Please tell me about whippets as a breed and rescue whippets

Piggybacking onto this thread as, I'm interested in getting a whippet for my next dog, as I know so many lovely ones. I want to get a puppy though, and would be interested to know how many of you who have raised whippets from pups have had problems with thieving and/or lack of recall?
 
If you look back to the first page you will see my post. I bought in a puppy and also bred a litter from her. No problems with recall or thieving from the bitch, the puppy I kept or other puppies I kept in touch with.
 
I would never be without a whippet.

My whippet is a thief. She's a diva. She's an opinionated madam. But she's amazing.

I've got/had Labradors, border collies, rough collies, staffy types but there is no dog quite like a whippet.
 
TGM said:
Piggybacking onto this thread as, I'm interested in getting a whippet for my next dog, as I know so many lovely ones. I want to get a puppy though, and would be interested to know how many of you who have raised whippets from pups have had problems with thieving and/or lack of recall?
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Mine was a rescue but born in rescue and we had her from 8 weeks so a puppy ;) her recall is pretty good but not perfect. If she's playing or chasing it's hit and miss but not awful.

Her theiving is much more opportunity based now rather than plots but it does still happen. She is only 2 though so still in a cheeky teenage phase. Friends with older whippets have said it gets better as they get older.
 
I'm pretty sure its hard wired into the majority of them. Mine stopped it at about 3, but hes still an opportunist. Tonight he watched me put a biscuit wrapper in the bin and we entered into some sort of mexican standoff, whereby he couldnt take the wrapper because I was looking so he was acting all nonchanlant and casual, while I kept looking away then looking back trying to catch him in the act. If he could have whistled a jolly tune while dancing a jig to reassure me that he had no bad intentions he would have. I dont know how I kept a straight face. I'm laughing now just thinking about it :lol:
 
FrankieCob said:
I'm pretty sure its hard wired into the majority of them. Mine stopped it at about 3, but hes still an opportunist. Tonight he watched me put a biscuit wrapper in the bin and we entered into some sort of mexican standoff, whereby he couldnt take the wrapper because I was looking so he was acting all nonchanlant and casual, while I kept looking away then looking back trying to catch him in the act. If he could have whistled a jolly tune while dancing a jig to reassure me that he had no bad intentions he would have. I dont know how I kept a straight face. I'm laughing now just thinking about it :lol:
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I always suspected that my beagle (Lola also known as Baddog) was part whippet. This thread has done nothing to make me rethink that idea.
 
Oh no....don't get me started on whippets.....not a breed I would ever have even considered until I rescued my little blue boy.....I now have 2 and always on the lookout for a third...both "rescued" and just the most gentle, sweet naturede little beasts....I am so used to their quiet nature that I think I would struggle with another breed now! I love how when I want to go a run/long walk they will go for miles....I love to watcht them run together in the field....but then once they are in the house they are happy to spend almost all of their time sleeping. Easy to care for, quiet, good natured, (a bit cheeky when it comes to pinching food) but just the most loyal little dogs ever. They do need coats in winter (or even Summer sometimes lol) One of mine hates the rain but they both love to play in the sea (then shiver afterwards) I just love love LOVE them!
 
My friend has 3 whippets. I walk my 2 staffords with her most days so know them almost as well as my own dogs.
They are all kc registered , the oldest Jack is nearly 10, entire male who she has had from a puppy. He is by far the largest of the 3 sort of show whippet size, and by far the most sensitive. Ridiculously so. He gets deeply offended by little things that the bitches would forget after about 30 seconds. Jack will let little mishaps spoil his entire day.
He has always been a bit of a Victor Meldrew type, and doesn't do any activities (the girls both DO), because Jack doesn't like having fun. Nor does he like Lizzie having fun and will do all he can to stop her and claim her as his own if she is chasing/playing with another dog, lol. Lizzie being the independent/capable one will take none of his nonsense and tells him to push off if needed!

