poodlefan Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 (edited) Hi Are these a breed that a 9 yr old boy could easily handle and train? (With suppport from adults of course) Train to do what? They ain't Border Collies but they are definitely trainable. Much would depend on the child. A calm patient kid would be OK. Whippets don't deal well with tantrum chuckers of any age. ;) Edited May 13, 2011 by poodlefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joelle Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 (edited) hi just training in general, house training, basic manners, etc Edited May 13, 2011 by poodlefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 hi just training in general, house training, basic manners, etc Don't worry about the edit above, I hit the wrong button With appropriate adult support, I don't see why not. They're generally great kids dogs. Choose an outgoing pup from a reputable breeder, socialise and train it and you'll have a great family dog. My one caution would be to remember that this is a breed that can cover a lot of ground VERY quickly and that doesn't tend to demonstrate road sense. I'd be insisting he keep his Whippie onlead unless in safe fenced areas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WreckitWhippet Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 hi just training in general, house training, basic manners, etc Yep, providing the child has a kind hand. My five year old daughter can pretty much get our bitch to do whatever she wants. She will follow basic commands from my daughter and is easily controlled on lead by her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joelle Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 We have a BC, and we are thinking about adding another dog to the family at some point and are just researching and reading the different breeds, we want a small or medium dog, easy coat, energy to run and play but also chill out. Whippet came to mind first. My older son (13)is very good with dogs, (training wise) but mstr 8 hasnt had a dog of his own yet, he is turning 9 at the end of the year so were just researching now. It will primarily be his buddy to hang out with but it will need to have manners etc. he May also try obedience or agilty but I dont know if he would stick at it like mstr 13. thank you for your replies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murve Posted May 14, 2011 Share Posted May 14, 2011 (edited) We have a BC, and we are thinking about adding another dog to the family at some point and are just researching and reading the different breeds, we want a small or medium dog, easy coat, energy to run and play but also chill out. Whippet came to mind first. My older son (13)is very good with dogs, (training wise) but mstr 8 hasnt had a dog of his own yet, he is turning 9 at the end of the year so were just researching now. It will primarily be his buddy to hang out with but it will need to have manners etc. he May also try obedience or agilty but I dont know if he would stick at it like mstr 13. thank you for your replies Whippets are great aound young kids, I have 2 grandkids 7yrs & 1month, my boy is so gentle, with training you need a lot of patience as they are a little harder :D if master 8 is quite & gentle with a lot of patience, that would be a great partnership. My 7 yr old grandaughter like to help train Orlando. The breed can be a litle clingy to one family member, Oh they love to sleep in the bed with their owner & take over Edited May 14, 2011 by murve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murve Posted May 14, 2011 Share Posted May 14, 2011 Hi Are these a breed that a 9 yr old boy could easily handle and train? (With suppport from adults of course) Oh yes joelle if my 7yr old grandaughter can do it, your master 8 can with gentleness, patience & perservience :D Good Luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BDJ Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 (edited) Hi guys, My brother has a whippet and he is great. My brother is phsyically disabled and drives a gopher rather than a car. Wilson happily trots next to it, has a great recall (food trained as an 8wo baby and reinforced with plenty of praise etc) and is a favourite at the dog park etc. I wouldnt call him timid - not happy with strangers patting him etc, but more that happy to be around strangers etc But - he is the most destructive darn animal I have ever known! If it can be dragged through the doggy door (and trust me, many things can :) ) it goes out on the back lawn and is ripped and chewed to pieces. Thankfully he doesnt jump, so small fences save the gardens, but the back lawn looks like it has been attacked by moles ;) . Is this normal ??? I assumed it was(he is the first whippet I have known), but the comments here are that they are quiet. This boy makes a 2your old child on red cordial look asleep . Exercise, diet, mental stimulation etc - all tried, no change Edited March 3, 2012 by BDJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKG Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted March 4, 2012 Share Posted March 4, 2012 (edited) Whippets can be destructive as youngsters. Most grow out of it. Problem is that its self rewarding behaviour. Edited March 4, 2012 by Telida Whippets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BDJ Posted March 4, 2012 Share Posted March 4, 2012 thanks guys - he is just over 2yo - waiting,....waiting,.....waiting..