Puppy Buying Advice

[Alex Delarge]

Hello everyone, I've entered in some discussions on another forum before I knew this one existed. The previous forum was filled with American dog owners and after talking to them about things like insurance and crate training etc it became clear that there is a different philosophy to all of these things in the UK so it wasn't really helpful .

But anyway I have yet to purchase a whippet, I have never owned a dog of my own before but have been brought up in a doggy environment so I have a general Idea. I work from home so I could spend a lot of time with a pup, but I'm not sure I'll be able to train the animal correctly. Would it be fine to start with a new pup, or should I consider getting a pup round about half to a year old?

I've been trying really hard to get information on local whippet clubs (I live in North Ayrshire, Scotland) and whippet dog shows etc to try and get a feel for "what is considered a good specimen" & also to chat to more experienced owners about different aspects of being an owner. I really don't want to rush into things because in the end, a dog is a living thing & I'd like to be able to bring up a dog without any real trauma.

Any prebuying advice?

 

[saraquele]

WELCOME TO K9 AND WELL DONE YOU FOR TAKING THIS SERIOUSLEY :thumbsup:

nice to see someone who is resposible about selecting a dog.

the best way forward is to do what you are already thinking about , go to shows , chat to owners , look on the faq section here etc .

good luck in your search :thumbsup:

 

[Alex Delarge]

WELCOME TO K9 AND WELL DONE YOU FOR TAKING THIS SERIOUSLEY  :thumbsup: nice to see someone who is resposible about selecting a dog.

the best way forward is to do what you are already thinking about , go to shows , chat to owners , look on the faq section here etc .

good luck in your search  :thumbsup:

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Thanks, the FAQ section has been really helpful, it's more preownership things I need to know about, like how to make sure your not getting a dog that has been heavily inbred, warning signs to look out for, cost of keeping a whippet etc, I seem to have all the assets for a great whippet home with lots of safe places in my area for the dog to roam without getting into trouble.

 

[Mark Roberts]

if you look in the club section under the calidonial thistle whippet racing club and contact cindy by pm shes the secretary of the club they race near the kincarden bridge next door to the power station.

pm me if you want her phone number.

 

[saraquele]

WELCOME TO K9 AND WELL DONE YOU FOR TAKING THIS SERIOUSLEY  :thumbsup: nice to see someone who is resposible about selecting a dog.

the best way forward is to do what you are already thinking about , go to shows , chat to owners , look on the faq section here etc .

good luck in your search  :thumbsup:

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Thanks, the FAQ section has been really helpful, it's more preownership things I need to know about, like how to make sure your not getting a dog that has been heavily inbred, warning signs to look out for, cost of keeping a whippet etc, I seem to have all the assets for a great whippet home with lots of safe places in my area for the dog to roam without getting into trouble.

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most breeders have websites with there dogs pedigrees on them so you can have a look at them or look at the pedigrees when you go see the pups :thumbsup:

there are a lot of litters around at the moment so keep youe eyes on here as there are some lovely pups around.

also when you get to go looking at shows ask whippet people to recommend good breeders , you will know by looking at where the pups are raised , if they are well socialised , you should get pounced upon by whippet puppies :lol:

the book by j p moran-healy "the whippet" is great at giving you a guide on the breed standards etc .

whippets themselves are not a very expensive dog to keep BUT the stuff you have to replace when they have trshed it costs you a fortune (w00t)

 

[Alex Delarge]

"whippets themselves are not a very expensive dog to keep BUT the stuff you have to replace when they have trshed it costs you a fortune"

Yeah I've heard they like a crafty chew now and again :- " don't worry, the only objects I hold dear are locked away in my music room, whippets can't pick locks can they? I'll check the stirling whippet club out, it isn't too far away.

 

[~Sarah~]

Welcome to the forum and good luck in your search. I am sure the right dog will find you. :luck: :luck: You will get loads of good advice from people on this site. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[Tesa]

whippets can't pick locks can they?

