Why Are Whippets So Wonderful?

Why are whippets so wonderful?

Every day I ask my self that question. There is definitely something very special about these truly amazing dogs.

We have two in our house. They are actually my daughter's, but we all love them to bits! (Well, the men in the family don't show it all the time). Daughter and I are besotted with them.

Ignore the foot, here are our two just under a year ago - the older puppy underneath took to, what we worked out to be her half-sister, within a couple of minutes of meeting her. (This photo made a great Kindle skin too - http://www.wrappz.com.)

Back to analysing whippets...

Sophie, the older one, is gentle and seems to be incredibly kind - if such an attribute can be given to a dog. She looks after her sister, and he humans. Rosie, is a lovable rascal. More overtly pesky than Sophie, she is also very loving.

A year on from getting Rosie, they are about the same size and run as fast as each other - although I reckon Sophie sometimes cruises along so that her sister can keep up. And she does seem to have more stamina too.

Such a joy to watch them running.

Sophie is a great ball chaser, and being a sight dog, can see the ball even in the gloom of dusk. A very gentle creature with beautiful eyes.

Rosie on the other hand, much prefers the chukka handle to the ball. Many's the time we've had to dodge her charging at the back of our knees (not deliberately to knock us over - I'm sure?!?!). Definitely pesky, this little one.

Flyball. I must tell you about our whippets and flyball.

Sophie was the first to join the local flyball club as Rosie was too young. At first she seemed very nervous, but she had a good go at everything an did extremely well. One-to-one sessions have been amazing, and while she is a nervous dog, she is very, very fast and has the pick-up off pat.

Just last week, Rosie had her first flyball lesson - and was truly amazing too. So, now the club has two potential winners on their books. 

Having said that, flyball is very noisy and we have no idea how they will do in a competition atmosphere, but time will tell.

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Back soon.
 

How to stop a dog barking

Just a quickie for you today.

How to stop a dog barking.

You know how it is. It drives you crayz - but you love the sound of his or her voice. Yes, it must be love. But sometimes it gets too much and you wish there was a way to stop all that racket. Well, perhaps now there is:

http://www.thedogtrainingsecret.com/DogBarking/

And here's another link to a free video - leave your first name and email address to access this...

"Free Video Reveals 4 Minute ExerciseThat Can Help Your Dog Finally Listen To You...Without Having To Touch, Scold, Or Yell!"

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Cats and Dogs In The Home

I couldn't resist putting this here. Found it when browsing.

FOR ALL PET OWNERS
and

THE OTHERS THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND PET OWNERS

The following was found posted very low on a refrigerator door.

Dear Dogs and Cats: The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Racing me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort, however. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other, stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out on the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is no secret exit from the bathroom! If, by some miracle, I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge in an attempt to open the door. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years - canine/feline attendance is not required.

The proper order for kissing is: Kiss me first, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I cannot stress this enough.

Finally, in fairness, dear pets, I have posted the following message on my own front door:

TO ALL NON-PET OWNERS WHO VISIT AND LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR PETS:

(1) They live here. You don't.

(2) If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. That's why they call it 'fur'-niture.

(3) I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.

(4) To you, they are animals. To me, they are adopted sons/daughters who are short, hairy, walk on all fours and don't speak clearly.

Remember, dogs and cats are better than kids because they --

(1) eat less,

(2) don't ask for money all the time,

(3) are easier to train,

(4) normally come when called,

(5) never ask to drive the car,

(6) don't hang out with drug using people,

(7) don't smoke or drink,

( don't want to wear your clothes,

(9) don't have to buy the latest fashions,

(10) don't need a gazillion dollars for college and

(11) if they get pregnant, you can sell their children....

Dog Temperament By Breed

Dog Temperament By Breed

I was browsing around and came across this page at GiveUsAHome - not just for dogs either.

Does temperament vary much between breeds of dog?

Different breeds of dogs have been developed to perform specific tasks (e.g. guarding, hunting, herding), and consequently, as well as developing a characteristic appearance, they also developed variations in temperament.