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vhick Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 I've been looking at buying a whippet for a while but I just want to make sure I would be right for one. I read that a whippet can jump 5-6 feet? What size fence is high enought to safely keep one in? In winter do they need to wear booties? I live in sydney so it never snows but it does get quite cold. And what sort of diet do you feed an adult? At the moment I just want a general idea. Thank you everyone for the help :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OSoSwift Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Mine have never attempted to jump a 3 foot fence, but yes if you get one that really wants to escape they can. Mine have never had the need or desire to so even though they are behind a 2 metre fence I think they could happily be kept behind a smaller fence. MIne don't wear booties in winter but we do not get any snow. I have seen many photos of Whippets in snow having a blast with no booties or some no coats. So I am quite sure they would be just fine with bare feet in winter in Sydney. I feed mine a very good super premium dry dog food with meat, raw bones, sardines, yoghurt etc. You can also feed a raw diet and it is a good idea to be guided by your breeder on what the puppy has been raised on and does well on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whippetsmum Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 I have 2 in Sydney, they like to wear coats in Winter, but no booties. I have 6ft fneces. My boy jumped a 1.4m fence easily, he saw a rabbit and just went over. He was OK with colourbond and wooden fences as he couldn't see what was on the other side. When we moved, the pool type fencing let him see what he was missing! Mine have premium kibble and fresh meat- usually chicken wings and necks although they also like lamb off cuts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vhick Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Thank you Whippetsmumand and OSoSwift I feel much better. I think I will have to see what the dog is like before taking it to the local dog parks, they only have the shorter fences. I was also wondering if you crate train and what size would be best for a whippet? Thank you again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OSoSwift Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 (edited) Yes mine are crate trained. I have large crates as I am using the ones I had for my Dobermanns and then I got a soft crate and could only get a huge one so they both fit easily in it :) Mine wear coats, I make my own so they have a fair collection, and they would be cold without them. Mine see roo's and rabbits quite often, when I am walking them through the farm I have them on lead - for the snakes mainly, but they will call off rabbits, never had to try it will roos but they will come back and not pull on their leads if they seem then so maybe they would?? Not sure. I make sure I train a solid recall and a solid "leave it" from day dot and reinforce it often. They do have a \great recall but it is a thing I train constantly. Edited March 19, 2012 by OSoSwift Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vhick Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 Thank you again OSoSwift. Thats great news, my biggest worry was the recall but I'm planning to train from the moment I get him or her, Ill just make that one of the first things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 (edited) I've been looking at buying a whippet for a while but I just want to make sure I would be right for one. I read that a whippet can jump 5-6 feet? What size fence is high enought to safely keep one in? In winter do they need to wear booties? I live in sydney so it never snows but it does get quite cold. And what sort of diet do you feed an adult? At the moment I just want a general idea. Thank you everyone for the help :D If this was to be an outside only dog, I'd suggest another breed and not just from the warmth perspective. Whippets can be notorious fence jumpers and IMO, looking for companionship is a prime motivator. Once the habit is established it's almost impossible to extinguish. If sufficiently motivated, a 1.8m fence would't stop many of them. As others have said, they do need to be coated in cooler weather. MY dogs tend to wear coats below 10 degrees. Recall training is ESSENTIAL for Whippets (and all other dogs) but I'd never trust my Whippets not to chase if the prey is right there in their line of sight and running. A significant number of Whippets lose their lives to cars so I'd never trust the recall 100%. Fenced offlead running is the way to go. Edited March 20, 2012 by Telida Whippets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vhick Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 Thank you Haredown. I assure you the only reason any dog I get wont be sleeping in my bed is everyone says its a bad idea. Having a dog that want to be always with its humans is one of the reasons Ive been looking at them. I could never exile a dog outside, I dont see a point in getting one then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbi Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 Thank you Haredown. I assure you the only reason any dog I get wont be sleeping in my bed is everyone says its a bad idea. Having a dog that want to be always with its humans is one of the reasons Ive been looking at them. I could never exile a dog outside, I dont see a point in getting one then. You will soon find once you get a Whippet that they will assure you that sleeping on the bed is a good idea, in fact a great idea! My Whippet started sleeping on my bed when he was 8 weeks old and he is now 7 years old and he is a wonderful bed warmer, I wouldn't have it any other way :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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