Please can someone talk some sense into me? Puppy related

[sunshinemoonshineshoeshine]

We’ve been planning to get a dog for years, we’ve just been waiting for my youngest to be old enough to a) not mither the dog and b) walk for more than 10 minutes without complaining. After much research we’ve decided a whippet puppy is the way to go.

I’ve been emailing some breeders, mostly unsuccessfully as they must be inundated, then someone put me in touch with someone who’s kept whippets all his life and breeds occasionally, and has just had a litter.
We’ve messaged and he’s sent me videos of the pups feeding from mum inside the house, but neither the dam nor sire have been health tested, although he swears by their temperaments and has sent me pictures of the mum looking relaxed with his (I assume) grandchildren.

Neither are kc registered. He’s grilled me about my home and lifestyle though, he clearly cares about the pups and wants them to go to good homes.

Am I right in thinking it’s a big risk to take on a puppy from parents who haven’t been health tested and I should say no tomorrow if he offers me a pup?

There are no recommended health tests for whippets, except to check they are not inbred.
www.thekennelclub.org.uk/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/hound/whippet

They are generally healthy little blighters

So it may not be a disaster if we took one of his pups?

You could ask to see a copy o fthe parent's vet records? If they're generally healthy then the risks are low. And lurchers are pretty robust.

Sorry, whippet! Brain and fingers not connecting.

Why are they not KC registered though?

There's also coursing/racing type whippets along with KC show type, its a more amateur scene, that can have own shows oftrn along with lurchers (a purposeful mutt breeding) & not sure if non KC pedigree whips have a studbook.

Racing Greyhounds have own studbook & can be duel registered KC & be shown but would be more traceable to prove heritage.

It maybe similiar with whippets that are different shape/type to show bred. I noticed when went to crufts once there was clear popular pretty colours and no black dogs at all, despite the wide range of allowed colours breed comes in.

OP It is you who is looking for a puppy. The guy is not trying to sell you one. If he has kept whippets all his life and has been recommended I would feel he is a safe bet.
Can you see the pup with his mother? Go and have a look. If he only breeds the odd litter he is not puppy farming is he ? I love whippets. You have made a good choice whatever you decide to do

Thanks for the replies.
To those who know whippets, am I right in thinking that ones that have been bred for coursing will have a higher prey drive than show bred ones? And thus recall training will potentially be trickier?

I would expect a field-line dog of any breed to have a higher prey drive than a show-bred one. That said, if you put in the time with whatever rewards the dog enjoys, and don't give up when it hits adolescence and gives you the finger, you should get there.

If you're concerned about that aspect of having one of these pups, maybe ask the breeder if he'd be willing to give you advice now and then as the dog grows up.

"Non ped" whippets bred for lure racing and coursing usually have a smidgen of greyhound blood which means they can't go on the KC breed register, however small the smidgen or how far back in the line (think 1/32nd or 1/64th greyhound blood).

Chase drive doesn't necessarily equal prey drive; in competition (which is amateur but nonetheless competitive) they chase a rag or a plastic bag cut into ribbons. Most are gentle souls away from the field.

It could be the pups are pure bred whippet and the breeder just can't be doing with the KC, or even at the moment just hasn't been able to register them, as the KC website has been having a meltdown, causing much consternation.

Whippets are pretty trainable on the whole but they are natural athletes and when things happen they happen fast. Search 'Aces flyball Crufts' in YouTube to see the need for speed.

They are pretty healthy also; some will have a slight heart murmur from puppyhood but this is 'normal for whippets' and related to their body type and conditioning and not to heart problems.

@Scattyhattie

There's also coursing/racing type whippets along with KC show type, its a more amateur scene, that can have own shows oftrn along with lurchers (a purposeful mutt breeding) & not sure if non KC pedigree whips have a studbook.

Racing Greyhounds have own studbook & can be duel registered KC & be shown but would be more traceable to prove heritage.

