Sorry if this is wrong place to post.
We have decided on a whippet for our family dog after a lot of research. Dh wants a pup. We have both had dogs from pups before but we will b first time sight hound owners so would love it if any whippet owners could tell me what's good about them what's bad about them anything u wish u had known before u got one just anything :)
Want to make sure we have chosen wisely (heard far too many stories of ppl getting pups then regretting it lately) and will b prepared if/when we get a pup :)

Tia

You could contact a breed club and ask if there's anyone near you that you could visit and go and talk Whippets. I'm always happy to have people who are interested in my breed to come and visit - I'd far rather they came and we discussed the pros and cons of my breed and that they realised that RRs aren't for them (if that's the case :) ) before they get a pup.

Hi there, whippets make lovely loyal companions, they are clean, no doggy odour and most are couch potatoes in the house.  They do like their comforts and unless you start as you mean to go on will probably end up sleeping in your bed!  As you say they are sight hounds but not all whippets have a high prey drive.  I never let mine free run unless in a safe area as they can suffer from "selective hearing" when in pursuit of rabbits etc.

I will watch this with interest it is abreed I am getting interested in. As for the sleeping in the bed as long as they don't mind sharing with the cat and a pomx too that's fine lol

Just over 5 years ago, when we were down to the last Basset of our bloodline, I decided to look for another breed, taller and less heavy.   As my neighbour had had a succession of Whippets, which I'd had a lot to do with, sitting for them etc., I decided this was the breed I was most interested in (I did consider the Cocker Spaniel but those I knew were almost always yappy which I did not want).   Relocating to the West country, I set about finding a reasonably close local breeder and went to visit with her, see her stock.  It just happened she had a bitch in whelp, and wasn't really planning on keeping anything herself, so she agreed to let me have pick bitch.   I might have shown her, but as it turned out, she really wasn't top quality (her main problem is her ear carriage - Pharoah Hound!!)     Right off the bat, she was, I discovered, really stubborn which although I was somewhat used to with the Basset, stubborn and FAST I was not.   It took quite a while learning what was going on in that head, finding the key to unlock her brain so we could start to connect!   I swear my then elderly (and sick) last Basset used to get on his chair and cover his eyes when she went into the zoomies.   I bought a 30ft lunge line and a whistle so I could start to work on a recall (hah).   Actually it did work, but it turned out she's rather inclined to spook, so in reality, unless I'm somewhere fully contained, I really don't let her off the lead as much as I (and she) would like.

Clean indoors - FOR SURE and as she can clearly hold for hours (two overnight stays meant the first time she held for 22 hours before finally having to empty - she refuses to empty off her property) she was quickly housetrained.   No smell - doggy odour and although she has a daily brush down, she's honestly only had a full bath a couple of times because it literally hasn't been needed.   Now she's settled down she is content to snuggle up (and makes a super hot water bottle on cold evenings).  I don't have her on my bed - she sleeps in her crate in my room however - having her on my bed, with her bony elbows ... no thank you.  High prey drive - for sure with this one.   No cats, or squirrels come into our garden these days.  I'd love to race her, but there are no tracks close enough.

I'd can recommend the breed but as always, each one is an individual - one of my neighbours was a counter surfer big time and by the time they came back from their annual 3 week holidays, I'd had to remove anything not bolted down in their kitchen.  Mine has never done this, thankfully.   I would say that rather than switching to Whippets completely, once my last Basset passed, I realised figurines couldn't fill the gap and went out and bought in another Basset.   I don't think there will be another Whippet - much to her breeder's disappointment.

I have friends with whippets and they do seem like nice friendly little dogs, some of them are competing successfully at rally obedience so they must have brains too! :-)

I am extreamly biased being born into a house full of Whippets, as my mother has had them for 48 years this year.
They are very clean dogs & if they do get grubby a quick leg/belly wipe/wash & they lick themselves dry.
They like to be warm, so are very keen firedogs(if your lucky to have an open fire). Failing that a duvet...either their own or on your bed...is the next best thing.
They are a sighthound & do keep a look out for things but are trainable.
They dont require any tests required by the KC but some responsible breeders are doing eye & heart testing. They are in general a healthy breed & by doing the testing we hope it stays that way.

As with any dog they need human companionship & if your working full time then now isnt the time to get a dog.

I suggest that you try to get upto Crufts...Whippets are on Hound day, which is on Friday 7 March...there will be close to 500(entries) of us there. Plus there is discover dogs you can take a look at aswell.

