Our Whippet - A Love Affair That's Changed Our Lives

summarizeEditor's Summary

We were total cat people until our Whippet, Sophie, came along and stole our hearts. She's the perfect blend of energy and cuddles, with beautiful, floppy ears that win us over every time. We were worried about the breed's energy level, but Sophie is a total sweetheart - she's got plenty of enthusiasm, but she's also happy to curl up on the couch for a nap. One of the best things about our Whippet is that she's incredibly low-maintenance when it comes to grooming - there's no dog smell at all, even when she gets wet. We're so glad we compromised and got a Whippet instead of a bigger breed like the Cane Corso. Sophie is a great companion - she's always by our side and loves to play. She's relatively small, which makes her perfect for our apartment living situation. We love how she's gentle with our kids and loves to play with them. However, as with any breed, it's always a good idea to supervise interactions between dogs and young children.

settingsSpecifications

KararMükemmel

Enerji8/10

Kalite9/10

Sosyal9/10

Eğitim7/10

KöpekKıyafeti6/10

Our Whippet - A Love Affair That's Changed Our Lives

I've always been a cat person, but my husband's always been a dog person. We've had cats before, like Eva, but our labrador left us a few years ago, and my husband's been desperate to get another dog ever since. To be honest, the thought of a dog in our apartment stresses me out - the hair, the smell, the slobber, the damage to our belongings, and the daily walks in all kinds of weather. Plus, when my husband showed me the breed he's been eyeing, the Cane Corso, I was hesitant to agree to bringing a dog that's over 50 kg and has those huge floppy ears. However, understanding how much a dog means to him, I decided to compromise and suggested he look into other breeds. We ended up on the Whippet, and I'm glad we did.

First impressions - she's incredibly sweet, beautiful, and soft. Her eyes are simply out of this world. We were a bit worried about the breed's energy level, but Sophie has turned out to be a perfect fit for our family. She's got plenty of energy, but she's also happy to curl up on the couch and take a nap.

What really stood out to me was that there's no dog smell at all - even when she gets wet, there's no musky odor. And she doesn't slobber even when she sees food or expects to be fed. I only notice the shedding when she's left on black jeans, but she doesn't bark, nip, whine, or chew on anything in the house. Maybe that's because she's been surrounded by plenty of dog toys, bones, and balls from day one.

What surprised me was how extremely social she is - like a cat! She'll always be by your side and loves everyone in the family, including our adult son and our other cat, Eva. I've read that for Whippet breeds, a family's emotional climate is crucial, and Sophie definitely picks up on that. If she hears raised voices or negative conversations, she gets anxious. It's clear that everyone in the family needs to love and get along - especially Sophie.

Sophie is also extremely energetic, which was a bit of a shock for me. She loves to jump onto tables - not just the dining table, but the kitchen counter as well. At first, we forgot about food left on the table because she'd jump up and snag it when no one was looking. But Sophie quickly taught us to be more mindful of our snacking habits.

Let me give you an example from our own experience with the same table. To teach our Whippet not to jump on the table and grab food, we created a little trap. We tied a bunch of empty cans together with a string and attached them to a treat, then hid the cans high up. When our dog pulled the treat, the cans would crash and make a loud noise. In theory, the trap worked twice, and our Whippet, Sophie, would run away from the kitchen with her eyes wide open. But after the second time, she learned her lesson and stopped touching the trap. Now, she'll just look at the treats on the table and... grab a toothpick or a spoon instead. Our other dog, Eva, tried to grab some ham once, but Sophie had already learned her lesson, and Eva ended up crashing the cans in the middle of the night.

I've noticed that Whippets are quick learners, but they only do what they're told when it's convenient or interesting for them. Maybe it's because they're still young. For example, when we tell them to go to their place, they'll go and sit there for two seconds before coming back to where the action is. It can go on forever. They also know the commands 'come to me' and 'stay by my side,' but only until they see something or someone interesting, at which point they become deaf, blind, and completely uncooperative.

They do know the command 'no,' but they love to sniff and explore everything on our walks, so we have to take them out in a muzzle (they don't even lift their heads for the first 15 minutes of the walk). Whippets definitely need specialized clothing, which is an added expense. Most dog clothes don't fit them properly due to their unique body shape, and as you know, clothes designed specifically for certain breeds are often more expensive.

