i read somewhere that whippets should never be let off it's leash in an open area. is that true? if so, why? if the owner lets it off it's leash, will it run away from it's owner? if they run away will they be smart enough to return?
2007-07-25 17:37:25 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
when iam done with the army which is in nov 2008. iam planning to get a dog. i want a quiet shy dog that wont make a lot of noise when everyones trying to sleep. loyal.
i was thinking about a whippet because i was reading about them and i loved their description. quiet around the house. not as much grooming as some dogs. very friendly and loving to it's owner. but the downside i read was, u cant let it off it's leash. how am i going to play catch with it? lol. i was thinking either that, a lab, or a golden retriever. suggestions?
2007-07-26 17:05:00 · update #1
of course it depends on the training of the dog but why would u want to risk losing ur dog? i have had sight hounds for 30 years,and now have a 8 month old whippet,while they have all had free run of the fenced back yard i never let them off of the leash outside of it, because i have had the experience of them chasing the deer off the property, and having to chase them down with the four wheeler.a sight hound will continue running until it is exhausted so if u can't stop it, it may not be able to return home.
2007-07-26 04:45:37 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Any dog is smart enough to return. They have a great sensce of smell. I would say that as long as the whippet is trained to come when called then it is safe to let them off the leash. It is good exersize! The reason some people say that they shouldn't be let off the leash is because some of the get over excited & just start running & playing & don't know when to come back. But when they get all the energy back they will come back. Just as long as your dog comes when called you shouldn't have a problem.
2007-07-26 00:45:02 · answer #2 · answered by 123456788999 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Whippets are sight hounds and like most sight hounds they will chase just about any small, fast moving objects they see. And when they are in "chase mode", it can matter very little how well trained you think your dog is because he/she will not even here your voice. So unless you want your dog to get run over by a car, be very careful as to when and where you allow him/her to be off lease. FYI, I have a Rhodesian Ridgeback, another sight hound, and I have some first hand knowledge about their "selective listening" abilities. Good luck!
2007-07-26 01:19:18 · answer #3 · answered by Douglas H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That depends.. How well trained is your dog.. and how fast can you run?? You shouldn't let any dog off leash in an open area if you haven't taught your dog to come when you call him.. If you think you can chase him down and catch him.. Well then you are maybe on the Olympic team???
2007-07-26 00:42:20 · answer #4 · answered by DP 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Do you love your dog? Do you want to keep your dog? A Whippet is a sighthound! It's gonna chase anything that moves, and training be damned!
Don't chance it. Of COURSE it's smart enough to return, but the question is ... will it WANT to? Probably not. A sighthound should never EVER be allowed offleash anywhere but inside... period.
2007-07-26 01:53:51 · answer #5 · answered by * 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All dogs can be taught the basics of obedience. Take you dog to a GOOD trainer. If you don't want to try it yourself. Your vet can most likely refer you to one. A lot of vets have on premises training that you can sign up for. Then after you dog has been trained you will have NO problem releasing it to run in a safe open area.
2007-07-26 00:48:59 · answer #6 · answered by DIAL 911 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Can you run for your life? Whippets are like medium greyhounds can you out run one? Unless your whippet is trained to come when called i wouldn't try. They are prone to catching like a squirrel or following a bird. How are you gonna get it back when the dog is in chase mode. I dunno bout you but my whole family can't outrun my Italian Greyhound and my brother runs fast... And there like half the size of whippets. I wouldn't dare cus my dog will run more when you chase also when there's squirrels
2007-07-26 01:43:44 · answer #7 · answered by =] 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it comes close. If they see something moving fast they will chase and deer can take a dog for MILES. I have on that at lure couses has so much fun chasing the lure, he'll ignore me and go back out & rerun the course (without the lure) again and again and again..... when he get tired enough he'll come but if he's not on an closed field will he be close enought to make it when he is tired enough to want too?
2007-07-26 06:32:04 · answer #8 · answered by ragapple 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if your dog is well trained and listens to everything you say then i dont see why not but if it isnt then NO i wouldnt
2007-07-26 00:43:40 · answer #9 · answered by xxoxlivelaughlovexoxx 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hee hee, try it, and then you'll know.
(btw, it is one of the fastest dogs...are you one of the fastest people?)
2007-07-26 00:48:44 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