Breed suggestions

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millitiger

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Hi all, looking for some suggestions for a new dog to join our family.

We have 2 x whippets and absolutely adore them.
Unfortunately mine had a huge crash and had to have TPLO surgery last year so her activities have had to reduce a bit.
The other whippet is 10yro so is starting to slow down a little anyway despite good health.

We're tentatively looking to bring a puppy into the family this year.
I would like something exactly like the whippets at home- they are so easy around the house and with the horses and perfect little companions.
However I like a longer walk on the weekend or to go on a walking holiday - so perhaps 10 miles each walk?

I don't know whether to have another whippet or whether there is another breed that is like a whippet but a bit happier about a longer weekend walk?
Or perhaps a whippet crossed with something else?
 
Very whippet like in the house. Think warm, blankets, snuggles, distain if they have to go out for a pee in the rain.

But lovely active dogs out and about. Will place chase games like a whippet but keep going like a terrier. They were essentially bred by injecting some whippet into the black & tan terrier
 

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I almost didnt open this due to last time 😂 But, er yeah, get a whippet.

My oldest is 8 and will still happily go 10miles. Theres less zoomies now, but he's always been a bit of a plodder. The youngest does roughly 3 times my mileage according to his tracker so there will be times he does 20 to 30 miles, mostly galloping. I've done fell walking and covered 80ish miles per week with a previous pair as well.

I'm in a right state physically but trying to rehab myself, if I ever get back to full fitness the plan is September time to go for a multiday long distance walk with them. I'd expect them both to do 10 to 15 miles per day for 5 or so days with no issue at all if I put more fitness on them.

It probably does depend on how they are bred, mine are always working bred and hard as nails. I'm assuming from the amount of people that have to wrap them up, walk them on leads and only go a couple of miles, that maybe the show bred types arent the same 🤷‍♀️
 
I’m scared to reply as got banned last time but Millitiger seems to have been around long enough that I can risk it.
@Spotherisk has a bedlington x whippet and tbh his idea of hell is a long walk. So I really wouldn’t go long dog, they don’t seem very good at ambling.
So not a suggestion but a non suggestion.
 
Any sort of terrier would fit the bill. Although my Yorkie is particularly good in poor weather. None of the others have liked it much.
 
Spotherisk said:
Thanks @Clodagh, maybe Rew would have more stamina if he had more Bedlington in him - he’s only 1/8th. He doesn’t see much point in a long walk although my first whipetty thing did!

How about a Labrador?

I do quite fancy a Manchester or a Black and Tan for my next agility dog though!
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There's plenty of Mannies doing agility (and Flyball!)
 
I've had whippets for years and years. I've always found they go as long as you want or as short as you want. 10 miles wouldn't phase them at all. They go far further than I do just running loose. Oh and when you get the whippie pup, pictures please.
 
Spotherisk said:
Thanks @Clodagh, maybe Rew would have more stamina if he had more Bedlington in him - he’s only 1/8th. He doesn’t see much point in a long walk although my first whipetty thing did!

How about a Labrador?

I do quite fancy a Manchester or a Black and Tan for my next agility dog though!
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If you're going for black and tan types go Lancashire Heeler ! :)
 
MurphysMinder said:
If you're going for black and tan types go Lancashire Heeler ! :)
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Tbh I’d rather NOT have a black dog as we already have two plus my blue one, and we live in the woods in the middle of nowhere…I’d rather have a colour I can see more easily by torch. A parti colour whippet would be lush! 🤣🤣🤣
 
Thanks all, I didn't realise whippets are so controversial but I don't venture into this section that often.

I don't want a Lab, too big, too hairy and too much doggy smell.
I've never seen or met Manchester Terriers so would need to do some research.

I came from a German Pointer so my whippets never seem so keen for a 10 mile hike in comparison 🤣
However they are MUCH easier around the house as my GSP was endlessly energetic.

I am definitely thinking whippet X something
OR perhaps a bit left field, a Border Terrier??? Anyone any guidance on them?
 
We have a Border Terrier. He’s very chilled in the house and is a super cuddly lovely dog to have around. Walking he has plenty of stamina and loves to walk, although I wouldn’t say he lives for long walks in the way that our cocker does, he is happy to go round the block and then have a nap and pretty robust in all weathers.
When my husband takes the dogs running with him the BT tops out after about 8k when the cocker looks like she’s barely started, but he would trot much further if it was at a slower pace.
 
