Hi everyone I know this is a bit of a how long is a piece of string question but here goes anyway.We recently met a wwoman who has a 5 month old whippet who was going absolutely nuts trying to get to our 7 month old whippet he wasn't nasty in anyway just really excited,we let them off lead to play and it was all very friendly and after a good run they both just sat there next to eachother.
Thats when the woman suprised us by saying our dog was the first one hers had met, right here's the question its a beautiful dog but basically hasn't been outside its back garden until today its K.C registered and we've seen all its papers apparently its her sons dog but after buying it he was unexpectedly offered a place at university so off he went leaving her with a dog she doesn't want how well do dogs respond to training if they have had absolutely no socialisation whatsoever.
We would love to take him on and hate the thought of him being sold on to any old person but are wary of upsetting our dog and taking on an unknown quantity, not knowing how much his solitary start in life is going to affect his future behaviour so would welcome any advice thanks.

Steve

well he managed toi interact pretty well with your pup, so it wouold seem that basically his temperament is sound.  If you are prepared for having two pups that will need seperate periods of training and walks to get the best out of each, as well as some together then I would take him and get cracking with the socialisation.

It should be fine. When we got Morse at 6 months he had never heard a vacuum cleaner, no idea about going out to toilet and very little experience of anything really, but hes great with everyone and learned canine manners with a few hints from us:D. Start from the beginning, reward the behaviour you want and dont force him to face anything hes scared of and it will be fine. He sounds a confident, pleased to see everyone pup so you just have to watch he dosent rush up to every dog he meets expecting to be welcomed. It will be hard work and you need to ensure the whippets bond to you not each other, which is where the seperate training comes in. Good luck!

i agree, they are likely to get on well. How lovely that chance brought you and your pup a lovely new friend!

They sound like they will be fine, but I would arrange a few more outings before bringing the new dog home.

Thanks everyone he's actually come over to spend the day with us today and so far he's been a little angel they've just wandered off and are sleeping in the same crate which amazed us.
The only problem so far has been walking them he's a nightmare!! he stole a womans french loaf this morning and shortly afterwards someones newspaper he just leaps at anything sticking out which is a bit worrying.
I don't think he's been on a lead much at all and he just pulls and pulls until his tongue is hanging out, is it likely to be very hard to train out the bad habbits he's already picked up.

Steve

It is always harder to remove bad habits than prevent them from occurring in the first place but it can be done and he is not that old.  Why not put him in a halti or similar headcollar to stop him choking himself?

Hi Steve
Consider it fate! How lovely they got on so well. Training can overcome so much, as another poster said, the most important thing is that his temperament is sound. I find that if you have a few problems to overcome, sit down and think about what they are and tailor your immediate training accordingly. For example, the swiping things 'sticking out' would suggest to me that the first thing I would teach is 'off' which, as luck would have it is one of the easiest things to teach. Then while reinforcing this training, move on to the next priority etc. Also get him into some training classes for basic training and socialisation. I doubt he will ever look back. It's a bit more work than a 'blank canvas', but then again some of the best things in life are gained with the greatest effort.
Good luck, whatever you decide.
Kat

Thanks both he is such a nice dog and he's learnt sit this afternoon very quickly, we're not going to make a snap decision although we always planned a second dog this is a lot sooner than we wanted but it is very hard to resist when you see how well they get on.

Steve

Hi Pinarello,the whippets are just pups, 10mths on you will have lovely sedate  dogs, i have yet to see  better house dogs than whippets and runnng dog types,hope you stick with him as you all sound made for each other.

Thanks Willow he stayed here last night and its his fault we slept late:) our pup is like clockwork and wakes us every morning at 7 am but they were still sleeping next to eachother at 8 when I finally woke up.
Its getting harder and harder to say no and in fairness to the owner she's said as they get on so well if we decide we want him she wont charge us anything which I thought was a nice gesture.

Steve