Can you believe Flint’s now 13 weeks!....

[Wooliewoo]

Just an update with some photos...

He is a dream! He’s still Mr Cheeky! But he’s learnt his bite control and is now rather gentle when enjoying my hand and I’ve only got 1 mark on my hand at the moment and that’s from him missing his toy and getting my hand instead! He’s much calmer when people arrive home and waits to be greated! He’s still sleeping well and toileting outside with no problems

He’s walking quite well on the lead.... well, when he wants to walk! The stubborn monkey refused to go out of the street this morning on his usual walk, no amount of coaxing him was going to make him budge!! ... in the end I carried him till the house was out of sight, then he trotted on great! In the correct environment, country fields, no other dogs or distractions, he’s been off the lead and doing great. At the moment his recall is good .... .. yeh at the minute anyway ......

A collage of pics taken on our walk at the weekend.

Oh... and did I mention we’re getting another whippet fur baby!?! .....

 

[JudyN]

He's such a poppet When does the new pup arrive? Has it been born yet, or is this still in the planning stages? And, something you'll be asking yourself soon enough... Are you mad?

 

[Wooliewoo]

He's such a poppet When does the new pup arrive? Has it been born yet, or is this still in the planning stages? And, something you'll be asking yourself soon enough... Are you mad?

Yes totally mad!! He arrives in just over 3 weeks! He’ll be 8 weeks!..... but we thought, let’s get this puppy stuff done and dusted in one fell swoop!

 

[JudyN]

Oh gorgeous!!!!

I don't know if you're aware, but raising two pups at once can be fraught with difficulty, in part because they can be more focused on and attached to each other than to their owners, so they need a lot of separate training, and even separate walks. It's not something I have any experience of, but others might be able to advise... unless I'm teaching my granny to suck eggs, of course.

 

[Kara 1]

I was going to say the same as judys post ...i waited until my other lurcher was a year old before i got another. ..

 

[Wooliewoo]

Oh gorgeous!!!!

I don't know if you're aware, but raising two pups at once can be fraught with difficulty, in part because they can be more focused on and attached to each other than to their owners, so they need a lot of separate training, and even separate walks. It's not something I have any experience of, but others might be able to advise... unless I'm teaching my granny to suck eggs, of course.

Haha...no problem @JudyN ..... yeah I’m aware of ‘littermate syndrome’ I’ve read about it, looked into it and saught advice. Both the boys are from the same experienced breeder and she has given me guidance. I’ve also spoken with people whom have brought up 2 pups and understand the highs and lows.... so hoping we’ve got it sorted.

The plan was to wait another 6-7 months, but when I saw this sweet pea, my heart melted!

 

[JudyN]

Brilliant! Can't wait for a photo overload!

 

[Mad Murphy]

and have you got a name for the new little one?

 

[Wooliewoo]

Brilliant! Can't wait for a photo overload!

I’m sure there’ll be plenty

and have you got a name for the new little one?

Not a definite name yet... at the moment we like Ash, Ace, Diesel..... but open to suggestions! Want something a bit different that reflects his colouring but also goes well with Flint!

 

[JudyN]

Slate, Granite, Blue John, Mica... the internet has also suggested Arite, Beryl, Quartz, Brucite, Calcite, Corundum, Fluorite, Jadeite, Sillimanite, Spinel, Topaz, Tourmaline, Zircon .

I don't think Beryl would suit him though

 

[leashedForLife]

.


I’m going to play Debby Downer, & just say flat-out that the recommended spacing between one PUP & the next DOG of any age, is 2 solid years.

The reason for that is to give the puppy all that time as an “only child”, get her or him thoroughly socialized (to other living beings of all sorts) & habituated (to non living stimuli - settings, sounds, sights, moving objects, transport including lifts, cars, public transit, vet, groomer, etc), grounded in all their foundation training, PROOFED thoroughly, & all the way thru adolescence into young adulthood before any other dog or puppy distracts the owner’s focus from Dog #1.

I am also going to be cynical, & state that the breeder wanted to make another sale.

It is ** not ** “easier” or more efficient to have 2 or more pups at once - it’s a mess. Both pups demand loads of time, & I further presume U work for a living, & expect to sleep, eat meals, bathe, do Ur hair, & occasionally sit down, or go out with friends.
TWO puppies require THREE times the work, at the very minimum.