Thanks @Supercalifragilistic
I definitely don't 'do' running, unless for my life, so we should be ok on that front!

Superficially I also really like their little grumpy old man faces.
I love our whippets but really don't like the 'harder' looking ones with big boogle eyes. Ours are very good looking and I'd hate to get a pup of different lines and it be the ugly step-brother 🤣
 
I’ve got a few friends with BT and yes would deffo do your job. Personally I’m not keen on rough coats and the old before their years look but that’s just me!
They are all really easy in the house. All different personalities especially outside of the house, from a little grumpy to quite timid to very straightforward- but none are difficult dogs. Better/more hardy than a Mannie for mooching around the stables (mine has an array of coats!) and they are active enough for longer walks. So yes, nice dogs but not a hint of whippet like in them 😆
 
Spotherisk said:
Tbh I’d rather NOT have a black dog as we already have two plus my blue one, and we live in the woods in the middle of nowhere…I’d rather have a colour I can see more easily by torch. A parti colour whippet would be lush! 🤣🤣🤣
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My oldest heeler has a high viz coat , very useful when he buggers o ff hunting but don’t think he’ll appreciate wearing it in warmer weather !
 
Border terriers are fabulous. The least terrierish terriers I have ever met. (I don’t know any Mannies!). We always had them as pets before we collected so many labs. They do smell a bit though, they have sort of oily coats. Not a bad smell, seaweed ish?
 
If you want a more "robust" whippet then a working strain would probably suit. We had one from the "Hedgerunner" kennel and frankly he never ever wanted to stop and was big and burly. Might well fit your brief.
 
I love the look of the Manchester terriers and was considering one for a while but got put off by the breed club saying they were difficult and sensitive temperament wise. I have terriers at the moment but they're happy go lucky terriers who are great with all people and dogs. Are the Manchesters more difficult than other terriers?
 
Squeak said:
I love the look of the Manchester terriers and was considering one for a while but got put off by the breed club saying they were difficult and sensitive temperament wise. I have terriers at the moment but they're happy go lucky terriers who are great with all people and dogs. Are the Manchesters more difficult than other terriers?
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Depends on the line they're from. Mine are more worky/sporty and temperamentally stable. Some can be reactive/protective. They are very trainable - look at the kennels whose dogs are winning in Obreedience (and yes, the Mannies have won the Crufts all breed team obedience twice!), Flyball, Agility and Man Trailing. Also bikejor/canicross. Those dogs are more likely to be temperamentally sound.

Anyone who would like to meet Finn (my homebred champion) at Crufts is welcome to on Thursday and Saturday at Crufts - his dad has show, rally, obedience and scent work titles, his mother has bikejor titles and he has show titles and is working on scent work and barn hunt. Mine all have their good citizen awards also.

My one caveat is that they are guardy at home, but fine once introduced to visitors and that they are working terriers - Finn is going to Crufts with multiple rat/mink related scars.
 
druid said:
Depends on the line they're from. Mine are more worky/sporty and temperamentally stable. Some can be reactive/protective. They are very trainable - look at the kennels whose dogs are winning in Obreedience (and yes, the Mannies have won the Crufts all breed team obedience twice!), Flyball, Agility and Man Trailing. Also bikejor/canicross. Those dogs are more likely to be temperamentally sound.

Anyone who would like to meet Finn (my homebred champion) at Crufts is welcome to on Thursday and Saturday at Crufts - his dad has show, rally, obedience and scent work titles, his mother has bikejor titles and he has show titles and is working on scent work and barn hunt. Mine all have their good citizen awards also.

My one caveat is that they are guardy at home, but fine once introduced to visitors and that they are working terriers - Finn is going to Crufts with multiple rat/mink related scars.
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Thank you, that's really interesting, the terriers we have at the moment we had to be careful about which breeder we got them from so that we got the good temperament. I'll put them back on the list as I've loved the look of them :)
 
Manchester Terriers are very smart. A bit left field but if you like a wiry, sporty dog an Irish terrier would work. They don't shed and are very athletic with a particular joie de vivre. Mine is definitely up for long walks and is the best dog I've ever had! Welsh terriers are also known for their stamina as are both smooth and wire fox terriers But I believe that the training of, particularly a smooth fox terrier, requires the patience of a saint! The one I know is also like one of the Kray twins temperamentally speaking, though I am very fond of him 🤣. https://www.countrylife.co.uk/out-a...ursuits/irish-terrier-the-gentlemans-dog-9247
 
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