I think it´s all already been said but I´ll still add my own two-pennorth.  Our whippet is now 9 years old but we´ve had him from a pup.  The first couple of years all he ever wanted to do on a walk was run - and run - and run!  Fortunately he ran ever increasing circles rather than just straight lines.  He went to training classes and was always very satisfactory in obedience.  Agility was fun!  He´d run into another ring, run circles, then return.  He very quickly learnt to return to handler for food, but then went off again running around and just enjoying life.  He was brought up with cats and a toy-breed dog and has no problem with them at all.  He´s also OK with the children although he´s not so happy since being bitten by the little boy.  He feels the cold dreadfully and before living in his current very warm house, he needed pyjamas at night and a nice thick sheepskin bed.  He doesn´t like rain and wet and now he´s a mature couch potato he has to be pushed out into the garden in winter to do the necessary.  LOL.  On a walk now (in dry weather) he doesn´t run around much and doesn´t bother at all with all the rabbits we see.  He does make a half-hearted attempt to chase the pheasants but they can outfly him once they stop running and decide to fly!  He´s a total thief of anything even remotely edible and is an avid bin-raider, but this habit has definitely become far, far worse since the children came along.  Toddlers just love sharing their own food with a dog!  LOL.  Whippets on the whole seem to be an undemanding breed at home but a puppy is a puppy and whippets probably aren´t the most trainable of breeds.  Our whippet came from a very busy, crowded and chaotic home which suited us well as he was not at all upset by noise and people running around indoors.

Thank u for all the replies :)

I've 3 young children and I stay at home would pup b ok crated for school run or best to take him/her along? The kids r used to dogs too most family members have dogs. We have a postage stamp for a garden but live by several fenced fields that we could take dog to at least once or twice a week is this enough? Also I get conflicting advice on off the lead time. Lots of ppl saying absolutely don't let them off and had a breeder tell me they r to be walked off lead daily right from the start??

I know all dogs bark but am I right in thinking they tend to b fairly quiet and not yappy and bark at their own shadow?

If anyone with whippets and children has any tips/advice I'd be grateful too :)

I will add dog will get two 30 min walks a day more during school hols and weekends the is the once a week run in the field was meant for enough off lead time :)

Once your puppy has had all his/her vaccination shots, by all means take him/her with you on the school run.   The more socialising the better.   Note, this is a hound and hounds generally hate to be left alone.   The first time we left our wee pup (she was 9 weeks when we got her and tiny compared to the 9 week Basset!!) in her crate to go out to the shops, I came home expect to hear a riot going on - not so, she was still fast asleep.

As far as letting your Whippet off the lead, ideally the sooner you can do this, with a reasonable chance of him/her coming back to you, do ---- it will take courage, and you can't do this unless the know the area is completely fenced off or your Whippet may quite possible be off and running.   Hence the 30ft lunge line and whistle I used.   Your Whippet, or any puppy must have a daily walk, once fully vaccinated.

Barking - mine yaps.   It's probably her but this is the one thing I don't like about here.  Try as I might, she reacts to every sound outside, seen or not.   Car doors shutting - she's off.   This might just be her but having lived with Bassets for years before her, I wasn't ready for what she does.   My Bassets would sound off, but once I told them it was okay, shut up, they did.   Teazel's companion Basset just looks at me when she sounds off.   Doesn't utter a word.

Whippets and children - given their fragile legs, you'll need to be careful although they are not as bad as an It.Greyhound would be.   Basically the Whippet should be tough but early days, you'd need to watch out.

My friends always had whippets. They are lovely dogs but can go a bit crazy if not exercised enough. Their current dog will leap (literally!) from one end of the room to the other!

Taking the pup on the school run would be fine but i think from a young age you need to get the dog used to being left alone so there is no harm in not taking the pup immediately.

> Lots of ppl saying absolutely don't let them off and had a breeder tell me they r to be walked off lead daily right from the start??
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A whippet puppy should have daily walking but it should be limited(same as most other breeds) to 5 mins per month. So once your puppy has completed its vaccinations it will be(assuming its 8 weeks when you get it) nearly 11 weeks so a maximum of 10-15 minutes a day.
I have highlighted the completed as I firmly believe it is far too risky to take them out before. Of course there are others who will disagree but as long as the socialisation afterwards is done & the temperament of the parents is right, it will not affect the puppy. In fact I was late vaccinating my youngest lot & they never went anywhere until nearly 16 weeks old & they couldnt be any more social or friendly towards people & other dogs.