Jack will participate in one activity though.....chasing/catching bunnies, as whippets tend to do when one pops out of the hedge in front of them, while on a walk.
Other than when bunny chasing, they all have very reliable recalls.

Now the 2 girls. Lizzie is 6 (I think), and she is the most proficient pointy nosed thief I have ever met in my life! She is a black/white pied, very confident, and very capable of assessing all situations. She never gets into any difficult situations with other dogs, and if something is being a nuisance she has a very good 'look' that stops most dogs in their tracks. If she has to tell a dog off firmly she will do so, but not unfairly and never puts holes in anything or causes any dogs to fear her.
She is very small, even for a bitch, beautifully marked, always has the most incredible gleaming coat and she is exceptionally well put together. I would guess too small for show judges from what I have seen, but I think she is perfect!

Having said that.......she will take any opportunity to thieve, at lightening speed, or sneakily out of an unzipped pocket.
Whippet noses are designed for that! Lizzie has stolen food from picnicking families, and recently discovered at an agility show that in the tent by the ring there are often sweets/crisps etc, and she went through a phase of desperately trying to get to the tent during her agility run (yes, she competes at uka shows, and is only a couple of points off of moving up to senior level in steeplechase, and has also had an agility win this year so will be moving up to the second level for agility/jumping very soon, I would think).

She enjoys caking herself in fox ****, and is an expert at doing so, while trotting round looking beautiful and feminine until she goes anywhere near you when you realise she's not as sweet as she looks!!! She is exercised in all weathers, but does not do agility in heavy rain, high winds or very high temperatures. She has to be carried to the start line to stop her eating anything vile while queuing and this was decided after she puked up goose poo all over the start line at a show, before zooming off and doing a lovely round!!!
The youngest girl is another huge character, also tiny. Red brindle and quite fiery redhead in her nature. She is 2 and from working lines that also show, but her drive is very much her strongest thing, it's just channeling it in a useful direction. She will probably be a better (ie consistently faster and less weather dependant than Lizzie), but she will be very hard work, due to the fact she is not naturally as helpful as Lizzie is, she will not stop and wait if her handler forgets the course, where as Lizzie wants to please, Ginger will do it because SHE enjoys it rather than because she cares about anyone else's feelings!
Lizzie also (very obviously) enjoys it, but does care if she is getting it right. I think Ginger will do what pleases Ginger. Having said that, while wilder than the others out on walks, and a lunatic near water - even putting her head under the surface, she is an incredibly sweet whippet, and easy to live with (they all are couch potatoes at home).
The only thing that applies to all 3, is the thieving, oh and the bunny chasing. They are muzzled when running loose during times when there are lots of bunnies around. Don't want it to sound like they are encouraged to eat wildlife, they definitely aren't but whippets are sighthounds after all, but I'd say there is a lot of variation in characters, even when they have been brought up in the same environment and well socialised from the very start.
My stafford bitch (the naughty one, is best friends with Ginger (also the naughty one).
In appearance they couldn't be more different but they are like 2 peas in a pod in other ways!
 
Country_gal said:
Oh no....don't get me started on whippets.....not a breed I would ever have even considered until I rescued my little blue boy.....I now have 2 and always on the lookout for a third...both "rescued" and just the most gentle, sweet naturede little beasts....I am so used to their quiet nature that I think I would struggle with another breed now! I love how when I want to go a run/long walk they will go for miles....I love to watcht them run together in the field....but then once they are in the house they are happy to spend almost all of their time sleeping. Easy to care for, quiet, good natured, (a bit cheeky when it comes to pinching food) but just the most loyal little dogs ever. They do need coats in winter (or even Summer sometimes lol) One of mine hates the rain but they both love to play in the sea (then shiver afterwards) I just love love LOVE them!
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Pictures PLEASE - they sound so lovely.
 
