we walk alone she is desperate to go say hello to other dogs!
I get nervous around little dogs and whilst she has never shown any aggression I will put her on lead when I see them just in case, of course sometimes we will bump into little dogs and she is usually nuts and then follows me, I have also laid down on the floor and run in the opposite direction shouting and flapping my arms-both tactics gain her attention 😂😬

She is just turned 1 and adorable, lives with two cats albeit not entirely in harmony but that's deffo getting better.

And yes to playing fetch! She loves it and it keeps her focused on me and our walk :)
Nothing distracts her from her recall deafness like a stick!