As to free running that should also be limited to the garden(ok you say your garden is small which doesnt help) but the bone platlets are still fixing up until a Whippet is a year old & racers dont race until about 14 months old.

I would recommend reading some books aswell. My top 3 I have are a: 'our bible' called The popular whippet by ch douglas-todd (published 1961) b: whippets today by patsy gilmour published(1994) c: the whippet by jp moran-healy (published 2000). Even just reading one of these will give you a good insight.

Just to say that our whippet is not at all noisy at home and never has been.  However due to change in circumstances he is now left alone quite a lot (now aged 9 years) so when I or my daughter come in he goes a bit loopy for a while and shouts his "welcome home" to us.  As a pup he was crated when left, as was the toy-breed dog of the same age, (for the protection of the little dog).  Never a problem but then they weren´t left for very long.

Thank u for all the replies.

I knew after I hit post it looked like I meant it'd only b walked once a week glad u all knew I meant off lead time :)

Iv also been told they r better in pairs (as is any dog I think) I could b tempted but in light of my other thread about my sisters dog reminding me that they do get poorly and tho of course I'd insure the pup I just know that financially unforeseen vet bills for 2 dogs could b a stretch where one wouldn't b. if that makes sense?

Btw feel free to suggest more suitable breeds if anyone thinks we r better suited to something else. We rnt rushing in to this and want to make sure we get the right dog :)

Is size a factor for you? Just wondering if you had considered an ex racing greyhound, they are generally very low maintenance and easy to live with :) known many ex racers and they have wonderful characters!

> Iv also been told they r better in pairs (as is any dog I think) I could b tempted but in light of my other thread about my sisters dog reminding me that they do get poorly and tho of course I'd insure the pup I just know that financially unforeseen vet bills for 2 dogs could b a stretch where one wouldn't b. if that makes sense?
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I always recommend at least a 2 year age gap(or more) for lots of reasons, so if you do go ahead with any dog that would be the best thing all round. Lots of dogs are happy to be only dogs...although its been over 30 years since we only had one dog.....it isnt necessary to have more

We have never insured our dogs & am not out of pocket. I put away money into a separate account incase any big bills come. For instance my 8 year old had to have an MRI scan after an accident in the garden. The cost in her 8 years was equivalent to £150 a year & I am sure most insurances are more than £12.50 a month for a pedigree dog!!?? I suggest £20 a month to put away but obviously its your choice to insure or not.

Insurance -  Having always had numbers, insuring them wasn't an option.  We also had a super vet who, if we hit a rough patch, would let us stage pay as she knew we'd pay her before putting food on our table.

When down to two, youngsters at that, I took some quotes from several companies and was horrified.  Given the Whippet at least isn't a breed prone to many health issues normally.   I wanted insurance, not to buy the companies!!   So neither of mine is insured.    We are not with the same vet unfortunately, having moved and I am having to pay up front but again thankfully are now in a position to be able to weather most bills!!   Touching wood...

Insurance companies are not there for you, so I'd suggest you keep your money on your Bank account.

As for how many - yes hounds do better in pairs (at least) but I'd leave a gap between them, if only to get the first sorted out before taking on a second (if the first has gone well).   We had our first Basset about 10 months before the second.   But it didn't remain at 2 for long!!!

Pet insurance will give you peace of mind as it's often £30 just to walk through the vet's door, never mind out of hours rates. I have ten dogs, six are insured (just gone with More Than as they were doing a special offer). The four oldest (ages range from 12-16 yrs) we will fund ourselves. I have paid out a fair bit in insurance over the years but have claimed far more (for ongoing epilepsy, heart/arthritis, plus all the one-offs). With insurance I know I'm covered for any tests/specialists needed plus we can cover a far wider range of treatments/drugs incl homoeopathy, acupuncture, laser, hydrotherapy etc. 

I hear you, but what finishes it for me, with insurance companies is the excess.   Of course it's pitched at the level most people will pay for a basic vet visit .... £30 to walk through the door - which wouldn't be paid for by insurance.   So as I see it, I'd be paying the vet bill (around £50 - 75 excess) plus the monthly premium!!   Of course with the unexpected big bill it would represent peace of mind, but the unexpected would be just that.   For the most part we have been lucky so maybe had we been in trouble in the past, I'd be insuring.

My brother in law uses More Than - and he spends hours choosing 'the best'  lol.