Whippet of the Day: Cricket my loveable Whippet

by Megan
(Swan Hill Victoria)

I brought Cricket around 12 months ago. I had never owned a Whippet before but had researched into them and my main concern was having a loving friendly dog with a short coat as I suffer from allergies.

My family's dog Spud is a Jack Russell and although I love him to bits, he sheds hair all year and makes me sneeze!

Since having Cricket in our lives we can't imagine life without him. He is a big boy who is a goof.

He loves to play with his numerous squeaky toys of which he just sits there are repeatedly squeaks over and over again in song!

He loves his treats, liver of course, but he must think that the world is going to have a shortage of treats in the near future as he has started to hoard treats all around the house.

Raw hide little bones stuffed under his mat in the lounge, in between the pillows on the spare bed, in the ironing basket, behind my bed side table and list goes on.

He parades through the house to check on these at least once a day... and if he notices you watching he picks them up and scurries off to find a new hide out for his stash of treats.

He is very social with other dogs and loves the company of Spud when visiting the family. Although Spud isn't too happy with this as Cricket can sometimes be a little rough with his big paws by either stepping on him!

Cricket gets very jealous when I pat Spud and often intercepts my contact with Spud or if Spud is sitting on your lap, Cricket will jump up and sit higher and for a big Whippet that means on your chest blocking your view of anything and this is all very amusing.

He is in love with a friend of mine Amanda. When she arrives at our place we say "your girl friend is here" and he goes so silly with excitement.

He HAS to sit on her lap and rubs his head on her. She cuddles up to him on the couch and talks to him and he talks (barks) back at her. She must be special to him because he only does this with her.

His worst habit would be pinching food from the kitchen counter which has since turned into jumping up on top of the kitchen counter and dining table (of course when you aren't home) and leaving muddy little footprints to mark his presence!

I get angry about this, but only at myself for leaving the roast or a cake on the bench to cool! Other than stealing the food... muddy footprints can always be cleaned up easily, so I don't get angry with him.

I have learned that it is of uttermost importance to provide them with warmth... whippetwear.com.au has been a great source of jackets (he has 3 different ones) and of course his bedding.

He has a whippet swag which he loves. When we first got this I thought this little goof ball is never going to work out how to burrow into it, and now when he is tired or a little cold in the mornings you will find he has put himself back to bed for more warmth and snooze time.

I am a Whippet converted!