SKG

My breeder's advice was start out as you mean to go on. Start with the pen from day one. It will become the pup's normal that way.

Sounds like you have really done your research. Well done. So much depends on your situation. My house is hotter than outside in the shade during summer so mine are limited to the backyard with ample shade, water, iceblocks, pool etc. Mine were restricted to a large grassy pen (made of pool fencing panels)with kennel & lots of shade (big tarp over the top of the pen with plenty of height) as 8 week olds. I knew where they were & they learned to use the kennel. A week is plenty of time to get used to it. A meaty bone when you leave home &/or some Kongs will tide the pup over. Mine were on 2 meals a day plus bones from 8 weeks. Enjoy your new pup.

Pups love dirt & grass. Toilet training will be so much easier with access to grass. You don't even need to leave home to start with. Just put him outside while you are home. He needs to learn about that scenario too. What colour is he? Enjoy him.

I'm pretty sure even taking dogs to & from Tassie they have to stay in your car on the ship so couldn't see it happening from NZ to here

Have a look at Australian Canine Sports & Training Centre on Facebook or their web site. They have day visitors and lodgers. Their photos might give you some ideas. eg small A frame covered in artificial grass, elevated covered shelf with ramp on one end

He made me laugh just looking at his photo!! Too cute

It sounds like you are doing all the right things. I can only imagine how exhausting all that is. I think you need to see a veterinary behaviouralist ASAP. This is who we use in Sydney. They also go to Melbourne. SABS. Good luck

Go and sit on the floor in your laundry for 4 hours and see how interesting it isn't. Poor pup. Get him outside in a safe yard where stuff might happen like birds fly by, sounds to listen to, smells. Every pup I have had has been outside during the day with a dry safe place for sleeping and shelter in a safe yard. Inside at night. Start out as you plan to go on. Pups are tougher than they look.

If he is healthy and happy, stop weighing him and enjoy him. Weighing and worrying about it won't change the end result

I have 3 friends who have used SABS and are very happy they consulted them.

My dogs were crate trained in wire crate. Graduated to the soft crate at home. Then had some practice away from home. All good. Then one day decided he wanted out and ripped the mesh out of the fairly new K9 Pro crate and escaped in 10 seconds flat. Wire crates are the only way you can be sure they will stay where you want them. If you are not carrying the crate around (eg for home use) wire wins hands down. If they have learnt to rip mesh, they will do it again.

Another option is Telarah Dog Training which is based in Maitland and runs on Saturday mornings. The classes are smaller than Hillsborough. Jumping dog classes are available after the basics are established. There is a puppy class running starting early Jan. The club only uses friendly positive training methods ie food and toys - no check chains. More details on their website http://www.telarahdogtraininginc.com/

Another possibility mentioned above is Telarah Dog Training who train Saturday mornings at Maitland. It is a smaller club than Hillsborough and only positive motivational methods are used ie food & toys - no check chains. Details on their website Telarah Dog Training

Another option is Telarah Dog Training who train at Maitland No. 2 Sportsground adjacent to Smyth Field in Maitland Saturday mornings. Toy/food reward based positive reinforcement club. No check chains allowed. Clickers encouraged. On Facebook or Telarah Dog Training website

I have one of each & love both too. I would say my boy is more people focused & more eager to please than my girl. You will love either.

I think whippets can come in many forms. I have one who is a delight to live with and a younger one that digs coal mines and destructs anything his teeth touch. Regular long runs seem to help my destructor.

$5000 is correct and she is only taking 5 students. It involves 2 workshops at her place so rules even rich Aussies out.

My dog had a reaction to Filtabac and lost all the skin off her muzzle where I had applied it.

A couple of excellent references from Ian Dunbar. They set a pretty high standard but will give you something to aim for. Before You Get Your Puppy After you Get Your Puppy

I live in Maitland Council area. I wasn't aware there was a limit. It certainly isn't enforced. I have more than one neighbour with more than 2 dogs. If your dogs aren't bothering anyone, I think you should be right. I have found the council ok to deal with.

I am doing the course. It seems to take me more than 5 minutes a day and sometimes I don't have 5 minutes with one thing and another but wow is my whippet loving it. She is now demanding we go do some training. She doesn't want to eat her kibble from the dinner dish but wants me to play the games and use it as the rewards. It is amazing. She has a pretty good recall. Comes away from playing with other dogs and even flapping chickens. The reason I decided to give the course a go was the feedback from people about the relationship it built with the dog. So far I am very pleased with the results. It is all fun for us both.

I had a desexed female mini schnauzer who was an escape artist. She also started digging once the fences were raised. She had plenty of all the things and activities she should have but if life got a bit quiet the search for escape routes started. I ended up resorting to electric fence tape about 15cm in from the fence & 15cm off the ground to stop the digging escaping. When I looked back, she had learnt the escaping behaviour from the time she was a tiny pup. She climbed out of the pen in the kitchen the first night home. Then from the pup enclosure in the backyard and so it went. She continued this hobby (and that is what I believe it was) of escaping all her life whenever an opportuinity presented itself. It is a miracle she made it to 15 years. I felt bad resorting to the electric tape but it was the only thing that stopped her escaping and still gave her the run of the backyard. My next dog is a breed renowned for jumping out of anything so from day one she was always penned/fenced/crated with fences/barriers etc that were way bigger than needed so escape was never a possibility. She is nearly 2 and still (touch wood) doesn't have a clue that she could be anywhere except where you put her. She will sit behind a farm gate that she could clearly go under or squeeze between the gatepost and wait. Hope you find a solution that suits you because it is a daily nightmare.

I think she looks just like a whippet should. My whippet was just as you describe yours with the kibble at that age. She would sometimes go a couple of days without. It was only when she got a bit older & after a holiday at the boarding kennels that she decided kibble was there to be treated as serious food. I'm sure if she was hungry she would eat it. Everyone tells you how thin your whippet is but that is just how they are designed. If people stop telling you that then you need to worry because they will be too fat. Just enjoy her. She looks happy and healthy.

Poocow, there will always be people willing to bring you and/or your dog down. Don't let them get in your head. I am fairly new to the showing game and have had a lot of your doubts. I worry I don't show my dog to her full advantage, I don't own a suit, I'm overweight, I have had people tell me my dog's head is to broad, that she is too friendly. I have spoken to my breeder who is very wise and says everyone has a different opinion of what is right. Anyone who gives you their opinion when you didn't ask for it, the problem is with them not you. As long as you and your dog are enjoying showing, stick it to the nay sayers and have fun. No one should be stopping you participating in something you like with the friends you've made.