Beddy whippet?

[AnnaFiveTowns]

My ddog had to be PTS a few months ago and we're starting to think about another dog. Ive always loved whippets, greyhounds, lurcher type dogs and particularly beddy whippets. I'm concerned about their prey drive though. If we had one from puppy would we be able to train it not to chase cats? Would it chase smaller dogs? We live near the beach and I'd like to be able to take it for walks off lead and not worry about it chasing things? Anyone with any advice?

My whippet was a rescue from a hunting kennels. He had previously been a working dog. Now lives with 2 lurchers and 7(!) cats. All fine.

What’s a beddy whippet?

My brother had a Bedlington terrier x whippet. It was nice but dim, chased nothing but its tail. I understand this is not breed typical.

@Wolfiefan beddlington whippet cross

That’s a very specific cross! I thought it might be but also wondered if it was a whippet that loved its bed. (It’s been a long week!)
Are they bred for a specific reason I wonder?

Our friends have a Bedlington whippet cross and it's the most gorgeous dog we know. It was introduced to sheep as a puppy on a farm I think. It never chases anything. They only put it on a lead near busy roads.

It's a docile and loving dog. I'm not a dog person but even I am soft over it. Not sure if that's typical.

It likes walks but sleeps a lot in between and is completely obsessed with chasing balls/sticks. Very loving.

We have a bedlington whippet and he's wonderful. Got him from a pup and established him with our adult cat from day one. So he is very civil and unphased by the cat. But I can't say that is typical; his drive to chase is genetic, so we still keep a close eye when the two are together.

As a pet, I couldn't recommend him more highly. So loving, lazy and cuddly in the house, then a joy to walk. He's like lightening. People say they are not the easiest to train but he's our first dog and we've managed (though we did work hard!)

@wolfiefan

They are quite a popular lurcher (and getting more popular I believe).

Considered one of the best dogs for rabbiting/ferreting, though ours is a pet, not a worker.

Thanks Nellie. Don’t see many Bedlingtons at all. Interesting combo!

Oh wow, so many replies so quickly and all positive!

Yes, its a bedlington terrier x whippet which sounds quite obscure but there's actually quite a lot of them about - and they are super cute; they're basically look like a rough haired whippet; Im trying not to get too swayed by their cuteness and keep a sensible head on but from what you've all said it sounds as though it might be ok.

Ive looked at rescue centres too but most of the greyhounds need another dog at home. My plan long term would be to get one from a puppy and when its older adopt another hound from a rescue.

Lurking for pics!

I've got whippets who happily coexist with two cats and haven't had any issues. I think a combination of getting a fairy reliable recall and as an owner picking up this signs when you can see they are thinking about shooting off somewhere, then distracting them before it gets that far helps immensely. It's a lot of work, but totally worth it to be able to allow your whippets (or lurcher s) off the lead and see them flying. Proactive rather than reactive as I keep telling myself.

I'm keeping one of these monsters and am getting ready for the hard work to begin all over again- can't wait 🤪😍

I have a Bedlington_whippet crossed with greyhound

Am grateful for the grey-hound chill in the mix, as the beddy-whippets I know are quite full on

(Love all lurchers and sighthounds though, but IMO their listening skills are not brilliant and require lifelong effort.

I also think the only way to manage prey drive is to put the dog on a lead in danger areas. I don't think you can get a lurcher trained to the extent their obedience is stronger than their prey drive

Saying that, my lurcher has weak prey drive and has never gone for cats. She only goes for rabbits and squirrels and deer (but that's where the lead comes in).

They can look very different from each other. We picked a pup with a fluffy coat and he has turned out very Bedlington. His more smooth brothers and sisters now look more like rough-coated whippets.

Recommend the Facebook group Bedlington Whippet Appreciation Society for anyone as soft on this dog as I am!

There was a story on here a while back about someone who had a whippet with a cat for years, all was fine etc. etc. Until one day it wasn’t - they thought the cat must have whizzed past and whippet did what whippets do.

That was enough for me to cross off whippets from my dog breed short list.

I think he's the handsomest creature in the world. He's a saluki-greyhound

I have a bedlington and he's the softest, most wonderful dog I could ask for! We know a beddy whippet in the park who's adorable too - so gentle. I was talking to the owner about how beddys are supposed to be ratters and we were laughing as ours are so useless! Can't speak for them all but there's no prey drive here!

They are beautiful dogs, one of my favourites. I don't have one but have a whippet, he does all the things you said you don't want as in chase smaller (well every) dogs, extremely predatory towards cats, constantly worry he will murder next doors, can't go off the lead when anything else is around.

My concern with a bedlington whippet is that they are used as working dogs and as such the whippet would be a working type. My whippet has a lot of working blood and is very different in size and behaviour from the nice neat little well behaved whippets I meet out on walks. If it were me I would check the breeding of the whippet in the mix so you know what you are getting-which is what I should have done!

We have a whippet but I also love the bedlington x whippets. Meet a couple out walking and they seem chilled and very friendly. My hairdresser has one that goes to the salon everyday. She just stays on her bed, chilling but does like a fuss if you go to her. They would probably be my next choice after a whippet if we were to get another dog.

Personally, if you have a cat i wouldn’t consider anything other than a small ‘companion’ breed.

I have had a cat before with my dog (who is not a small companion breed) and I never felt entirely comfortable with them together awake.
The cat was rehomed in the end for reasons unrelated to the dog but it isnt a combination I would ever try again.

Dogs are predatory animals, yes they are so desperate to please you you often can train them to rein in predatory instinct to a degree and yes they do tend to bond closely with anyone considered ‘family’ including cats but the instinct is ultimately still there in a lot of dogs.

I have heard many unfortunate tales over the years of dogs living peacefully with cats until the cat one day inadvertently does something to trigger predatory instinct and the dog acts.

Bedlington whippets are still very much working dogs, bred for rabbiting/ferreting.
I wouldn’t buy one (or any working breed or dog above small size) with a cat.

My friend has a beddy x whippet and had her from a pup. She is fairly well behaved on the recall - and interacts very well with any small dogs, and lives with 2 cats. I think having a puppy there may be some hope in controlling the prey drive to a certain extent - but maybe it depends on the Beddy influence. A beddy Whippet cross if obviously an excellent hunting mix.
Anyone with a lurcher/grey/whippet do really have to be on the alert - nothing to worry about - you get used to keeping an eye on the horizon and then putting the dog on the lead if you think they will spot the movement and be off like a rocket! My lurcher used to be used for rabbiting - but I have trained her the perfect stay - anything she sees she freezes and kind of points, a harsh stay from us and she will wait until we put the lead on. Pretty amazing really! No terrier in her though - Collie - maybe she is better at listening!
You get used to having a pointy dog, and they are just so lovely, loyal dogs

Interested to read these comments, we picked up our 8 week old beddy whippet on Friday. She is our first after having spaniels in the past, although we know a couple of others and they are both lovely dogs. We are very aware of how important recall will be with their high prey drive, but we will be working that from the beginning, and hopefully the neighbours cats will learn pretty quickly not to come in our garden any more!

I had a friend that had two, they were absolutely daft but lovely dogs. She had small pets as well and had no trouble but obviously managed the relationship and housing carefully. I recall her lurchers being very keen on chasing (and occasionally catching) rabbits where we kept our horses but they were fine with the yard cats- I think it was just the sprinting of the wild rabbits that was the problem, which is understandable.