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Tesa could pop the bi-fold door to the wardrobe open. Beau can pusn sliding doors open, if it is not completely shut. If you leave the slightest gap, then that's it, he's in the room :lol:

 

[FeeFee]

Gwen Bailey's book 'The Perfect Puppy' is very good - both as a guide to choosing a puppy and the basics of training and socialising.

 

[blue-whippet]

Welcome to the forum...

I really hope, whippets are the dog for you... As far as being a different mind set in the states compared to the UK on dogs, crates, dog raising, and attitude.. Being and American and living in the UK for 3 years now, I definitely agree..

Well good luck, if not mentioned above champdogs is a good site to check out as well as the kennel club puppy litter listing... Being is Scotland I would think whippets would be really easy to come by, as in the southwest we don't exactly have whippet trees... (That would be worth looking into though... )...

Welcome again to the forum..

 

[Tesa]

whippets can't pick locks can they?

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Tesa could pop the bi-fold door to the wardrobe open. Beau can pusn sliding doors open, if it is not completely shut. If you leave the slightest gap, then that's it, he's in the room :lol:

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meant to say push

 

[Alex Delarge]

whippets can't pick locks can they?

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Tesa could pop the bi-fold door to the wardrobe open. Beau can pusn sliding doors open, if it is not completely shut. If you leave the slightest gap, then that's it, he's in the room :lol:

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I thought pusn was a new onomatopoeic word for whippets opening doors

 

[Alex Delarge]

Thanks for all your recommendations> I've just purchased a load of books;

"Whippets" by D.Caroline Coile

"The Perfect Puppy" by Gwen Bailey

"Clicker Training for Dogs" by Karen Pryor

That should keep me from annoying all of you for a wee while with questions you've probably been asked a million times I'm skint!!! :lol:

I feel sorry for my parents dog, he's the most disobedient dog you could ever meet - and he knows it & i'm sure he even takes pride in that fact, he's getting old but guess who's going to give me practice with clicker training!

 

[Paula Roberts]

Well if you can teach an old dog new tricks then you"ll be fine with a puppy. :lol: welcome to the site, :thumbsup: :luck: with your research.

 

[Janimal]

Welcome to K9 :cheers:

Good luck in your search for new whippetssssss :lol: they are very addivtice you know too. :- "

 

[whippetsrus]

Yeah I've heard they like a crafty chew now and again :- " don't worry, the only objects I hold dear are locked away in my music room, whippets can't pick locks can they? I'll check the stirling whippet club out, it isn't too far away.

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No but they can OPEN DOORS abd THIEVE :lol:

 

[FionaS]

Good luck in your hunt for a whippet, i started off with one just over a year and a half ago and now have a eight month old pup aswell!! I would never be without mine.

 

[Alex Delarge]

Good luck in your hunt for a whippet, i started off with one just over a year and a half ago and now have a eight month old pup aswell!!  I would never be without mine.

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How do they both get on with each other?

 

[jodster74]

Hi and welcome to the forum :cheers:

Certainly sounds like you are being sensible prior to getting a whippet... we had no experience of the breed prior to taking our first one in but found the reading materials very useful...

Here are some things I can tell you from experience...

Invest in some large throws (x1 for beds and x1 for sofas) whippets will always find the most comfortable spot in the house to have a little snooze... (Failing that invest in a snuggle bed - mine have practically hibernated!)

Be prepared to be come a whippet bore (or is that just me ? )

Find a safe place to put food - mine managed to get on a chair to scoff some raw chicken legs in the kitchen once...

and finally... WARNING! Whippets are highly addictive... often 1 is just not enough... :b

Good luck and keep us all posted

Jodie

 

[jodster74]

Good luck in your hunt for a whippet, i started off with one just over a year and a half ago and now have a eight month old pup aswell!!  I would never be without mine.

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How do they both get on with each other?

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Just saw this after other post!

I had one for just over a year (a 5 year old male) and then got a 1 year old female back in August... He was a little bit wary at first but once she let him think he was still top dog they get on brilliantly.. (to the point where he gets sad if we have to seperate them for any reason...) She just does the standard female thing of letting him think he is in charge- Clever lady!

How does the saying go... 'He wears the trousers in that house.... But she picks them