Whippets and greyhounds.

[gerbo]

We are starting to think seriously about adopting a rescue dog. I'm here to ask about whippets and greyhounds as from all my reading, they seem good breeds to have with children (mine are 11 and 13). They also look very beautiful, seem calm and like to sleep after walks...?

Can anyone with these dogs tell me if they think they're a good pet to have with children? Any information gratefully received. I have gleaned that they're a cliche 'great pet' on Mumsnet. I guess I'd like to ask for experiences of these breeds.

There seem to be a lot of these breeds and Lurchers too, in rescues I've investigated. Is there a reason for this? If they've been racers, so they want to zoom away on lead?

Any info gratefully received!

Ps we're up for good, short or pretty long walks and play but would prefer a calm dog. Does this sound right?!

*Training!

My small Lurchers don't 'nip' but saluki cross does indeed pull them along by their ears!
She is muzzled for off lead walks but still only 16 months...

My whippet lurcher was the most gentle dog. She was a rescue and lived with six cats and two labs. She used to initiate play by doing the bitey face (nibbling) to the other dogs. Her favourite thing was gently approaching people with her head down and tail wagging, then screaming if they stroked her ears. She terrified people including vets into thinking they'd hurt her. She copied the labs by learning to swim and carry and retrieve sticks on walks.
We lost her to illness at the beginning of lockdown and I miss her every day.

I have a “reject” who we got at 6 months old. She’s greyhound-whippet with a bit of deerhound. She looks pretty much like a greyhound.

We got her when kids were 8 and 10. She has 2 walks a day, snoozing the rest of the day. She can be off lead if we are vigilant. Saying that, last week she went off after a hare and we lost her for a hearstopping 5 minutes.

We taught her pretty decent recall (but a hare or deer are too exciting for her) over time but not bullet proof.

These hounds respond best to gentle handling, a carrot rather than stick. You gain their trust over time, after which they are quietly and loyally devoted .

No barking but yes she sheds a fair bit. She can be left alone, but is nervous of bangs (thunder, fireworks) and that’s hard to watch. She has dug up some carpet in the living room once during a panic attack, and scratched the door . We created a den for her with a nightlight where she feels safe now (things you do for dogs )

I am now addicted to these dogs and hope to be able to foster and rescue them once I retire

There is something about the soulful eyes and gentle demeanour that’s just makes my heart melt

As a first time dog owner I’d steer clear of bull-cross lurchers (too much brain/speed imo) and also Salukis (beautiful but even harder to train than greys)

I've had whippets, lurchers and greyhounds all my life including when my dc were tiny. I keep going back for more so they must be good. They are generally calm, sleep a lot and like comfort and blankets. Mine have also liked their own space and to be left in peace a lot especially when they are tired. Mine have all been mostly good with other dogs and all without exception have been fantastic with people from babies upwards.
They love to run so you must teach good recall. I had a rescue lurcher who used to run off but we found a field nearby with a river on one side (generally not swimmers) and high gates (they can jump high) and used to let him off there. They often aren't as food oriented as other dogs so can be harder to train.

We rescued what we were told was a whippet cross many years ago - he died of old age last autumn and I miss him so much. I suspect he was all whippet, just a sturdy one, or possibly whippet crossed with a greyhound due to his size. He was bloody hard work for the first couple of years due to mistreatment prior to his rescue, but by the time DC came along he was great - put up with having his ears pulled, and came back for more. We will be looking for another whippet soon.

For entertainment, and deep insight into greyhound/sighthound behaviour, google Rich Skipworth's greyhound cartoons 😁



We were looking for a rescue whippet (last year) but found there were hardly any available for rescue.
Greyhounds (and most lurchers) were bigger than what we were after and my mum has cats so were a bit wary too.
Podencos kept coming up and we ended up with our sweet girl. We've had her four months and she's great. Very true to breed - LOVES other dogs, children, cats (sees them as another dog to play with!) and is so sweet and gentle. She is incredibly stubborn but food orientated which has helped with training.

We do have to be careful where we let her off - near us open playing fields seem to be best but we do have to look out for tell tale signs for when she's going to run off hunting (and we use a tracker).
Her prey drive towards squirrels was incredibly high but she's always had a sharp no and no positive reinforcement so that's reduced dramatically too - they can run in front of her and she won't react.

I'd highly recommend Podencos and keeping an eye on Dog's Blog rescue site. We recused from Good Karma Rescue and she was about a 1 year old.

We have a lurcher after having numerous spaniels, terriers and labs. She’s the best dog, loving, very playful, cheeky, gentle and smart. She was a real food thief when we rehomed her but once she settled in she hasn't stolen food again. She barks at our neighbours cat when she sees it out the window but has never shown any inclination to chase it when they’ve been in the garden together, she gives it a cursory sniff and wanders off. To see her run full stretch is a beautiful sight and I’ll never get tired of seeing this.
She’s been a fantastic family dog, loves people and we’ll definitely choose to rehome another pointy hound in the future. I’m a complete convert!

Thanks everyone for your interesting and honest replies.

Feeling the pull of a greyhound/whippet now more than ever!

We're in Hertfordshire. I've tried the Greyhound Trust in Oxford....the Forever Hounds Trust looks promising too, near Oxford. Does anyone have any other rescue recommendations? I know it's a long shot.

