Whippets, is their prey drive a detriment to their working ability?

[Hoker 79]

is it this prey drive that makes most of them open up

as in cuts or yapping?

yapping

[mally 832]

Great looking dog. What age do you enter yours?

 

Depends on the individual dog mate, Vixen was entered around 10 months

[redtailhawk1 84]

Yea I was going to see how he was, but thinking around 10 to 12 months.

[rob284 1,682]

Whippets generally have very soft mouths

 

[bird 10,013]

Like whippets great little dogs, had none ped bitch whippet 20in 20lb, she was great on rabbits. Most are brave little dogs, that will have a go at anthing. but not the best in wet+cold weather.!

[mally 832]

Like whippets great little dogs, had none ped bitch whippet 20in 20lb, she was great on rabbits. Most are brave little dogs, that will have a go at anthing. but not the best in wet+cold weather.!

 

Mine don't mind the weather mate, but then again there out in if often enough.

[woodland 6]

Good topic! Soft mouth or hard mouth: I think that changes depending on the dog (and blood lyne). What do you think about the whippet on hare and on fox?

[Dunkanon 380]

have a 3/4 whip x beddy he has a very strong prey drive and is a little over excitable at times, somtimes his out and out full on attack causes him too miss quarry as it seems to override his brain and I find myself occasionly wishing he would calm down a bit, most of the time his catch is returned alive, he has also been known to take the odd roe deer (purely by accident of course). On the whole hes a pleasure to take out, never really had to train him as he just did everything himself, probably the most biddable dog Ive owned. Oh and every now an then he will open up an yap on the chase.

[Sirius 1,391]

Whippets generally have very soft mouths

 

Really, I have found the opposite, more seem to be a little prone especially when terrier blood is added.

 

I don't agree it's just entering that causes it although it could play a part, it's more just ''one of those things'

 

Maybe it's the few I have seen which are a tad to eager for there own good, when it's coupled with there speed and size?

 

Cheers for the replies food for thought.

[spazzy paddy 127]

mo was 19 inch non ped and a prey drive that was through the roof wich was her undoing .

Edited April 21, 2012 by spazzy paddy

[troter58 1,711]

i run a 3/4 whippet x beddy speed to burn but he as turned out to be very clever does not miss many on the strike day or night i started him at 10 mths always carrys back alive i have run alot of crosses in 40 years in the game and i like the whippet cross very brave dogs and will give you there all in the field he is now 22 mths atb troter

[mighty celt 996]

Whippets generally have very soft mouths

 

Really, I have found the opposite, more seem to be a little prone especially when terrier blood is added.

 

I don't agree it's just entering that causes it although it could play a part, it's more just ''one of those things'

 

Maybe it's the few I have seen which are a tad to eager for there own good, when it's coupled with there speed and size?

 

Cheers for the replies food for thought.

i have to agree its not just down to entering my dog dint start hunting till he was 11 or 12 months old,and was never softh mouthed allways killed first,my pals bitch was entered the same age,she was soft for abit but once she got a taste for feral cats and foxs that soon stoped.i suppose if she was just kept at rabbits she would have stayed soft,but she dint have as much drive as my dog did.

[poacher3161 1,766]

The ped whippets we hunted with on horrendus ground as young men had plenty of prey drive but also plenty of running scense and never once did a seriouse running accident occour and that also goes for some of the whippet crosses i have seen.Weather its just coincidence but every seriouse even fatal injury i have witnesed and seen have been out out of lurchers bred out of pure greyhounds.

[Peter4190 96]

Any dog which puts in 110% in to it's catch or running it's quarry is always rising it's life or serious injury, and I wouldn't entertain a dog with no natural prey drive, I have got a 6 month old first cross saluki x whippet and can't wait till back end of next season

[marko 30]

my mate has a 9 year old laguna and the prey drive is unreal but thats what makes the dog continually looking while out even at this age he is in very good nick for his age and is constantly on the go he has had a few odd scrapes and a few stitches with the wire but probably the best dog he has ever or likely to own in my opinion and it will be a sad day when he is no longer with us, not only that because of his tenacity when he is on top of his game all the other dogs have to up there game to compete with him so he brings out the best in all the other dogs.