Whippet wisdom please!

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EmeraldGreen

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Hello,

I was hoping to ask experienced whippet/sight hound people for some advice.

I'm finally in a position to have a dog again and am seriously considering a whippet. My previous girl was a papillon so a bit of a leap, but I've always liked pointy dogs and think one might be a good fit for me (work from home, rural location). Here come the questions...

My old girl was an adult rescue when she came to me so already good in the house, on the lead etc; I don't feel that I can really call myself an 'experienced' owner because she was so easy! Would a whippet be a good breed for a relative amateur? I realise the need to train any dog, but how do whippets measure up in difficulty of housetraining, walking to heel etc?

Also... For various reasons, I'm only able to have a smallish dog. I've seen some whips that look like small greyhounds but others that are real tiddlers - would anybody have advice as to where I could start looking for these elusive titches? I'm completely open to whippet crosses, although the ones I've seen on rescue websites while lovely are unfortunately generally a bit too big for my circumstances. I've seen some IG cross whips for sale recently which I wondered might be an option, but I'm concerned about the 'bred for money' aspect plus I believe the temperament of an IG is very different to that of a whippet?

Any thoughts/advice would be very welcome and much appreciated. To add a disclaimer: I think all whippets, regardless of size, are lovely; a small one would just be the best fit for my situation 😉

Thanks!
 
Can't advise about where to get a small whippet, but I can definitely recommend them as a breed. I've had various dogs over the years but I think my whippet cross and my whippet are the easiest. Very easy to train for normal pet purposes - my whippet pup was clean in the house by 9 weeks old, walks nicely on the lead in most circumstances and even if she does see a bunny and get excited, she doesn't have the thickset frame some breeds have so she is never really 'strong'. Recall is good as well. I like the fact that they have an 'off switch' - happy to go for a good walk and bound around, but happy to lounge around contently at home as well. Very affectionate and loving, with no hint of nastiness or aggression at all, and loves everybody!
 
My big dog had a rough start and was difficult. The puppy, who is nearly a year old, so not a puppy anymore I guess! Has been the most easy going dog I have ever owned. Hes just been brilliant from the day we brought him home. Hes very loving and sweet natured and is the most trainable dog I've ever met. My dog trainer raves about him!

I like big whippets but they do come small and dainty. You can usually see what they will turn out like when you see their parents.

I would be very wary of an IG cross. The people I know with IG seem to have horrific problems house training them and they seem to be a bit highly strung and dramatic. A bedlington cross would probably be a bit smaller and a much nicer dog. Dont forget though that they are about 95% legs! Mine are both big, chunky, tall whippets and they can still curl up the size of a cat and get on my knee!
 
I would add to the above that you need to check what your future whippet was bred for. My two have both been working bred and are very driven and somewhat independant spirited! My first whippet was an escape artist too and needed masses of exercise until he was 5ish whrn he started to calm down marginally....

On the other hand my friend has a show bred whippet who is the most laid back teddy bear of a dog and quite a different character to mine.

IME the racing type whippets tend to be smaller than either working or show types. Regarding IG crosses I too was tempted but avoided for the same reasons as you. Pure IGs also often have terrible tooth problems and they have a high risk of fractures.
 
Thanks for all your replies so far, it's really helpful to get some honest opinions.

I was intending to get another girl; am I right in thinking they often come up a bit smaller than boys? Thanks for the tip about working vs show background, I wasn't aware there was such a difference in behaviour. 🙂
 
I have a greyhound rather than a whippet, but I think there are quite a few similarities.

Mine will refuse to leave the house in bad weather. You can attempt to physically shove her out but she bends round and zips back in!!! Her bladder appears to be enormous, although the refusal to leave the house for bedtime wees can result in a 2am wake up call for wees!

Mine likes to sleep touching you, or preferably, on you! They are great for cuddles.
 
my girl is working bred and a real snuggle monster, she has a bit of a prey drive but nothing like others I've met.

We had issues until she hit 18 months (mostly not wanting to toilet outside in poor weather, prostest poos in the house etc) but now she's a dream. One walk (or 10 mins chasing a ball) a day and she's happy girl curled up in her crate.

One thing I will say, establish recall early and train every walk. We made the effort to train every single walk for the first year and it's paid off as she's 98% consistent (I don't think they will ever be 100%.....there will always be that one bunny who's just too tempting!)
 
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