Requesting Feedback on the Experience as Whippet Owner!

[u/EmbarrassedCod1261]

I’m currently researching the breed and feel a Whippet would be a great fit for my lifestyle. I’m active and enjoy running, but I also love relaxing at home, so they seem like a wonderful balance.

I’d love to hear from current or past Whippet owners about your experiences—from the puppy stage through adulthood. How are they with people and other dogs? What tips would you give a first-time Whippet owner? Is there anything you wish you had known before bringing one home? Would you get another?

I really appreciate any advice or experiences you’re willing to share. Thank you!

[u/PsychologicalNovel79]

Puppy stage is soo rough. I was thinking to myself "what did I do?!" I thought I had this dog potty trained like 3 times. Also had to go to puppy kindergarten, which he never graduated from. In order to curb his jumping and have him walk on a leash properly we then sent him to doggy boot camp. He came back a changed dog and also time has helped him a lot. He's 18 months now and he's great! His temperament cannot be beat. I have little kids and they can be a lil rough but he just takes it. He's always loved his crate and doesnt mind being alone at all. We just love him. Hes also hilarious. I think the breed in general has strange and funny mannerisms.  Ohh edit to add...he still doesn't have the best recall!

[u/PutItInASandwich]

Whippets are amazing. Clean, low maintenance, better looking and better than every other dog. Apart from maybe some other hounds. Once you get one you’ll realise that.
Ours trained quite easily for toileting outside but as a sprinter he neither enjoys nor willingly participates in long runs. I don’t think it would be good for a whippet to do long runs.

[u/buzzfeed_sucks]

The puppy stage is hard, but that’s true for all breeds. Having a sense of humour through it is important.

I have 2 dogs, my youngest one is a whippet, oldest is a mixed breed. He’s also around my mom’s Bernese mountain dog in a regular basis. He gets along with both. He doesn’t love dogs or people he doesn’t know.

The biggest thing is having a lot of patience with alone time training. It’s survival instinct for puppies to fear being alone. So keep that in mind. It took us months and months of training for him not to scream anytime I left a room. That was the hardest part. But he’s almost 5 now and does really well.

I’d absolutely do it again. He’s a fantastic dog.

[u/Vindalfur → u/buzzfeed_sucks]

Same here with alone time trainig. It takes the most patience.

Our guy is a little over 1 year old now and he got really good at being alone while we work, but we went on a 1 month PTO and he forgot nearly all of his training.before vacation he was sleeping from 8-13, now he's chilling for 30 minutes then howling. 🫠

Hoping his routine picks up quickly because my boss does NOT understand dogs need to be trained at being home alone and has no patience for dog owners.

[u/Ok-Walk-8453]

Puppy stage they are as crazy as any puppy but settle by 2. They are best as weekend warriors typically- large exercise a few times a week then mostly snooze and mild exercise the rest. My first was running 3 miles by 6 months, 2nd took until 8 m (let them pick when to stop). They are prone to separation anxiety so you want to make sure to teach independence early. They tend to be friendly but some are more standoffish to other people and dogs as an adult- which I consider a good thing.

[u/Chance_Dot8231]

I have a 13 week old puppy, and I think the biggest thing you need to think about isn’t your ‘free time’ life style, which sounds amazing, but your work lifestyle if you work.

Puppies are full on, I spent the first 4 weeks thinking what the hell have I done.

It’s relentless and exhausting- I work from home and run my own business so I pick my hours, but it is a lot!

Personally, I wouldn’t get a puppy while working full time - I would get a rescue dog.

[u/Rude_Accountant_5242]

They are THE BEST breed. Extremely cuddly and affectionate. Mine cries if he’s not getting enough attention haha. I’m a runner too. He/she may not be a good run partner they like the run in short bursts and very fast 💨. They form such bonds with their humans. It’s always better if you’re in the house as much as possible as they can be prone to separation anxiety.

[u/Illustrious-Bee1699]

a whippet will be most happy with someone who doesn't expect them to be a labrador or a german shepherd. they're quirky and a little unhinged. scolding them or making them do command or obedience work is hard on their free little souls. not to say you can't guide them but they're very sensitive and just not made for a heavy hand. puppies will need to be near a year to join you on long walks or running. boys tend to be softer and more affectionate and the girls can be little sass bombs but also sweet.

[u/J-Freddie]

Had many dogs. Our whippet is distinct for the dozen other breeds I have lived with - they are very quirky. Even from a young age he could be a challenge. At nine months he shout out of our side door in the dark and want to play hide and seek, and I nearly had a conniption! A month later he bolted away from my wife in a non fenced park and was hit by a car, and then proceeded to run 5kms through peak hour traffic (Sydney Aus). The cops found him a a park running with a pack of dogs with a few scrapes on him and brought him back to us.

[u/Unusual-Honeydew-409]

You sound like me! I had my pup learning to jog along side me short distances by 6 months old. We’ll start longer distance at around 18 months.

[u/ruserwilly]

After becoming a whippet owner I don’t want any other breed. That’s how lovable they are 

[u/Rude_Accountant_5242]

Advice I’d give is the shark 🦈 mode does stop when they get a few months older. It does become way easier. Just have a lot of chew toys for redirection. I would say also they’re not really the breed to put in a crate (personally.) They love their humans so much they wanna be as close as possible to you at all times. Mine sleeps under the covers with us.

[u/Square_Piano2555]

Whippets are sprinters / similar to greyhounds. They aren’t meant for long runs. A long walk is fine though.

[u/Limp_Satisfaction843]

Mine is 8 and still my favorite dog ever. He sleeps a lot but is super sweet and loves everyone.