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I wanted to start a new thread for this because I'd like to keep it separate to Merlin's sympathy thread (still ongoing at 72 posts!) which you have all contributed to in your own ways with astonishing kindness. Thank you very much from me and my family for this show of compassion, it has meant a lot to me to hear the thoughts of other understanding whippet owners and I'm certain Merlin has been delivered safely to his new home by your words and thoughts :thumbsup: .
I'm starting to come to terms with Merlin's passing now, although the sadness at losing him won't ever dwindle completely of course and will be strongly with me for a month at least. I'm going on holiday to Cyprus at the start of August with friends which will be a little bit less enjoyable now that I'll be thinking about Merlin, but I think I need the break. It's really my mum who's still suffering the most as she was probably Merlie's "favourite" since she was always here at home with him while me and dad were out working. I have bought mum a large flowering Orchid plant which I have said is Merlins Orchid and she needs to take care of it.
I was upset this morning when I woke up to my first morning without him, then later on in the day I had to go on a long drive for work and was able to talk to Merlie properly for a while and also go through all the events of the past few days in my mind. It's amazing how methodically recording things in your mind helps to make you feel better. The good news is that I'm still in no doubt that we did the right thing for Merlie.
So, my questions involve a number of issues concerning Merlin's successor or successors. We won't be ready to get another dog for a couple of months at least, we believe in giving our pets a decent period of respectful space, but there will certainly need to be the pitter patter of tiny paws around the house before Christmas!
So, firstly, breeders. I mentioned a few weeks ago that Merlin was bought from a retired vet called Gillian Usher who passed away a few years ago. Someone mentioned later in the thread that Gillian Usher was well known in whippet circles. We would like to try and find out where Gillian Usher's whippets went after she died and whether any breeding line was continued. Can anybody help with this bit of investigating? If Merlins papers would help identify his lineage I can probably post up the details. Essentially we would love to get a dog who we knew was at least a little bit related to Merlin, that would be great.
Regardless, some recommendations for breeders in the Midlands area would be good and also some guidelines on how much we should expect to pay for a whippet puppy these days.
Secondly, I am going to be campaigning for the possibility of us having a pair of whippets rather than one this time around. My folks are at the moment sitting on the fence on this one, although they are erring on the side of having just one again. Aside from the obvious matter of increased cost of ownership, can anyone shed any light on how owning two whippets is different to owning one. My main concern is whether you develop less of a bond with two dogs compared to one since one dog is probably going to be more dependant on it's owner for emotional support and your attention won't be divided between two dogs.
Many thanks for your help and advice.
Graham
I'm starting to come to terms with Merlin's passing now, although the sadness at losing him won't ever dwindle completely of course and will be strongly with me for a month at least. I'm going on holiday to Cyprus at the start of August with friends which will be a little bit less enjoyable now that I'll be thinking about Merlin, but I think I need the break. It's really my mum who's still suffering the most as she was probably Merlie's "favourite" since she was always here at home with him while me and dad were out working. I have bought mum a large flowering Orchid plant which I have said is Merlins Orchid and she needs to take care of it.
I was upset this morning when I woke up to my first morning without him, then later on in the day I had to go on a long drive for work and was able to talk to Merlie properly for a while and also go through all the events of the past few days in my mind. It's amazing how methodically recording things in your mind helps to make you feel better. The good news is that I'm still in no doubt that we did the right thing for Merlie.
So, my questions involve a number of issues concerning Merlin's successor or successors. We won't be ready to get another dog for a couple of months at least, we believe in giving our pets a decent period of respectful space, but there will certainly need to be the pitter patter of tiny paws around the house before Christmas!
So, firstly, breeders. I mentioned a few weeks ago that Merlin was bought from a retired vet called Gillian Usher who passed away a few years ago. Someone mentioned later in the thread that Gillian Usher was well known in whippet circles. We would like to try and find out where Gillian Usher's whippets went after she died and whether any breeding line was continued. Can anybody help with this bit of investigating? If Merlins papers would help identify his lineage I can probably post up the details. Essentially we would love to get a dog who we knew was at least a little bit related to Merlin, that would be great.
Regardless, some recommendations for breeders in the Midlands area would be good and also some guidelines on how much we should expect to pay for a whippet puppy these days.
Secondly, I am going to be campaigning for the possibility of us having a pair of whippets rather than one this time around. My folks are at the moment sitting on the fence on this one, although they are erring on the side of having just one again. Aside from the obvious matter of increased cost of ownership, can anyone shed any light on how owning two whippets is different to owning one. My main concern is whether you develop less of a bond with two dogs compared to one since one dog is probably going to be more dependant on it's owner for emotional support and your attention won't be divided between two dogs.
Many thanks for your help and advice.
Graham