Lurcher Link or Tia are good. Lots aren't doing home checks just now though.

We have a whippet. We have had him from a puppy so no experience on rescues but he is great. We had him before my son was born, son is now 5. He is so respectful of our son and always very gentle. We do put clear boundaries in place eg son can't go near dog bed, dog can't get on sofa when son is on there etc. He has lived with 3 cats and multiple chickens and never any issues and he's great off lead. Good because we are never worried about other dogs, ours is so fast they couldn't catch him if they wanted to. He's very friendly with other dogs and also a good size. A proper dog but curls up tight when he wants too. I'd recommend this breed. If getting a puppy I would also recommend letting them off lead and training to come back ASAP. Some whippet/greyhound owners tend to put it off and then never let the dog off lead. They are breeds that just need to run.

Forgot to say - our dog still loves a play but calmed out of puppy phase by about 2/3. He is nearly 6 now and a perfect temperament after a few years of a very fast and excited young dog! He used to be a bit of a whirlwind when we arrived somewhere or someone came to the house, but would calm down after a few minutes. Don't want to put you off as I know there are much more excitable breeds out there (looking at you, spaniels).

A big problem for rescues at the moment is that we can't be encouraging travel in lockdown, so DEFRA have given a 1 hour travel time limit for rehoming which is very restrictive.
My dogs are from EGLR who don't have, all the dogs are fostered

We're on our second greyhound - first one was placid to the point you'd prod her to check she was still breathing... second one is a total bloody diva who chucks tantrums, prods you with her nose to make you take her to bed at 10pm on the dot, is so smart she can open handbags (I'm amazed she can lift mine) to find plastic bags to shred - she still thinks she's a cat though and you end up with her trying to sit on your lap!

Mum to 3 greys here

All dopey as hell but affectionate and snuggly

They adore cuddles strokes belly rubs and neck massage.
They demand affection at all times and if you stand still for more than a minute at least one of them will use you like a leaning post

Mine love blankets,winter jumpers coats and snoods in the very cold. They hibernate from October to April but love a good walk.

I often find them curled up on dd bed on a Sunday morning

Following, also at the point of finally putting in my application. Whippets are lovely but I love the quirkiness of greyhounds !

We have had five greyhounds , and all without exception have been gorgeous gentle dogs . The only thing I will say is that they will steal your spot on the sofa . All of them .

@BadEyeBri, that is a gorgeous picture!

I've known a few people with greys or lurchers and cats, and they can co-exist happily. One friend, with 2 ex-racing greys, sometimes has a moan about the fact that they don't curl up to sleep. He lives in a smallish house and reckons it's impossible to cross the living room without treading on a tail or a paw.

Funnily enough, I came on here to discuss the pros/cons of whippets and Bedlingtons....

I have wobbles sometimes about it getting out and the neighbours cats / small fluffy dogs.

[quote LakieLady]@BadEyeBri, that is a gorgeous picture!

I've known a few people with greys or lurchers and cats, and they can co-exist happily. One friend, with 2 ex-racing greys, sometimes has a moan about the fact that they don't curl up to sleep. He lives in a smallish house and reckons it's impossible to cross the living room without treading on a tail or a paw.

Funnily enough, I came on here to discuss the pros/cons of whippets and Bedlingtons....[/quote]
One of mine curls up surprisingly small to sleep. The other is just an enormous trip hazard!

I have never had a greyhound, but my friends who do say they are wonderful dogs.

I have a lurcher, sort of deerhound type. He is very lovely and clever, but completely disobedient, cannot be let off the lead or left alone in a room. He will chew things, steal things and hide them in his bed, and can open doors. He is the only dog I have ever had that has to be in a cage when we're not there. He will be with us until he dies, but honestly he is difficult and I would not choose to have another like him.

I have had three rescue whippet crosses, and they are my favourite type of dog. I have decided to only have whippets from now on! They are loving, calm, generally well-behaved and smell gorgeous. Because they are so bony, they love warmth, and don't like to be on the floor! My first didn't chase cats, my second used to cuddle cats! Both had good recall. We have only had the third for a few months, and have not yet let him off the lead, but he would definitely chase cats, as we have encountered a few on our walks. All mine have been happy to go on a long walk, a short walk, or just stay home on the sofa! They would avoid mud and puddles and usually come home with clean paws! I would absolutely recommend a whippet, they are fantastic.

Our whippet is very aloof.
Will only come and sit next to myself if I'm not paying him any attention. He will not sit next to my pre-teens as they try to make too much of a fuss of him and he does not like it.
He is definitely not a cuddly or affectionate dog despite being spoilt rotten.

My 2 Lurchers would sleep on my head if they had chance. Saluki cross is quite aloof. A morning cuddle then isn't fussed about anything else!!

My whippet is brilliant with kids, he adores them and is so gentle. He's a pain out of the house, zero recall, exceptionally high prey drive, goes ballistic when he sees a cat, likes to chase and 'smash' other dogs.

He is totally untrainable and has to stay on a lead whenever other dogs or really...anything else...is around. It's no fun having to walk a dog on a lead all the time. I am not trying to put you off, but please dont assume (like I did) that you will get some little (mine is big and strong) dainty dog who trots around placidly beside you.

I walk with friends with gun dogs and they are far easier despite needing more exercise. Just a tip if you decide to get one, purely anecdotal, dont get a black whippet!