It maybe similiar with whippets that are different shape/type to show bred. I noticed when went to crufts once there was clear popular pretty colours and no black dogs at all, despite the wide range of allowed colours breed comes in.

Yep a few working breeds have their own stud books... but whippets have a much higher inbreeding coefficient than some breeds, which is why I asked

If their pedigree isn’t tracked somewhere, that could be an issue.

He’s definitely made comments about the kc!

He has already offered support and said he would like to keep in touch, so that’s a positive.

Interesting about chase drive not necessarily equating to prey drive, and reassuring that they’re still soft dogs at home.

Interrogate him about grandparents, great and great great grandparents.

Our local whippet man reckons that KC whippets have become inbred to get pretty colours. The rant can become long

@Anordinarymum

OP It is you who is looking for a puppy. The guy is not trying to sell you one. If he has kept whippets all his life and has been recommended I would feel he is a safe bet. Can you see the pup with his mother? Go and have a look. If he only breeds the odd litter he is not puppy farming is he ? I love whippets. You have made a good choice whatever you decide to do

Vet nurse here , i would have a lot more faith in a situation like this , with a nice , easy breed like a whippet than some of the many , many pups from dubious backgrounds we are currently seeing at my practice. The whippets we see are usually sweet , quiet little souls ,certainly not troublemakers . I should think there is a good chance that man has a lot more sense and knowledge than a lot of registered breeders. The fact that he has grilled you says a lot about him. I dread to think what the veterinary profession faces with some of the poor examples we have been seeing lately ,let alone the heartbreak and expense owners will face. I have done my job for a long time and what you describe sounds like the types of breeder we used to see, before the obscene money grabbers now .

I'd ask him about the history of the lines, his experience with breeding etc. An honest breeder will tell you any health issue that's been thrown up in their lines in the past.

Are either the parents KC registered? How many litters has the mother had previously? She may have exceeded her limit of 4 litters you can register with the KC. That could be the reason for not registering the litter.

After discussing further some of the points raised in here, I was reasonably happy to proceed, but he’s now saying that he’d like the pups to be collected at 6 weeks and is reluctant to microchip as it’s a hassle for me to change the details

You’ve all surprised me with your answers so far, so what your take on this please?

I'm afraid this would start to ring alarm bells with me. A puppy shouldn't be removed from mum before 8 weeks and it's no hassle to change a microchip, just a small bit of admin

It’s illegal to sell without a chip, and it’s piss easy to change the details.

6 weeks is way too early

No microchip, not before 8 week minimum or no deal.

If you do go ahead make sure the puppy/mum in the video is the same as the one you get.

And don’t meet him in a park or public place for pick up the puppy, no matter how “convenient” it may be for him...

His argument is that it’ll be fully weaned by then, but there’s still benefit for the puppy in hanging out with their mother and litter mates, right? And if he’s set on this I should turn this puppy down?

It’s a shame as I’ve seen several videos on this pup being handled, and how well she interacts with her mother.

Sorry x posted.
Yes, good point about making sure it’s the same as in the video, but he seems genuine, maybe just a bit old and used to doing things his way.

“but there’s still benefit for the puppy in hanging out with their mother and litter mates, right?”

Yes, huge behavioural benefits from leaving them those extra couple of weeks...

Thanks for all your help. I’ve messaged him to say the 6 weeks is a deal breaker and won’t work for us.

It's now generally illegal to sell puppies under the age of eight weeks old, and they also must be chipped before they go to their new homes.

I'm glad you've said no :)

I’m considering a whippet puppy, for exactly the same reasons as you, but my children are still a bit too young. However as others have said, illegal to let pups go before 8 weeks and not chipped

A responsible breeder would know that. It would be a dealbreaker for me as well

@sunshinemoonshineshoeshine

Thanks for all your help. I’ve messaged him to say the 6 weeks is a deal breaker and won’t work for us.

That's a shame , he doesn't sound as good now ! you are doing the right thing , far too young . Good luck in your search .