[Closed] Finally at 40 I'm allowed a dog...

Cant comment on what whippet,just wanted to say congrats and enjoy! 😀

"Whippet... no I bought it!"

^^ you'll get that a lot! 😀

We had a rescue greyhound.
Great dog but the chase instinct is forever there and, for me, it was a shame not to be able to let her run off lead when we went walking in "controlled" areas.
As you say, if they see anything, they are gone.
It all ended rather sadly too as she had a seizure or stroke and turned on me. I had to lock her in the kitchen until the vet came and laced some food with tranquilliser to knock her out.
They took her away and that was the last we saw of her, having decided not to risk it with three young kids in the house.
The desire for a dog was an itch the family still needed to scratch so after loads of research, we ended up with a miniature labradoodle. I'm biased, but she is truly all I could want from a dog.
Fantastic with the kids (as in they treat her like a teddy bear).
Will walk all day.
Doesn't moult.
Small.
Cheap to run.
Friendly.

I suppose the moral is be very sure about a rescue dog. I don't know if mine had the pre-existing condition but the kennels didn't declare it if it was.

cheers for the replies..

i forgot another question...

Did you train the dog yourself and somewhat 'wing it' or did you go to a dog training class?

i guess i should 'broaden' the type of dog, i do love beagles but a freind had one and it was totally bonkers.

has to be a small to medium size.

Congratulations!
What about the best of both worlds- a puppy from rescue? There's plenty about. 🙁
Bitch or dog? As you have a daughter, I'd say bitch. They will develop a very close bond. You may need to get a dog in a few years just to even up the numbers! THey will gang up on /ignore/ show contempt for you.

I wanted a beagle too.
The reported characteristics put me off a bit, suggesting that they were always looking to escape from your garden and only really happy or settled with another dog for company.
Other owners reporting severe separation anxiety with them.
So that was crossed off.
It's a minefield and owners of specific breeds will surely tell you theirs is the best.

Puppy training class with flo.
The greyhound was too set in its ways to train I think.

As a mature first time dog owner,
Got a puppy for the full trip. Mine is totally fixed on me and we know what he has been exposed to and not exposed to.
We got a dog, due to the breed (GWP) probably should have got a bitch, less people would have been bit.

Not whippets but we've got a bitch and a dog. The dog is a big gentle softy with empathy and manners. The bitch is a hunting shagging perpetual motion machine. So I'm not sure how much gender comes into it.

Whippet style cross maybe from a rehoming centre? Natural selection and all that! Well worth a trip I my book.... I am soooo jealous btw!! I love whippet type hounds! They are loving, confident, obedient and energetic 🙂
I'm 40 this year and I'm not allowed a FS bike let alone a dog!! But.... That is definately a breed I would consider.
Have a fab time btw - dogs are ACE!!!

I would get a puppy so you can train it right. I wouldnt worry too much about the chase thing. Our lurcher never catches anything and chases dont last long. Deer and foxes are the biggest problem as rabbits and squirrels dont go far. She hardly ever puts up a fox as in only once or twice in 5 years she never seems keen to catch big deer and gives up easy whilst mutjac hit cover very quickly and she doesnt do brambles.

I have always had bitches they seem more faithful and protective to me.

[img] [/img]
Got my first adult dog at 41! With wife and two girls and the dog being female I am completely outnumbered. Had from a puppy and despite doing puppy classes she is only really 90% trained! Loves chasing rabbits and squirrels and this year has caught two rabbits. Will sit and drop on command and then follow me and leave the rabbit. Soft as anything, barks like a dog twice her size at the door bell but needs two 30-40 minutes walks a day!
Enjoy!

I'd go the puppy route, your 40 and this could be your only chance!

I've got a pedigree springer who was a rescue at 9 months old and is a wonderful dog, but I've just mated him with a springer/beagle bitch and have a new puppy and the experience is awesome, having something that you can train right from the start is a great experience!

She's awesome, totally different to her Dad, and from my experience of cats and dogs over the years I've never ever met two animals the same, they all have their own characters.

Oh and my wife was of the opinion that the dad was going to be my last dog! She didn't last long when she saw the puppies 😀