• Retrievers and Setters are inclined to be boisterous, but are essentially good-natured and easy to train.
• Smaller spaniels (King Charles or English Toy Spaniel, and Cavalier King Charles) are very even tempered.
• Beagles are rather playful and slow at learning, but most have an easy-going disposition.
• Afghan Hounds, Saluki, Borzoi and Greyhounds often prove difficult to control, particularly if allowed off a lead.
• Collies develop a strong loyalty to members of the family and are rather wary of strangers.
• Border Collies have a strong herding instinct and, with nothing to occupy them, can become frustrated to the point of hysteria.
• Whippet and Shetland Sheepdog are both very good with children and come in smaller sizes.
• Bulldog is a placid breed but its habits of slobbering and snoring can be tiresome
• Bull Terrier or Stafordshire Bull Terrier are not to be trusted with strange dogs, which they will usually want to fight, though they are affectionate towards people, including children, and make very good family pets.
• Smaller breeds are less easy-going, more defensive and inclined to be snappy with children.
• Corgis in particular are this way and the tendency needs to be firmly curbed early in life.
• Small terriers are tough, wiry and inquisitive, and certain breeds (e.g. Border Terrier and Boston Terrier) tolerate children much better than others (e.g.Scottish and Yorkshire Terriers).
• Dachshunds and Chihuahua are inclined to bark a lot if unchecked an Chihuahuas in particular are likely to be bad-tempered with children and strangers.
• The German Shepherd Dog is the most popular breed in the world and is an excellent working dog, but some individuals are very shy and apprehensive and become aggressive through fear.
• Boxer is usually a friendly exuberant dog which remains playful for several years, though some animals develop unstable temperaments.
• Doberman Pinscher and Rottweilers have forceful, dominant personalities, especially the German strains, and should always be well trained and strictly controlled.
• Great Danes are like young colts, rather skittish and inclined to crash into things.

So now you know.

--L


BTW, here's a great site full of useful info about dog training - The Dog Training Secret there's a free video too - and I'll be putting up a new pet website soon (just need some time to get my act together!)

Dog Problems - This site offers real solutions

I have my own websites all about dog training, but I really don't mind when I find another site which has lots of content - for starters it gives me ideas for presentation, content etc.


That's why I'm more than happy to give a mention to DogProblems.com

There's a lot of info in there - in fact, practically everything you need to know about training your dog or puppy, what to do if it has problems, health, food etc.


Maybe you know someone who has a particular doggy or puppy problem. Well, why not copy this blog page over to them so they can visit the site for themselves.


Here are just a few examples of the nearly 600 articles on the DogProblems site:

• House Training a Dog Or Puppy In A Hurry
• The Dog Whisperer
• Does Your Dog Itch and Scratch, All Night Long?
• Dog Obedience Training - Six Commonly Used Hand Signals In Dog Obedience Training
• Fast Dog Training Technique Transforms Her Dog
• Dog House Training - Leaving Your Dog Alone In The House
• Dog Training Commands: How To Talk So Your Dog Understands
• Dog Games: Have Fun By Teaching Your Dog To Become A Messenger
• Interdog Aggression and Your Dog
• Dog Owner Needs Motivation To Train Her Dog The Right Way
• How A Dog Owner With Arthritis Will Get 100% Reliability From Her Golden Retriever Puppy
• Y2K Compliant Dog Ownership
• Cooking Your Own Dog Food
• What To Do If Your Dog Won't Use His Dog House
• Dog Keeps Pacing, And You Think He's Under-Exercised
• More Thoughts On Dominance Scuffles
• They Laughed When I Issued My $10,000 Dog Trainer Challenge-- But Still Nobody's Stepped Up To Claim The Money
• Dog Aggression and How To Correct It

To access the info, you need to subscribe, but you do gets lots of goodies in return and email consulation and membership to the forum and lots more for 30 days.

I think this is a really good site and I heartily recommend it.

Here's the link again - www.DogProblems.com

TTFN


Lynda