sarah.oxford said:
My friend has 3 whippets. I walk my 2 staffords with her most days so know them almost as well as my own dogs.
They are all kc registered , the oldest Jack is nearly 10, entire male who she has had from a puppy. He is by far the largest of the 3 sort of show whippet size, and by far the most sensitive. Ridiculously so. He gets deeply offended by little things that the bitches would forget after about 30 seconds. Jack will let little mishaps spoil his entire day.
He has always been a bit of a Victor Meldrew type, and doesn't do any activities (the girls both DO), because Jack doesn't like having fun. Nor does he like Lizzie having fun and will do all he can to stop her and claim her as his own if she is chasing/playing with another dog, lol. Lizzie being the independent/capable one will take none of his nonsense and tells him to push off if needed!

Jack will participate in one activity though.....chasing/catching bunnies, as whippets tend to do when one pops out of the hedge in front of them, while on a walk.
Other than when bunny chasing, they all have very reliable recalls.

Now the 2 girls. Lizzie is 6 (I think), and she is the most proficient pointy nosed thief I have ever met in my life! She is a black/white pied, very confident, and very capable of assessing all situations. She never gets into any difficult situations with other dogs, and if something is being a nuisance she has a very good 'look' that stops most dogs in their tracks. If she has to tell a dog off firmly she will do so, but not unfairly and never puts holes in anything or causes any dogs to fear her.
She is very small, even for a bitch, beautifully marked, always has the most incredible gleaming coat and she is exceptionally well put together. I would guess too small for show judges from what I have seen, but I think she is perfect!

Having said that.......she will take any opportunity to thieve, at lightening speed, or sneakily out of an unzipped pocket.
Whippet noses are designed for that! Lizzie has stolen food from picnicking families, and recently discovered at an agility show that in the tent by the ring there are often sweets/crisps etc, and she went through a phase of desperately trying to get to the tent during her agility run (yes, she competes at uka shows, and is only a couple of points off of moving up to senior level in steeplechase, and has also had an agility win this year so will be moving up to the second level for agility/jumping very soon, I would think).

She enjoys caking herself in fox ****, and is an expert at doing so, while trotting round looking beautiful and feminine until she goes anywhere near you when you realise she's not as sweet as she looks!!! She is exercised in all weathers, but does not do agility in heavy rain, high winds or very high temperatures. She has to be carried to the start line to stop her eating anything vile while queuing and this was decided after she puked up goose poo all over the start line at a show, before zooming off and doing a lovely round!!!
The youngest girl is another huge character, also tiny. Red brindle and quite fiery redhead in her nature. She is 2 and from working lines that also show, but her drive is very much her strongest thing, it's just channeling it in a useful direction. She will probably be a better (ie consistently faster and less weather dependant than Lizzie), but she will be very hard work, due to the fact she is not naturally as helpful as Lizzie is, she will not stop and wait if her handler forgets the course, where as Lizzie wants to please, Ginger will do it because SHE enjoys it rather than because she cares about anyone else's feelings!
Lizzie also (very obviously) enjoys it, but does care if she is getting it right. I think Ginger will do what pleases Ginger. Having said that, while wilder than the others out on walks, and a lunatic near water - even putting her head under the surface, she is an incredibly sweet whippet, and easy to live with (they all are couch potatoes at home).
The only thing that applies to all 3, is the thieving, oh and the bunny chasing. They are muzzled when running loose during times when there are lots of bunnies around. Don't want it to sound like they are encouraged to eat wildlife, they definitely aren't but whippets are sighthounds after all, but I'd say there is a lot of variation in characters, even when they have been brought up in the same environment and well socialised from the very start.
My stafford bitch (the naughty one, is best friends with Ginger (also the naughty one).
In appearance they couldn't be more different but they are like 2 peas in a pod in other ways!
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Thank you for all that - it is very interesting and helpful. It looks like one of the biggest problems with whippets is thieving.
 
Don't let the theiving put you off. It's not as bad as it sounds. It's not like they go and pull the bin over or anything.

