[roddycm]

Hello all! I am thinking of getting a whippet as I have wanted one for years and now would be a good time for me to get a new pup. My concern is that there is a lot of literature which advises against letting your whippet of the leash on walks as they have no recall. Can anyone tell me if this really is the case? I have always been able to walk my adult dogs off leash even along country roads etc. any particular training tips for whippets. I will ask breeders when I start looking too but I was hoping for some impartial advice first! Any views or tips would be very appreciated! Do any of you have a whippet?

Thanks

[Mammyshaz]

They are no different from any other breed in that if you train them a recall they will come back. We go walking with a friend and 3 whippets, they are just as good at recall as all the other dogs out with us. One is a mummy's girl so doesn't leave her side, one is playful and sticks with the other dogs and one has a tendency to get on a scent so is constantly being shouted back 2 or 3 times before she decides to listen 
They are a nice breed, easy going and quiet at home, happy on the sofa just as much as running the fields. Hers don't like cold, wet weather so tend to be dry weather walkers otherwise they sulk around the whole walk. She has 4 children under 7 and the dogs are great with them.

[PipSqueak]

I am in a dog display team which is very unusual in that we have a whippet in its ranks that does both agility and obedience. She certainly wasn't the fastest to learn, but she got there eventually so it is possible.  Lot's of short sessions of reward-based training and you'll be fine.

[in the hills]

I would love a whippet or greyhound 

I did ask members of a local greyhound rescue some questions about recall when it came to whippets and greyhounds. Basically if they could be taught a reliable recall in the same way that other breeds could be taught a reliable recall. Their opinion seemed to be that a recall, even taught well, would probably be ignored once the dog was in chase after say a squirrel, sheep  and so on. Being sight hounds their instinct to chase was very strong and would override even the best recall teaching. They suggested off lead exercise in well fenced areas etc. They did say that of course there were exceptions but this was the case in general.

Put me off a bit because I can be fairly relaxed with my gundogs knowing that they won't get into trouble .... being in sheep country that is important to me. They are never left alone outside and I always keep them close on walks but never fear them disappearing into the distance! A dog round here that did would be shot.

Maybe one day 

[doganjo]

I have never owned one, always showed, bred and worked gundogs(HPRs), but I have numerous friends who have them and i think they are a lovely breed - very affectionate. Some of those friends have recall problems some don'rt.  From an outside observer's viewpoint I'd say teh ones that don't recall are too lax in their early years.

If you can usually keep your dogs at heel, close recall etc on country roads I'd say you won't have a problem.  As soon as you get your pup at 8 weeks do the usual - calling for meals, treats, hiding from it, calling from behind trees, buildings etc and you'll be fine.

Good luck, and have fun. 

[Porterlauren]

Train it. Mine will sit, stay, come when called, walk to heel, retrieve to hand, jump, not chase live stock etc etc etc. Same as any dog, they need training.

However, all sight hounds are hard wired to chase stuff, and if you don't like that, don't get one. Because sooner or later it will see a rabbit / squirrel / deer / crisp packet and take off flat out lol.

Having said all of the above about my whippet, if we are walking through the woods / fields etc and some form of quarry jumps up that he knows is on the menu, once he starts after it, you'd have to scream yourself blue in the face to stop him. But then I don't try. . . .

But he doesn't chase anything he isn't meant to because he understands the consequences. . . .

[roddycm]

Ahh great thank you, all! These are the sort of answered I was hoping for! I always like to think it's about what you put into an animal, so with the right training I am sure we will get along just fine also the good influence of my retrievers should help!

I will start looking and let you know how it goes! Thanks a lot!

[Mays]

whippets are amazing pets/companions, I have a pure whippet bitch. I took her to puppy training and a follow on junior course. She is ok at recall, but it is always a negotiation as a recall has to include a worthwhile treat (toy/food) I am not sure if this is just my bad training or her incredible intelligence. She has taken off after a deer once, though she did come back to me eventually but I Think just to see why I was slumped on the ground gasping for breath having been unable to keep up with her 40mph sprint over a 50acre stubble field... I didn't walk her over there now.

[pgkevet]

..or start small with italian greyhounds and work up - <lol>

[roddycm]

Haha I had thought if an Italian greyhound but they are too delicate I think! Very pretty though

[pgkevet]

They're tougher than you think and very game little dogs. I rescued a couple when i was working and gave them to my sister who is now nuts for the breed.

[roddycm]

Ahh really?? That's good to know, I will take a good look at them then! It's hard to seperately fact from fiction sometimes when researching on the internet and breeders are often biased of course! Haha

Thanks for writing! I will take a look at both breeds

[Me]

Yes they are a bit thick, but they are brighter than the other sight hounds! Though that's not saying much (Afgans get stuck in corners they are so dull) BUT they can be trained to a good standard and really enjoy the recall sprint. I train mine by whistling, calling their name and running like a mad man in the opposite direction. Recall sorted in a very short time.

[bigchicken]

I've had a few whippets over the years great dogs and not thick at all. As long as you remember they have a strong prey drive then you will be ok. I work mine with ferrets for rabbits and they have tackled the odd rat with ease and in days gone by had one that was good on fox so they are not soft. Give them a comfy bed in a place of there own and you will hardly see them, very little exercise as they run about daft for 5 minutes just for fun when taken for a walk. Over the years I personally have no medical problems except for cuts from there work. I will say that my whippets are big not small in any way and come from proven stock. You can't go wrong with a whippet.

[Alistair]

My saluki x greyhound lurcher George has a very good 'run away' command which he has learnt to give himself, he has NO recall and we have and still are trying the trouble is his 'run away' is so fast that by the time you realise he has set off he's gone, however we have discovered, by mistake I may add, that if you put the other 3 dogs on a lead and walk off he follows diligently because we think he thinks he's also on a lead, he is stupid, not the sharpest pencil in the box, couple of slates short of a full roof etc etc

However I did used to have Ariadne my beautiful deerhound x greyhound lurcher who had the mist fantastic recall but was, sadly, not much more intelligent than the aspidistra we keep in the corner of the lounge, mind the aspidistra is considerably more intelligent than George and is currently trying to teach him to play snap

Difference in the two us Ariadne was trained from a pup and George is approx 4 yrs old ex stray rescue dog who has previously been used as a working dog - you can tell, believe me, the aspidistra was a rescue as well, from my old next door neighbour, just so you get the full picture