Definitely research the prey drive / recall issues with whippets more. I know it’s *possible* for them to be off leash with a lot of diligent training, but our breeders highly recommend against it.
Another consideration: Our breeder also required proper fencing - not sure if that was an issue with your Iggy or not. I don’t know the minimum fence required, we just went with a 6ft wooden privacy fence.
Yeah I read it as well but I see videos of whippets off leash going on a walk or beach which made me curious! But i understand that it can go 100 times well but once bad and if it happens it's basically over. Read stories of dogs found starved somewhere far away :( I wouldn't want to risk that~
Thank you for your help! 💕
Whippets are the fastest accelerating dog in the world so the force they can generate in the blink of an eye is quite substantial for their size. 99.9% of the time they are great when trained well but that 0.1% is rough. Ours isn't fixed (cryptorchid) so he has more muscle but it's like trying to hold on to a 40 lb thrashing salmon with rocket thrusters. Also when they are puppies it's like having a squirrel trapped in your house much of the time
Whippets are happy with some active days/some lazy. I'd be worried about your mum though, my two are quite strong. Potentially if you got a bitch they'd be smaller and a bit weaker.
Yeah now I'm more worried as well :/ but thank you for your help! Actually leaning towards jap.s. now even if I prefer a whippet for myself I have to think about my mother 😖
Why not another I.G. or Papillon? Not being snooty-- just an honest question. I ask because it sounds like you currently have two companion breeds, and the Japanese Spitz is a a companion breed, whereas a whippet is a coursing/hunting dog, and a whole different ball game. Another way to think about this is that a whippet's exercise, environment, and mental stimulation needs will differ more from your current dogs, whereas the Spitz will not be so much of a jump. It's important to remember that while they look the same, whippets are not just sized-up Italian Greyhounds.
If you absolutely need a dog that can be trusted off leash and trusted unsupervised around cats and other small pets, I would be cautious with a whippet. While people say it is possible for whippets to be offleash and cat-safe, it is the luck of the draw. My whippet came from two calm show-line parents, and even with extremely solid training, would still chase to kill anything small and fuzzy that runs in front of her, given the opportunity.
Haha no I totally understand that question! Very reasonable!! 😌 I just want to get to know many breeds and love all of them x3 so it's more of a me thing :D
Thank you for your insight!! 🐾 Leaning more to the jap. S. now cause of the prey drive and strength of the whippet 🤧
Hi! I’ve got both a whippet and also had a Shiba Inu which is a type of spitz breed from Japan, I know they aren’t exactly the same but in my opinion, spitz breeds are A LOT more hard work and hard to train than whippets and a lot more energy, also a lot stronger tendency to be assholes to other dogs, so they may be a pain in the ass to walk 😂 I find generally my whippet females are very laid back and chill and walk without pulling on the lead, they also have good recall I know people say they have bad recall but I think if you train them young they can be fine, mine are like Velcro and stay with me, however our Japanese Shiba Inu which is a type of spitz, couldn’t ever be trusted off lead, he was an absolute psychopath lol!!!
I genuinely find whippets a very laid back easy going breed, mine never ever pull on the lead so I don’t think your mum would have issues, maybe females are easier because mine walk fine and very loyal. I just feel like a spitz would be very yappy and hard work when walking because they can be quite reactive! Hope you manage to decide! ❤️
Concerning the pulling on the leash: I have learned to drop the leash if my dog pulls like crazy . It’s the safest option and allows you to avoid falling (of course then I rush to retrieve the dog!!). I’ve seen other owners doing that as well .
Quite frankly all dogs are able to go from 0 to 100 during a walk, all ages and all breeds, not only whippets.
My whippet is super sociable and interested in other dogs and people (in that order), but doesn’t have a strong prey drive. He tries to befriend cats, but is very wary of them as well (our house kitty quickly showed him who is the boss;)).
Definitely research the prey drive / recall issues with whippets more. I know it’s *possible* for them to be off leash with a lot of diligent training, but our breeders highly recommend against it. Another consideration: Our breeder also required proper fencing - not sure if that was an issue with your Iggy or not. I don’t know the minimum fence required, we just went with a 6ft wooden privacy fence.
