Are Whippets good family dogs , or good keep in grown up households only ? The Whippet breed has a relatively down in the mouth profile , but they are brim with qualities that make them safe family dog . They are affectionate , aristocratic , adaptable , and pretty low sustentation . I reckon every household should include a Whippet on their breed shortlist , but in the oddment they wo n’t be the perfect last choice for everybody . This clause is all about how well Whippets correct to living in a family environment , and which families are likely to be delighted – or disappointed – by their company .
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Are Whippets good family dogs?
We brought our Whippet Max home four long time ago , when our daughter was 5 years old . My husband insisted that our first family frankfurter had to be a Whippet , because that ’s the breed his phratry had growing up . And since Max ’s reaching , we ’ve met countless other families nearby who have whippet too . So it ’s hardly conk to surprise you that I conceive whippet are excellent nominee for family dog . They have an adaptable , go - with - the - flow approach to life , and they adore nest up to their people on the lounge . But I ’m not so biased that I think everyone would be equally glad own one . Just as no two families are the same , there is n’t one undivided hotdog stock which is pure for every individual domicile .
Family friendly Whippet qualities
Whippets ’ temperamentssuit all kinds of homes , from immense rural spread to small city apartments , homes with with kids of all ages , and busy or blended menage home with lot of people coming and go . whippet are :
Moderately active
whippet are designed for short bursts of intense exercise . They practically fizz with the impulse to sprint somewhere , as chop-chop as possible . But once they ’ve had a probability to run , they ’re very flexile about how they spend the rest of the day . Take a five - hour power nap because everyone else has to go to shoal or work out today ? No problem . Or spend all solar day outdoors exploring or at the beach because it ’s the weekend ? They can keep up with that too . Whether you ’re a family of homebodies or adventurers , your Whippet will slot correctly in , provide you encounter at least one time of day a day for exercise and games .
Champion sleepers
Whippets are quat - like in their power to sleep . They seek out sunny spots with so much resolve you ’ll be convert they ’re on the QT solar powered . This commitment to napping is great for kinsperson with a busy schedule of school , clubs , sports sports meeting , medical appointment and natal day party . Once they ’ve check the confidence to stay home alone , you ’ll have the assurance to leave them for fixed time period knowing they ’re just give out to drowse .
Pretty good at being alone
mouth of being alone , all dogs are pack animals at eye , and learning to spend time alone is a acquirement that needs to be developed methodically and step by step as they grow up . Separation anxiousness can occur in all blackguard breeds , and some are more prone to it than others . Whippets are clearly middle - of - the - road in this respect , being neither specially vulnerable to detachment - colligate problems , nor remarkably immune from them . This tends to suit families , who sometimes ca n’t invalidate leave their firedog for short periods .
Usually quiet
Whippets are widely described as being quiet dogs . If your kinfolk home has tightlipped neighbor on both sides , a Whippet is improbable to ruin the goodwill between you ! They have down watchdog instincts , so they do n’t unremarkably bark at people approach their plate . Perfect if you and your kids have lots of visits from friends . That said , Whippets were originally breed by interbreed small Greyhounds with terriers , and some whippet do still recover it rewarding to bark at wildlife like wench and rabbits . Like any dog , they will alsolearn a barking habitif you reinforce it by giving them care when they skin .
Relatively low maintenance
plainly I say this within reason , because all firedog are a big commitment , and not one to be undertake softly . But there ’s a limitation on how demanding a blackguard can be when they spend 18 60 minutes a day asleep . whippet have restrained exercise and mental stimulation needs . Their scant coat does n’t need brush , and is easy to clean after a squashy walk of life . They do shed , but only softly , and the short hairs barely show up on floors and furniture . Relative to how much oeuvre some heel breeds can be , whippet do n’t need much .
Affectionate & charming
From the brindle Whippet in tiger pj’s on a winter ’s sidereal day , to the fawn whippet that take care like Dobby the house elf , this cover just ca n’t help but endear themselves to mass . They ’re like lightning rods for compliments from cad lover , and they ’re not heavy or excitable enough to restrain hoi polloi who are frightened of swelled dogs . Whippets loosely have a high interest in people , and never more so than when they ’re sit on a lounge – they are heat seeking projectile for couch cuddles . They are also generally patient and unspoiled natured about being petted by kids and concerned visitors . In a busy family home they ’ll enamour themselves to just about everyone .
Are Whippets friendly and patient with kids?
whippet are a popular bounder choice for family with children . Provided they are well socialized and taught good manners as puppies , they lean remain calm around both the children they last with , and their visiting friends . Like any dog breed , Whippets and children should always be supervised together though , as they can sometimes misunderstand each other . For model , fry should be taught how to approach and pet andiron appropriately , and sympathize their organic structure words . And dogs require to learn not to jump up at children , or lap the boldness of toddlers .
Do Whippets get along well with other family pets?
whippet ’ high Salmon P. Chase cause , and what that could think for smaller ducky like cats and rabbits , is a big business organisation for lots of families thinking about getting this breed . Which is perceivable , because they were originally spawn to tag down small biz like rabbits , and they do tend to hunt after anything that moves . Our Whippet has grown up alongside our small sorority of French Guinea grunter , and it ’s safe to say he was fascinated by them as a pup . It has admit lots of patient redirection to learn him that they are out of bounds , and obviously I still take tending to verify the dago pigs are completely safe from him . If you have rabbits or French Guinea pigs that live in open pen , a Whippet is in all probability not the right-hand frank for you decently now .
Likewise , adopting an older Whippet if you already have a cat is potential to ensue in interspecies conflict . Raising Whippet puppies alongside cat is in general okay however – cats are one of the few animal that can outrun a young Whippet over a short distance , and eventually your Whippet will learn that they are not for chasing .
Reasons a Whippet might not be right for your family
Whippets are fantastic family detent in pile of scene , but some families will enjoy another dog breed more . Besides reconciling their chase effort with the guard of all minuscule pets , here are two more things to consider :
Whippets can be fragile
Whippets areblessed with good overall health , and are relatively innocent from the transmissible diseases that plague a lot of other breed , like hip dysplasia . And they are n’t prostrate to exercising weight gain or spike infections – two of the most commonly name malady in dogs . But they do have thin hide and lithe bones , and when they do need a veterinary surgeon it ’s often for something eye wateringly expensive , like a fracture .
They have limited talent for tricks
Like all dog , Whippets can be teach introductory respect using effect free , incontrovertible support technique . And they will plunk up a few spear carrier , like fetch , and a fistful of simple trick . But their talent is really for are for running fast , and then sleeping . Theycanlearn , and theydolearn , but they wo n’t pick up tricks cursorily , or remember them for tenacious without regular exercise .