My dog behaves calmly on walks around other dogs, people, kids, cars, and so on. For some reason, she loves taxis (she plays with them happily) and big, fluffy dogs, but she's scared of Corgis and little tiny dogs, and even her own kind (she can't run away from them). She has no issues with walks, though - she just needs some excitement and us by her side. Even on weekdays, when we're running errands, we take her along, and she loves riding in the car, going to cafes, and shopping with us.

At home, she has her own couch, or rather, all the couches and beds in the house are hers. We bought her a soft dog bed from the start, but she didn't understand it for months and would pee on it whenever she could. Or on the couch, in the nest (like Eva's):

We think we made a mistake in the first few days, since we forbade her from entering our room and jumping onto our bed, as our cat was hiding from her (during the adaptation period). So, when Sophie somehow managed to sneak into our bedroom, she'd pee on our bed. We read that it's like she's 'claiming' the space where she doesn't feel secure. Now, it's her bed, and she's always trying to make herself at home. Punishing her isn't an option, as she's not doing it out of spite – she wants to be closer and does it based on her instincts and her ancestors' experiences. Now, we don't restrict her from being in our room or getting onto our bed, but Eva sometimes chases her away, and the pee incident recently repeated itself (after the cat gave her a nose-full on our bed).

What I want to say at the end of my review is that I've fallen head over heels for this dog, our Sophie. There are certain personality traits and breed characteristics, but our lives without her are unimaginable. She brings us a lot of tenderness, joy, warmth, and we're learning and growing together – both her and ourselves.

live_helpFeatured FAQ

Are Whippets good with children?

Sophie is great with our kids - she's gentle, patient, and loves to play with them. However, as with any breed, it's always a good idea to supervise interactions between dogs and young children.

How much exercise does a Whippet need?

Sophie needs plenty of exercise to stay happy and healthy - we take her on daily walks and play with her in the park. However, she's also happy to curl up on the couch for a nap, so she's not too high-maintenance.

Do Whippets shed a lot?

Sophie sheds a bit, especially during shedding season, but it's not too bad. We brush her regularly to keep her coat looking its best.

Are Whippets easy to train?

Sophie is a smart dog and picks up commands quickly - we've been working on training her to walk on a leash and behave in public.

Can Whippets live in apartments?

Sophie is perfect for apartment living - she's relatively small and doesn't require a huge yard. However, we do need to take her on regular walks to keep her happy and healthy.

How long do Whippets live?

The average lifespan of a Whippet is around 12-15 years - we're hoping Sophie will live a long and happy life with us.

Are Whippets prone to any health problems?

Sophie is generally a healthy dog, but like any breed, she can be prone to certain health issues - we're working with our vet to keep her healthy and happy.

Can Whippets be left alone?

Sophie can be left alone for short periods of time, but she's a social dog and loves to be around people. We make sure to leave her with plenty of toys and treats to keep her occupied while we're away.

How often should I bathe my Whippet?

We bathe Sophie every few months, or as needed. She's a clean dog and doesn't smell like a typical dog, even when she gets wet.

check_circlePros

•Sophie is an absolute sweetheart - she's friendly, gentle, and loves people.
•She's got plenty of energy, but she's also happy to curl up on the couch for a nap.
•Our Whippet is incredibly low-maintenance when it comes to grooming - there's no dog smell at all, even when she gets wet.
•She's a total snuggle bug - she loves to cuddle and get belly rubs.
•Sophie is a great companion - she's always by our side and loves to play.
•She's relatively small, which makes her perfect for our apartment living situation.
•We love how she's gentle with our kids and loves to play with them.
•She's a smart dog and picks up commands quickly - we've been working on training her to walk on a leash and behave in public.

cancelCons

•Our Whippet can be a bit skittish around strangers, so we need to introduce her slowly.
•She's still learning to walk on a leash, so we need to work on that.
•Sophie can be a bit destructive when she's bored or excited, so we need to keep an eye on her.
•She sheds a bit, especially during shedding season, but it's not too bad.
•Our Whippet can be a bit loud when she barks, so we need to work on training her.
•She's still a puppy, so she needs plenty of attention and training.
•We need to take her on regular walks to keep her happy and healthy.
•She can be left alone for short periods of time, but she's a social dog and loves to be around people.