Each pup must be taught every behavior solo, then each pup is taught it WITH the other pup present, then each pup is proofed separately, then each is proofed together. If U are a single adult, one or the other pup will lag & be left behind.
If U have a spouse, partner, live with parents, U *might* be able to draft competent, consistent help — but I wouldn’t place a hefty bet on that.
If U have children or even one child who is under 8-YO, plus a job outside the home, forget it; the kid will demand time, & the pups will miss crucial milestones. If U have a special needs child, someone needs to care for or occupy that child to give U the needed puppy time.

Puppies are black holes for TIME, & 2 pups is impossible without 2 child-free adults whose primary focus will be rearing those pups, plus the usual demands of work, some social life, self-care time, & extended family commitments.

I’ve been training dogs & other species professionally for over 40 years, now, & U couldn’t give me 2 free purebred pups of my breed of choice, to raise on my own. I’d have to draft help.

I know pups are adorable, but they don’t “keep each other company” so much as gang up on the humans, cook up more trouble together than individually, & provide one another for the perfect excuse NOT to learn human ways, as they have a companion who understands them perfectly, already.
Why learn English, when they have a buddy fluent in Dog?

Pups reared together often bond more to each other than to the human family; one will fuss if the other dog is sick, hurt & goes to the vet, out for a solo walk, etc. They can become so conjoined that when one is ill, both must go to the vet appt. It can greatly retard their learning, as well as their attachment to ppl.

IMO & IME, YMMV,
- terry

 

[Wooliewoo]

@leashedForLife thank you for taking the time to provide your advice, it is appreciated

I work part time, OH is self employed and the job he does he can take the dogs with him. My son is 13, my daughter 25. My parents are retired and live 5 mins walk away. Our social life revolves around my sons football and country walks, OH is a birdwatchers! We have cancelled our annual Christmas holiday abroad and have made the decision to holiday in the uk with the dogs in the future.

 

[arealhuman]

Great pics, thanks for sharing . As an aside, what harness is it you're using?

 

[Wooliewoo]

Great pics, thanks for sharing . As an aside, what harness is it you're using?

Thank you

It’s a Ruffwear web master harness, if you go onto the Ruffwear website it gives you a list of stockists, I got mine from mountaindog.uk, it was cheaper than on the Ruffwear site.

They aren’t cheap ... but I got it because Flint is a bit of a Houdini when it comes to harnesses, this one was recommended because of the extra strap lower on the body. It’s also good as it has 5 points of adjustment so can be adjusted to fit, even a whippet!

Flint is wearing an XS, which is for a 17-22” chest, Flint was an 18”, now 19”

 

[Teddy560]

Yes totally mad!! He arrives in just over 3 weeks! He’ll be 8 weeks!..... but we thought, let’s get this puppy stuff done and dusted in one fell swoop!


View attachment 111977336

I thought this about children and 2 years later still question if I'm mad

 

[Wooliewoo]

I thought this about children and 2 years later still question if I'm mad

 

[Michele83]

Pebble

(That's my name suggestion, I'm not just being random......)

 

[Wooliewoo]

Pebble

(That's my name suggestion, I'm not just being random......)

Slate, Granite, Blue John, Mica... the internet has also suggested Arite, Beryl, Quartz, Brucite, Calcite, Corundum, Fluorite, Jadeite, Sillimanite, Spinel, Topaz, Tourmaline, Zircon .

I don't think Beryl would suit him though

Thank you both for your suggestions.... these are the ones we have on our list, but think we’re swaying towards Ace..... I love Blue, but my friends Blue whippet is called Blue! Damn it!..... still open to suggestions though please...

Ace
Diesel
Echo
Pebble
Sky(e)
Slate
Ice
Smokey
Jet
Blaze
Ash
Storm
River
Steel
Silver
Star

 

[JudyN]

I have heard it said that two-syllable names are better than one-syllable, as they are more easily recognised. Also, the first syllable makes the dog prick up his ears automatically, so he's more ready to respond to the second one as his brain is now in gear.

Whether there's anything in it, I don't know. Working border collies tend to have one-syllable names but that's collies for you

 

[Teddy560]

I like Storm off your list best.