Please Help ! I have become the owner of a 6 week old whippet pup!

[user1469810509]

Hi,
Long story short, was planning on getting a Whippet Pup in a couple of weeks , had chatted to the breeder, but not properly checked them out (I know, I know )
Got there and it was just awful pups separate in outside filthy cages , just beyond hideous. Instead of running away, I ende up taking the pup there and then (please please be gentle about this, I am in bits tbh )

That was Saturday, and I am still in a state of shock. after a couple of baths he is looking and smelling much better (he was covered in shit )

He is eating little and often, poo is ok etc. He's adorable tbh, napping in his bed in a crate most of the day.

Will take him to the vets tomorrow, but I just don't know what to expect nextm was expecting an 8 week old and time to prepare !

The first night he slept through from 11 til 6, probably traumatised from the day, and first night in a warm bed ?)
Last night he was crying at 4, came down, let him out to see if he wanted to toilet, but he didn't
Came down at 6 and he had pooed and weed through the bars of the cages and was crying .

Just read that he can't hold his bladder more than two hours , feel terrible !


Work is fairly flexible, often from home an 19 year old daughter at home most days .

Was planning on taking him in the car with me when I do have to go out, but obviously he is so much younger than I was expecting....

Sorry for rant, am so stressed , and cross with myself for not researching breeder properly, and ending up in this situation.

I reported them to the RSPCA, the poor mum and Dad looked dreadful too

Obviouslly worried about his health in the future, but trying to focus on the now and getting each day at a time...

And breathe, sorry for actual rant !
Thanks for any advice

[MattMagnolia]

I once hand-reared an orphaned puppy from birth. By 6 weeks he was eating nrmal puppy food, happy and healthy. We had another dog, who just ignored him and he grew up quite normal.
Hope your little pup is all over his poor beginning, he’ll be fine.

[Itscoldouthere]

He’s lovely, I’ve got a Bedlington/whippet cross, such a wonderful dog, I’d love a whippet as well.
I’d see if there is a whippet pet group on F/B I’m in a F/B group and it’s so helpful and friendly and there are offen meet ups for the dogs, they love their own breed as the like to run together. It’s really helpful to find out breed specific information, with Whippets you need to consider off lead play and prey drive, they can also be quite sensitive souls.
Good luck with it all, he’s lucky you found him.

[iloveeverykindofcat1]

He is adorable OP, and just looks so young. I've naively rescued an extremely sick cat before and people told me not to get attached (I did). She made it and lives like a thriving queen. Best of luck.

[gubbsywubbsy]

Darn it .. now I want a whippet 😩🙈

[MrsTerryPratchett]

He's beautiful. Thanks for the photos.

[Sexnotgender]

He’s very cute.

[SqueakyPigs]

Gorgeous boy!!

[TrixieFranklin]

Ahhhhh he's gorgeous

[gubbsywubbsy]

Omg he is beautiful !!😍😍😍😍😍

[BiteyShark]

He's defintely a cutey.

Fingers crossed that he continues to thrive.

[user1469810509]

LIZB62A, I get where you're coming from, of course I do, maybe post a thread in AIBU, forewarn people of signs / what they might expect/ how they should react
I would of appreciated it, for me was the perfect storm of British awkwardness, shock , intimidation and a primal need to rescue....


Anyway pup has a name .. Louis (Ala Theroux not Windsor) and is doing really well so far....


Going to try and post some pictures or MrsTP…..


They are one per day, first is on Sunday, day 2

He seems to be thriving, loving, playful and not timid or spooked...not counting any chickens just yet, but quietly hopeful we may have a happy ending ..

PS to PP we have started socialising with dogs, places and the car.. thanks for the advice !

[MrsTerryPratchett]

Also if you could post a picture...

[LizB62A]

@Absolutepowercorrupts @ pigsDOfly
We've heard these same stories so many times and people never seem to learn so I think there is a point in posting on these types of threads so that it might make even one other person think about it before they pay money to these criminals........

