So, you STILL think you want a Whippet?

THE WHIPPET QUIZ PART TWO

Here are the rest of our 12 topics about the Whippet breed to help you decide if you and a Whippet might be made for each other. JavaScript required!

7. SLEEPING HABITS / BEDDING REQUIREMENTS: Whippets are a clean, no-smell house dog, and they are not built to withstand harsh weather as outdoor dogs. A Whippet should not be relegated to the backyard and neglected. They are very social and desire companionship.

Due to the thin layers of skin that cover the bones of their legs, Whippets must have soft resting places (and they will prefer your favorite sofa or your bed). Bare floors or unbedded crates or kennel floors are not for them. They also need a safe, comfortable place to stay when you are not at home.

I'll give my Whippet a blanket to sleep on in his or her outdoor kennel; he or she will do just fine like that.

The Whippet can sleep in the dog house out back with old Spot; they can keep each other company and keep each other warm. Heck, I bet old Spot will even let the Whippet lay on top of him, sometimes anyway...

I like a nice, soft, warm, clean, safe bed too. And when I can't be home with my Whippet, I'll make sure he or she is in a safe place.

8. ENERGETIC PUPPIES: Whippet puppies are unbelievably energetic. They seem to have two speeds: Go-Fast-and-Furious, and Sleep. They will chew anything that does not chew them back, and they love to dig. Many young Whippets are "high energy" dogs for the first two or three years. Around that age, their 'on' switch seems to get turned 'off' and they become more mellow (though still up for occasional bursts of zeal).

If you are considering a Whippet puppy, it is best to get him into puppy classes between 10 and 16 weeks, a crucial time for a puppy's social skills to be developed. If these classes are not available, take your puppy to new places on a regular basis (parks, neighbors or friends houses, pet supply stores that allow leashed pets to visit, etc.), where strangers can pet him and gently play with him.

I enjoy watching energetic puppies and young dogs grow and mature into calm adult dogs, and I look forward to taking our Whippet to puppy classes.

Oh good, I want a dog that will always have plenty of energy and be very active.

I will not allow a dog to chew things. Too messy and destructive!

9. EXERCISE REQUIREMENTS: Whippets don't need to run for long periods of time, but they do need to have safe opportunities for regular exercise. The keyword here is "SAFE."

This is a sighthound breed - a breed that hunts by sight instead of by scent. They can spy a rabbit, squirrel, another dog or a child a half-mile away and are gone in a split second to chase that 'game' or to make an acquaintance or investigate something interesting. Most Whippets are very curious and are not at all street-wise. They have no respect for cars. In fact, it is almost as if they don't even see cars because they so intensely focused on their destination. Therefore, Whippets cannot be safely trusted to run loose or stay in any unfenced area.

I have a fenced yard (or I live near a securely fenced area) where I can let my Whippet run loose safely.

I plan to take my Whippet through obedience courses and to make sure my Whippet will always come back when I call him or her.

I live on a busy highway, where my Whippet will have plenty of opportunities to become street-wise!

10. WHIPPETS AND CHILDREN: Whippets raised in the company of well-behaved children should learn to love those children, but this is not a breed that will tolerate rough treatment. It is not likely that a Whippet would harm a child, but Whippets might be frightened by the quick energy of a child. This is not a "rough and tumble" breed.

My Whippet puppy will get used to my toddler. They'll teach each other together much better than I could ever teach them separately.

My Whippet will be in the company of young children only when I can be right there too, to make sure that everyone -- two- and four-footed -- plays together appropriately.

I will tell my kids to behave around the Whippet.

11. FEEDING AND FINANCIAL ISSUES: Despite their skinny appearance, Whippets do not eat a lot. An adult Whippet of 20-25 lbs. will eat about 1 cup of dry dog food twice a day and maintain his or her weight.

A Whippet puppy's purchase price is usually anywhere from $400 - $1,000, and that is only the initial expense involved in owning a dog (purebred or mixed breed). Add to that the costs of food, veterinary care, bedding, bowls, toys, training classes, etc. When you bring a Whippet into your family, you are committing to provide support for these expenses for this animal's lifetime, which can be as long as 14 years or more.

I'm not interested in a show dog, so I'll find someone who is giving away free Whippet puppies.

I'm aware of the financial investment that a dog represents, and I believe I am able to provide good care for a Whippet.

I just buy whatever dog food is on sale. Dogs don't need fancy food and special toys and all that. And I've never had a dog live more than 7 or 8 years.

12. HEALTH: When housed indoors and properly fed and cared for, Whippets are generally a very healthy breed. It is important that you find a veterinarian who understands and is experienced with sighthounds, and is aware of their special needs. In particular, make sure your vet is familiar with how the sighthound breeds react to Anesthesia. If you are purchasing a Whippet puppy, make sure you get your puppy from a breeder who is open and honest about any possibilities for health concerns, and who will stand behind that puppy with a health guarantee.

I will look for a breeder who has especially healthy Whippets, because I want no dogs on the furniture in my home, so my Whippet will have to be hardier in order to live outdoors.

I heard that Whippets have no health problems. That's enough of a health guarantee for me.

My vet and I have already spoken about the Whippet breed's health and special anesthetic needs. I am getting to know several reputable Whippet breeders and their dogs, so that I can be confident about getting a well-bred, healthy Whippet.

Congratulations! If you took our quiz honestly and thoughtfully, you should now have a better idea of whether or not you and the Whippet breed were really made for each other. There is no "winning" score... the real winners in this game are content and well-cared-for Whippets and the humans who love them.