Whippets

[Lifeisnteasy]

Looking for general whippet reviews please, particularly those of you who have whippets and small children. Many thanks!

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PIL have whippets and I adore them, they've been around DD when she was younger. Their whippets are a bit on the shy side but get the zoomies, mostly very relaxed and love to sleep.

Well, I have a 9 month old whippet. Ive also had jack Russells and a spaniel in the past. I'm going to be honest here, I don't think they're the best breed if you have young children. They are lovely dogs but when they are puppies they bite, scratch and play fight a lot. Now, I know all puppies do this but I think whippets are on another level. They are very rough. And they kind of launch themselves through the air at you - a bit like little raptors. Maybe because they are hunting dogs and they're practising, I don't know. I just know that when I meet other whippet owners the general consensus is that they wouldn't like to have them with young kids. Its strange because they are also very gentle and sensitive at the same time. Mine has calmed down a lot now but I would not have wanted to have him when my children were little.

Need to be careful picking one. Mine are quite nervy round kids. Bad separation anxiety too. Previous one was bombproof.

Lovely tho. Need to be careful, not as robust as say terriers. Was used to chucking the 1st dog around playing & then realised whippets don't bounce as well. 😁🐶

My young dog does do 2-footed tackles too. I'm pretty fat, so he doesn't do too much damage but pp above does have a point.

Easy to toilet train.

That’s interesting thanks for your advice. I had a whippet in mind as I heard they are a gentle if nervy breed that tend not to bite or become aggressive. Perhaps I should think again?

Ours (whippet cross but very whippet!) did the "launch yourself at the kids' slippers and attack them with all your teeth" phase as a pup, but wasn't as bad as our little fluffy terrier was when he was young. He was really full on. She grew out of it a lot more quickly as well. She's very cuddly, gentle and affectionate compared to other dogs and calm for a pup. She is not all aggressive, and doesn't guard her bed, food or treats, unlike the fluffy terrier! Very easy to house train. Her main vice is stealing food, she's obsessed and jumps up to kitchen counters etc. I wouldn't get one with little children for two reasons: she is so fast, if she knocked into a child while running they would be sent flying, and the food stealing. Children over 8 or so would be fine.

Yes, they're also very fast and a bit clumsy; mine has knocked me and my mum over a few times. Mine was very easy to toilet train though.

@Lifeisnteasy

That’s interesting thanks for your advice. I had a whippet in mind as I heard they are a gentle if nervy breed that tend not to bite or become aggressive. Perhaps I should think again?

They don't bite maliciously and they are gentle - but they play very roughly compared to some other dogs.

No photos?
My childhood pet was a whippet. Very loving and lovable. Did eat everything fluffy. Missed us when we were out and would show this by climbing into our beds, covers up, head on the pillow. Oh, that dog cried when she saw the suitcases come out.
Also refused to leave after she died, stayed for years. Saw her recently, too, in the same place, fifty years later. But I wasn't scared, which I certainly was as a teenager.

There was a fantastic thread about whippets and their unique ways a few weeks ago, I recommend searching for it…

Quite experienced dog owner, currently with a 6 month old whippet. He's been adorable, zero aggression, loves a sleep on the sofa, fine with other dogs and children, so far hasn't been freaked out by anything including fireworks, skip lorries and police sirens.

Yes he likes a play nibble, but he soon works it out if you let him know he's gone too far. I wouldn't have any concerns with children over 10, or younger when attended.

I may be biased, but they’re the best

They are the absolute best but the puppy stage with small children? They are very full on and very very bitey. Like velociraptors!

This is my 10 year old rather spoilt whip, he's very affectionate and loves to sleep when he's not zooming around the garden, he likes to try burrow up under my jumper to get as close as possible to me but I wouldn't trust him with young children, he yelps if he bangs his own tail against a doorway, he's a lot more reactive to being bumped against or being disturbed while sleeping and can get snappy, he's never actually hurt anyone but there are only adults in the house. He's the first whippet I've had and he's here since he was a pup, I've had dobermann most of my life (still have two) and I'd trust them with children more than my whippet. Love him loads but he is a bit neurotic.