Mine is naughty for counter surfing when there is cat food on the kitchen side or if I put a packed of biscuits on the side and she clocked me doing it she would pinch them if I left the room.

But I could put a plate of food on my bed while she's on it and then leave the room and come back and she won't have touched it. She knows plates of food are not for her.
 
Peter7917 said:
Don't let the theiving put you off. It's not as bad as it sounds. It's not like they go and pull the bin over or anything.

Mine is naughty for counter surfing when there is cat food on the kitchen side or if I put a packed of biscuits on the side and she clocked me doing it she would pinch them if I left the room.

But I could put a plate of food on my bed while she's on it and then leave the room and come back and she won't have touched it. She knows plates of food are not for her.
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Now the epic, planned out bad ass theivery has stopped I honestly find it more comical and amusing than anything. Its always been food with him, its not like hes eaten mybest shoes or anything :)
 
We're another one that would never have considered whippets until we 'rescued' one that was about to be sent to Ireland for breeding! She was 15 months old, quite timid but a good sweet girly. A few years later we got another one as a 10 week old pup and he is amazing.

Our rescue girl is the most intelligent of the two (our pup is a bit thick), she LOVES her home comforts, if you put a towel/blanket on the floor she will lie on it - to the point where we took them on a family holiday, and everytime someone lay a beach towel out she would get up and go lie on it!! :D She isn't actually too bothered about being on the sofa or bed, but she loves a big comfy dog bed to herself. When we got her she was skin and bones and wouldn't lie on the floor, but she does happily lie on carpet now :) She can be a bit sensitive and is very aloof with strangers (not really interested unless they have treats) but she is very loyal to her family and once she gets to know someone is very sweet.

Our pup (now 3 years old so not a pup) was an extremely easy puppy to train. He is the kindest natured dog I have ever met. He absolutely adores every person, I have never ever seen him be grumpy with anyone, even kids who pull on his ears and tail, he just doesn't care. He also loves EVERY dog, though is a bit wary of GSD as one attacked him once. He has never ever snapped at another dog or been aggressive in anyway he just loves to play!! He is a bit stupid but was actually really easy to train, only had a few accidents in the house and he picked up the basics quite well. He is cheeky with food but doesn't steal, he will just get closer and closer until he thinks he can sneak a nibble/lick, tell him no and he stops. He is very lovable - he's the one that wants to be on the chairs all the time and on the bed as he just wants to be WITH you ALL THE TIME. He gets under your feet as he has to follow someone somewhere.

Saying all that though, I read about whippets with separation anxiety, we have never had a problem with our two. The pup has always had our girly which I think helped. Even though he's a bit clingy in the house he never seems bothered when we're out, sometimes when we get home at lunchtime to check on them both they don't even bother getting out of bed to greet us!!!

The hardest part with both of them was training recall - They both had a very high chase drive, once they're onto a prey it is very difficult to distract them. The girl wasn't so bad, she would chase but not kill anything but the pup had a very high prey drive (we think his parents were working whippets). He used to get lots of squirrels, but the past year (since he turned 3 really) he has calmed down a lot and they both don't run off as much as they used to. They will run to chase but give up and come back to us much quicker then when they were younger. The one thing we had to be careful with with the pup was around livestock as he would chase sheep (though he loves horses and doesn't bother with them !). If you're getting a whippet recall is something you have to work on as they are so quick they can disappear in an instant.

Both of them were also car sick when they were younger!! And then they just seemed to get over it as they got older.

They are great dogs for working full time too, obviously the puppy needed attention but now he's older they need one or two good walks/runs a day and they are pooped for the rest of the day. Just snooze constantly as long as they're somewhere comfy.

They also don't like rain and it is amazing how long they can hold their wee for when it's raining outside :D :D

Wonderful dogs and i'd recommend them to anyone!!
 
