Whippets: bro dogs?

[pinkspore]

A friend is about to move and planning to find a place that accepts dogs so she can adopt. A lot of rentals have weight restrictions, so she doesn't want to adopt a retired racing greyhound as much as she adores the breed. The greyhound rescue people told her that whippets are crazy, insanely hyper, and there's no way she would be able to provide enough exercise.

All the whippets I've met have been couch potatoes who were happy with a good sprint and a walk around the block. She's looking to adopt an adult rather than start out with a puppy, what is your experience with them?

 

[Romy]

A friend is about to move and planning to find a place that accepts dogs so she can adopt. A lot of rentals have weight restrictions, so she doesn't want to adopt a retired racing greyhound as much as she adores the breed. The greyhound rescue people told her that whippets are crazy, insanely hyper, and there's no way she would be able to provide enough exercise.

All the whippets I've met have been couch potatoes who were happy with a good sprint and a walk around the block. She's looking to adopt an adult rather than start out with a puppy, what is your experience with them?

While I adore greyhounds and the notion of rescue, I've noticed there is a mild crazy streak running through some of the folks involved. They get weird notions about things.

A whippet should be fine. A sight hound puppy would probably need more exercise than you could give it as a single dog and in an apartment, but an adult whippet would work out well. It'd need less than say a lab or a GSD.

 

[Dekka]

Whippets are chill dogs. Not hyper! They are happy with a chance to run around every few days and daily walks. Even the really out going ones are not at hyper. I would say they could be described as active, but even then they don't HAVE to be active they would just prefer it.

I love whippets. I just wanted to stick with smallish dogs. Schen is very whippet like and I love that about him.

 

[Julee]

IME, whippies are great brodogs, particularly show lines. If you want to gogogo with them, they're up for it, but they're just as ready for hanging on the couch and playing tug inside. A good run a few times per week is usually enough, combined with lesser activity on the off dogs (leash walks, playing inside, etc).

 

[stardogs]

The whippets I know I only see at classes and at flyball, so I'm used to seeing them ON and when they are on, they are *so* much fun. Just goofy, bouncy nuts. I do know that most of them are pretty chill at home, though.

I'd have one if I couldn't have my herders.

 

[StillandSilent]

Whippets are awesome. Gimmick is a wildman at daycare or the dog park, but a great cuddler at home. I would never use the word hyper to describe them.

 

[*blackrose]

You all make me want a Whippet.

 

[JacksonsMom]

You all make me want a Whippet.

Yeah, this.

 

[iriskai]

When they're on, they're on. When they're off, they're comatose. Hyper really isn't a word I'd use for them. Ezra has moved in (AKA been abducted) with my sister and his days vary from chilling while she studies to spending the day out on the field while she coaches. Mimi is content sleeping all day when I work from home, hanging out with the general public all weekend at a show, racing, or trialing agility. Very adaptable dogs overall. I've found most prefer to be in multiple Whippet households, but that isn't a hard and fast rule by any means.

Frequently, the largest difficulty about wanting to 'adopt' a Whippet, is that there just aren't that many in true rescue situations. Get in touch with WRAP, as well as a couple breeders. On a whole, Whippet people are very good keeping their dogs out of bad situations. A breeder may be a good choice as they'll have young adult 'retired' show dogs they're looking to place in homes.

 

[RD]

I haven't owned one, but the reason I want a whippet for my next dog is because they're the broest bros that ever broed. I've never met one that wasn't happy to just chill with you where or whenever, whether you're going somewhere, taking a walk, playing games or sitting on your ass.

Perfect little reindeer dogs. Love them.

 

[SpaceMutt]

I've been spending more and more time with whippets and talking to their breeders, and part of the reason they called to me is the fact that they are known to just chill out on the couch after the daily exercise. Can't say I've met one yet that I would describe as hyper - they are bouncier compared to lots of the other sighthounds, true, but nowhere near a young pit or retriever or something (which is what I think when I hear the word "hyper").

 

[CharlieDog]

I want a longhaired whippet SO BADLY. The shorthaired whippets I'm so afraid my herder beasts would rip their skin all the time. I know greys have thin skin, and I'm pretty sure whippets do to, but like Grace said, they are like, total bro dogs lol.

 

[amberdyan]

I want a longhaired whippet SO BADLY. The shorthaired whippets I'm so afraid my herder beasts would rip their skin all the time. I know greys have thin skin, and I'm pretty sure whippets do to, but like Grace said, they are like, total bro dogs lol.

Yes on the long haired whippets. They are go gorgeous.

 

[iriskai]

The Longhaired Whippets I've met, well, Sheltie was involved somewhere in the lineage. Not herder level energy, but didn't settle as easily. The Silken Windhounds I've met, on the other hand, have been much more brodog.

 

[Dekka]

My LHW where total bro dogs. I think it depends on the lines they come from. Just like any other breed. Some LHW have had other things crossed in recently (forgetting the argument that some lines of LHW are just whippets...) that can alter temperament.

Bounce was a delightful dog in all ways. Very chill but up for anything.

 

[Laurelin]

I have to ask what brodog means. I don't think I know. :lol-sign:

I know one longhaired whippet and some regular whippets and one SWH. So not a great sample but I find them all similar. The regular short haired whippet is definitely the most 'on' and high energy but she's also flyball bred. The silken and the LHW were very similar in my experience. The silken was a bit bigger and more coat. The LHW is probably the softest and quietest of the group.

 

[Kyllobernese]

I am like Laurelin, what is a brodog?

 

[Julee]

Brodog is a term I came up with for dogs that are content to hang out and cuddle while you play video games or search the web after a bit of exercise. Whippets are total brodogs.

 

[Laurelin]

Oh. Then I think all of my dogs have qualified?

Hank to me seems the most boyish. Errr bro dog ish. He's wild, rowdy, likes to sleep, farts a lot.

 

[Dekka]

I know one longhaired whippet and some regular whippets and one SWH. So not a great sample but I find them all similar. The regular short haired whippet is definitely the most 'on' and high energy but she's also flyball bred. The silken and the LHW were very similar in my experience. The silken was a bit bigger and more coat. The LHW is probably the softest and quietest of the group.

The differences I have noticed with SW vs LHW is that SW are more aloof, much more like their Zoi ancestors. LHWs have always been pretty much exactly like the whippets I have known. Maybe a touch less drivey than some of the more race bred whippets.