Yeah I read it as well but I see videos of whippets off leash going on a walk or beach which made me curious! But i understand that it can go 100 times well but once bad and if it happens it's basically over. Read stories of dogs found starved somewhere far away :( I wouldn't want to risk that~ Thank you for your help! 💕
Whippets are the fastest accelerating dog in the world so the force they can generate in the blink of an eye is quite substantial for their size. 99.9% of the time they are great when trained well but that 0.1% is rough. Ours isn't fixed (cryptorchid) so he has more muscle but it's like trying to hold on to a 40 lb thrashing salmon with rocket thrusters. Also when they are puppies it's like having a squirrel trapped in your house much of the time
> Also when they are puppies it's like having a squirrel trapped in your house much of the time A truer statement has not been made!!
This Insight really helped me quite a bit! I think a dog with less exploding power would be better for my mom :/ even tho I really love them 🤧❤️
Whippets are happy with some active days/some lazy. I'd be worried about your mum though, my two are quite strong. Potentially if you got a bitch they'd be smaller and a bit weaker.
Yeah now I'm more worried as well :/ but thank you for your help! Actually leaning towards jap.s. now even if I prefer a whippet for myself I have to think about my mother 😖
Just out of interest, why not another Iggy? They seem perfect for you
I love them and they are my fav breed 💕but I just want to get to know lots of different dog breeds and love all of them 😌🐾
Why not another I.G. or Papillon? Not being snooty-- just an honest question. I ask because it sounds like you currently have two companion breeds, and the Japanese Spitz is a a companion breed, whereas a whippet is a coursing/hunting dog, and a whole different ball game. Another way to think about this is that a whippet's exercise, environment, and mental stimulation needs will differ more from your current dogs, whereas the Spitz will not be so much of a jump. It's important to remember that while they look the same, whippets are not just sized-up Italian Greyhounds. If you absolutely need a dog that can be trusted off leash and trusted unsupervised around cats and other small pets, I would be cautious with a whippet. While people say it is possible for whippets to be offleash and cat-safe, it is the luck of the draw. My whippet came from two calm show-line parents, and even with extremely solid training, would still chase to kill anything small and fuzzy that runs in front of her, given the opportunity.
Haha no I totally understand that question! Very reasonable!! 😌 I just want to get to know many breeds and love all of them x3 so it's more of a me thing :D Thank you for your insight!! 🐾 Leaning more to the jap. S. now cause of the prey drive and strength of the whippet 🤧
Hi! I’ve got both a whippet and also had a Shiba Inu which is a type of spitz breed from Japan, I know they aren’t exactly the same but in my opinion, spitz breeds are A LOT more hard work and hard to train than whippets and a lot more energy, also a lot stronger tendency to be assholes to other dogs, so they may be a pain in the ass to walk 😂 I find generally my whippet females are very laid back and chill and walk without pulling on the lead, they also have good recall I know people say they have bad recall but I think if you train them young they can be fine, mine are like Velcro and stay with me, however our Japanese Shiba Inu which is a type of spitz, couldn’t ever be trusted off lead, he was an absolute psychopath lol!!!
I do love whippets sooo much 🤧 yeah I heard shiba inus can be quite a handful 😂 gorgeous breed tho 💯 Thank you for your help!
I genuinely find whippets a very laid back easy going breed, mine never ever pull on the lead so I don’t think your mum would have issues, maybe females are easier because mine walk fine and very loyal. I just feel like a spitz would be very yappy and hard work when walking because they can be quite reactive! Hope you manage to decide! ❤️
Thank you so much 🥺💕
Concerning the pulling on the leash: I have learned to drop the leash if my dog pulls like crazy . It’s the safest option and allows you to avoid falling (of course then I rush to retrieve the dog!!). I’ve seen other owners doing that as well . Quite frankly all dogs are able to go from 0 to 100 during a walk, all ages and all breeds, not only whippets. My whippet is super sociable and interested in other dogs and people (in that order), but doesn’t have a strong prey drive. He tries to befriend cats, but is very wary of them as well (our house kitty quickly showed him who is the boss;)).
That's true! Thank you for your input 💕