Of course, you're entitled to your opinions, as am I

[Villanellesproudmum]

Agree look into Cariad they are more effective than the RSPCA.

[gubbsywubbsy]

Were there other puppies ?

[adaline]

No problem!

I have a beagle and they're prone to being quite mouthy - mine still is at 15 months but he never bites hard, just takes your hand in his mouth sometimes. We knew about their tendency to mouth from the start though so worked really hard to stop him getting too rough.

[user1469810509]

Ah, that's really clear and useful Adaline, starting to get excited about the journey now !

[adaline]

Bite inhibition - basically, dogs explore the world with their mouths as they don't have hands, and normally mum/siblings will teach the pup when they're being too rough, but in your case this clearly won't happen. So it's your job to teach them to be gentle.

All pups go through bitey phases while they teeth but this is about teaching dogs to be gentle - so, making sure when you give them treats etc. that they take them gently. Get them used to you handling their mouths and having your fingers/hands nearby. Hand-feeding is a great way to do this, or playing with them and allowing them to mouth you - any time they put any kind of pressure on you, yelp/say no and remove your hand. Let them try again and reward when they're gentle/lick you.

Some breeds are mouthier than others in general (beagles, labs) but I don't think whippets are known for being too mouthy so it shouldn't be too difficult :)

[user1469810509]

Oh that's useful information re socialising, ye, we have lots od dog friends..

Bite inhibition ? Any tips other than socialising ?


ANY OTHER TIPS ?!!

After such a bad start , I really want to get this right !

[mumsiedarlingrevolta]

You can absolutely socialise now-at your home with another pup/dog who is up to date with shots etc.
Your pup just can't be down on the ground out in public but can be socialised in a controlled way which I would say of paramount importance.
We did this with my pup (at 8 weeks) and she still plays with those dogs nearly a year later.
Well done for bringing the pup home and reporting!!

[Fortheloveofscience]

I’d be very nervous about waiting to socialise. Do you know anyone with a calm, well-adjusted and vaccinated dog that could come round to give your dog some interaction?

[adaline]

Six weeks is young but it's not so young that it'll be seriously problematic. You will need to work on things like bite inhibition etc. though as pups are normally taught this by their mum/siblings.

[user1469810509]

Hi all,
Sorry for delay, it's all been very busy as you can imagine.
Took pup to the vets yesterday, wormed now etc and nothing obvious wrong in his health (yet I know !)

He is eating and sleeping well, the vet was happy with the food as it is not disagreeing with him.

He seems happy and playful when awake .

Can't socialise him yet with other dogs as he is not vaccinated, but will prioritise.

Thanks a mill for the advice links will go and look now, likewise will report anywhere and everywhere.... utter scum.

I know I should have left him... but ? to what ? another week separated from his mum , outside in the cold ?

To clarify, I thought I was going to see a 7 week old puppy with a view to bringing him home in another week or so, it was only because I asked the birth date as we were leaving , then realised how young he was...

I was in a complete panic yesterday, but having seen the vet, and observed him for a few days I am quietly hopeful !

Thanks again for the gentle understanding and useful links.

Will try and update and add some photos as time goes on

Fingers crossed we and he will be lucky. The vet said they had a similar case of a lab puppy taken home at 5 weeks who is now a healthy 2 year old , so miracles can happen I guess...

[Judashascomeintosomemoney]

Please report this, along with evidence of any communications, pictures etc (esp of the puppy obvious size and weight/condition as he is now) to your local authority. They are more likely to do something to shut this down than the RSPCA.

[pigsDOfly]

LizB62A I very much doubt the OP set out to buy a a sick puppy. She got into a situation and she felt she couldn't walk away from it and leave the 'sick' puppy in such a horrible place.

Yes, the sensible thing to do would have been to walk away but she couldn't, and now she's come on here to ask for help with a situation that she probably already knows is possibly not going to end happily.

Not really a lot of help coming on here stating the obvious after the OP has already got the dog in her home and is trying to do her best.