@Fuckitsstillraining
Your whippet looks like my former whippet.

Thank you to everyone for the photos.

Thanks everyone. The puppy I currently have in mind is being brought up in a home with toddlers and small children - the current owner says he’s quite placid and used to them now. I’ve also tested out my daughter around my family’s dogs, she’s quite cautious around them & will only stroke them very gently. Do you think this will all make a difference? Of course I would never leave them unattended together. But I also don’t want to take on a puppy that find small children very frightening or that may be a risk to DD.

Gorgeous photos - aren’t they so handsome 🥰

I think it's very difficult because all dogs, like people, are individual so not all whippets will be the same. But presumably if they're still with the owner they're younger than 8 weeks and the real play fighting won't have started yet. When I first took my pup home at 8 weeks, he was so meek and gentle - all that changed within days! He was only playing but he really hurt us all, far more than any other pups we've had in the past. But all dogs are different so it's impossible to say. I know other people who've had whippets that say they've been fine. I personally think there are easier dogs if you have young children.

DMs whippet was a bloody nightmare. Constantly wired and v nervy around my DNeices when they were small. It basically meant they couldn't explore or be on the floor when he was around and he barked if put away in a different room. So many incompatible toys and he didn't bite but he did snap which was scary for everyone.

He died around the time our DD was born which I was frankly thankful for. DM has talked on and off about getting another but I am v v v against it as visiting with children was just awful.

Hi OP, I’ve a whippet and two small children - he was a pre children pet and I love him very much. Fantastic temperament and great to take out anywhere- will lay quietly under pub tables for hours content , sociable , loves affection, gentle with kids. However I do not let him and the kids mix on their own in the living room at any time as if one of them accidentally bumped down on him he would bite - not malicious at all just a nervous reaction. They are very much a one owner dog- he only has eyes for me and only likes me walking him and needs to be exercised off the lead every day, lead walks are not enough for their energy. If you think you might want to keep cats in the future be careful , I know mine could not be trusted and I’ve seen what he does to poor squirrels!! We take him on holiday with us easily, he likes to ride every day in the back of the car for school runs , he’s 7 now and calm but was very energetic before then and needed lots of attention from me. I would say better dog with older children because of the nervousness they can have - they really like to chase and I could never let him off if there were children running around excited as he would chase and tug at clothes and some whippets also do this thing when they jump up at the face to sort of kiss/ lick it when they get excited - it’s caught a few people out and I had to train him out if it quickly xx

May I ask where one acquires whippets from? I love sight hounds, and if I went for greyhounds, I know there's rather a number of trusts/charities that re-home ex-racers. I'd pretty much always go for a re-home/rescue animal where I could, so are there any for whippets at all?

And does anyone have whippets and keep.chickens (in a fox-proof run)? Can the whippets cope with them, or is it far too exciting/stimulating for them?
Thanks.

I know people who have whippets with a cat and ducks (ducks have free range in the garden) and they've never had issues.

Thanks stellaris

I've had whippets for years and trusted all bar one (who was a big wimp) with my kids, from tiny baby to stompy 16 year old teens. If they're socialised enough they are pretty bomb proof and, growing up with GSDs, I wouldn't say they are any more bitey than any other type of pup.

They are buggers for chewing anything and everything when younger and playing with other whippets is eye opening as they knock each other over and look like they're trying to murder the other 😂. But they are always thrilled to see other whippets and love being chased by other dogs.

My youngest is 11 months old and an absolute terror, she will steal anything and have a chew on it if I'm not on the ball. But she's adorable!

Also - I have two cats who live fairly harmoniously with the whippets. Although the pup does like to annoy my youngest cat and it's like watching Punch and Judy when she's swiping away at the pup.