Please think carefully before buying a puppy this Christmas, or at anytime for that matter!
We have seen more puppies through rescue this year than any other year, and with Christmas just around the corner it’s a very concerning time for rescues who are already at breaking point, but will also need to be here to take in unwanted ‘presents’ in the new year.
So far this year we’ve taken in 19 puppies under the age of 12 months old, with a few of those being under 4 months old. Most of these were irresponsibly rehomed by their breeders to completely unsuitable homes, and then the breeders were not there to help and support the owner or the puppy.
Puppies can be hard work, and they are a huge commitment. They need your time, patience and a solid routine. They also need training to learn boundaries, and consistency to help them settle into their new home. Whippet puppies aren’t for the faint hearted and are often nicknamed ‘landsharks’! We have so many puppies come through rescue because people mistakingly think that whippets are calm, gentle, couch potatoes, and this is often the case for older whippets, but when they are young they can be extremely full on, naughty, highly strung and require plenty of exercise and mental stimulation.
If you are considering a whippet puppy (or any breed), please make sure you do things properly. Research the breed and go to a responsible breeder who will support you. When you visit the puppies they should be happy and healthy. Whippets should be from health tested parents who have both been heart tested clear by a cardiologist. The breeder should ask you lots of questions so they can match you with the right puppy, they should also carry out a homecheck and be there for lifetime support and back up should you ever need advice or if you ever need to return the whippet at any point in its life. You should ask the breeder any questions you have and they should be able to answer you confidently.
Whippets come in all colours, except merle. It is genetically impossible for a pure bred whippet to be merle. Please do not let anyone tell you that blue whippets are rare. They are not! Blue is actually the highest colour percentage we’ve seen through rescue this year.
We are always here to support whippets and owners who need us, and that will never change, but we would also like to start using our platform to educate people and steer them away from irresponsible breeders / puppy farmers.
For the sake of our wonderful breed, please do things the right way.
Below are just 2 of the puppies we’ve helped this year enjoying their new lives.