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OP, I think it's great that you are doing research before purchasing/rescuing a dog but I have never had whippets who have gone to great lengths to steal food. Yes, they will eat the cat's food or even nick a piece of cheese off a worktop once in a blue moon but it would be a shame if this were to put you off what is an ideal beginner's breed. Personally, I think that aggression in a dog would be a big no no for me and none of my whippets have ever shown any aggressive tendencies whatsoever. They have all been very friendly, both to other dogs and to humans, including children and not bothered by horses.

I have always exercised mine off lead and believe that they need to run to be healthy in body and mind and would not recommend them as a breed for you if you are going to walk them in a public park or similar where you cannot let them just run. As everyone will tell you, whippets are happy to sleep all day, like to snuggle up with you, preferably in your bed (mine are not allowed!) and are very affectionate and loyal. They are minimal shedders, don't have much of a doggy smell and mine have always kept their small, hairless feet very clean so they don't bring a lot of dirt into the home.

Here's a photo of Tilly, my current girl, with her friend, Mia.

 
My husband was dead set aagainst getting any long dog because of the thievery but my whippet x rescue lurcher has never counter surfed or stolen off surfaces. She does go upstairs and clean up anything the boys have left lying around, but its her or the mice.
 
Snowy Celandine said:
OP, I think it's great that you are doing research before purchasing/rescuing a dog but I have never had whippets who have gone to great lengths to steal food. Yes, they will eat the cat's food or even nick a piece of cheese off a worktop once in a blue moon but it would be a shame if this were to put you off what is an ideal beginner's breed. Personally, I think that aggression in a dog would be a big no no for me and none of my whippets have ever shown any aggressive tendencies whatsoever. They have all been very friendly, both to other dogs and to humans, including children and not bothered by horses.

I have always exercised mine off lead and believe that they need to run to be healthy in body and mind and would not recommend them as a breed for you if you are going to walk them in a public park or similar where you cannot let them just run. As everyone will tell you, whippets are happy to sleep all day, like to snuggle up with you, preferably in your bed (mine are not allowed!) and are very affectionate and loyal. They are minimal shedders, don't have much of a doggy smell and mine have always kept their small, hairless feet very clean so they don't bring a lot of dirt into the home.

Here's a photo of Tilly, my current girl, with her friend, Mia.

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OMG, how adorable! I particularly love brindles!

I have actually got a lurchery type dog already (a rather strange mix of bedlington/whippet/collie/poodle) and she would never dream of counter surfing, or removing food from a table, although crumbs on the floor are fair game. She is such a good dog I think I'd be disappointed if a new one was a confirmed thief! We did have a previous dog who was a nightmare for counter-surfing and we had to be really careful to push everything to the back of the worktops, he was a rescue though, whereas current dog we have had from a puppy. I hope if we bring a whippet up like we did our current girl, then it will be OK!
 
Had 2 rescue whippet crosses (lurchers) would NEVER be without one ever again. I am on the facebook WAS page, whippet appreciation society, see some great pics and my favourite by far is the one below which sums up a Whippet perfectly "Just chilling in the cosy cave"

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2419447733/

just%20chilling%20in%20the%20cosy%20cave_zpstd8inpii.jpg
[/URL]

Oz
 
TGM said:
Piggybacking onto this thread as, I'm interested in getting a whippet for my next dog, as I know so many lovely ones. I want to get a puppy though, and would be interested to know how many of you who have raised whippets from pups have had problems with thieving and/or lack of recall?
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As long as you are reasonably practical and realised that you need to lock your dustbin away out of reach you will be OK.... I learned that lesson the hard way.... oh and don't plant up nice containers full of garden plants within a whippet's reach.... I did that once as a teenager, my mum went out into the garden to find a wooden tub full of earth, plants all over the floor, and a whippet curled up asleep on top of the tub :D :D



ETA - look away now if you are of a delicate disposition.... the whippets were far sharper and more effective than the greyhounds mind you, they were very quick and good with myxi rabbits and unfortunately my Japanese quail met a fast end when the two whippets dug under the fence line into her run.....
 
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No longdog, when in flat out pursuit mode, is going to stop when you call it. The art is to scan the horizon and stop them before they are running. If they are running, just save your breath. :-)
 
Clodagh said:
No longdog, when in flat out pursuit mode, is going to stop when you call it. The art is to scan the horizon and stop them before they are running. If they are running, just save your breath. :-)
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Exactly this! experienced long dog owners spend their dog walks scanning the horizon without realising they are doing it..... and jumping on their dogs before they get away....
 
I say mine has spot on recall but it would never cross my mind to even think he might recall mid chase, but like people have said, he happily recalls right up to the point he engages turbo. I honestly cant remember the last time he went off on a hunt. And despite having a prey drive through the roof hes never been an issue with the cat. While he does chase rabbits, well did, he doesnt really bother anymore now, hes never killed one. He used to chase them, catch them, roll them and let them go to chase again and hes working bred through and through as well as me racing him a fair bit.

And he was a very difficult young dog that was at least in part due to me getting him after a rough start and also a bit part to me not understanding him. He was a bit of a git though :lol: The other one has ever put even a toe nail out of line despite an horrifically rough start. I may have not explained the training thing properly either! Hes very, very trainable, it just takes a different approach to collies/spaniels. This is my water phobic dog retrieving out of water, not something we have gone out of our way to actually train, just something I fancied him doing which he now loves:

https://www.facebook.com/vickie.aldus/videos/vb.606503666/10154019100223667/?type=3&theater
 
My second whippet was by Ballagan Whipcord..... the supreme coursing sire of the time.... I did not have to train or dissuade her, it was all completely natural for her..... and she certainly didn't tumble them over.....
 
Lévrier;13367962 said:
My second whippet was by Ballagan Whipcord..... the supreme coursing sire of the time.... I did not have to train or dissuade her, it was all completely natural for her..... and she certainly didn't tumble them over.....
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yeah mine was ruined by me :lol: I did a lot of bite/chase/catch inhibition work with him as a puppy. The old whippet men who met Dylan when he wasnt much more than a pup when I first took him racing loved him and used to shake their heads in disgust when I told them he slept in the bed :lol: One took me to one side one day and very nicely and kindly explained to me that I didnt know what I had and he was really special and I should campaign him properly or hand him over to someone who would. They would have given him straight back if they tried to kennel him :lol:

When he was focused racing it used to look like the other dogs were going backwards, he really was that fast. Somewhere I have an amazing video that shows it happening, but I've looked and cant find it on this laptop sadly. I got offered £500 in £20 notes one day when he was about 6 months old by someone who wanted to work and race him. That was when he was in git mode and I was a poor student. Took all my will power to walk away :lol: But thats probably an indication of where I lived at the time! I'm from the North East and lived on a hideously deprived council estate populated by settled travellers at the time.

My bitch wouldnt have won a race if everything else laid down for nap and has zero prey drive! She has always been incredibly easy even after a hideously rough start. She isnt a pure or even working bred whippet though. They are all different :)

I've just booked a new pup. Initially thought I wanted a "proper" KC whippet but quickly realised I love the working bred brain even if I dont work them and spend lots of time making them think they are working when they arent :lol: The new pup is whippet/grey with a tiny bit of GSD :)
 
Chiffy said:
At last, Snowy! Some<script id="gpt-impl-0.2446220783241152" src="http://partner.googleadservices.com/gpt/pubads_impl_95.js"></script>one else besides me who has had no trouble with whippets stealing. Thought I was going to be the only one!
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Also with the non-stealing here. House rule is even if something drops on the floor, unless someone shouts " doggy bonus " its off limits.

Recall is easy once you accept you are more boring than a rabbit and develop x-ray vision and the power of seeing into the future. And a bellow than can be heard within the next three counties at least.

You will need to purchase another sofa of lesser quality than your current one. You'll need somewhere nice to sit, as your whippet will be permanently stretched out on the other better one, under the blanket you will eventually cave in and cover them with.
 
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