WORKING WHIPPET
I thoroughly enjoyed Sir Johnny Scott’s article [A vision of speed and elegance, April issue]. It was so nice to see sighthounds featured in your magazine.
I have a whippet [right] who loves a day out shooting as much as any of our other working dogs. She is also the fastest dog on the field. Her name is Luna, but we call her ‘The Whippet’ or ‘Lady Luna’.
One of my most memorable shooting moments is a day at home watching three labradors race to retrieve a pheasant. The Whippet beat them all to it and brought the pheasant back to my feet with everyone standing watching. Sorry gentlemen!
She can carry a heavy cock pheasant no problem, but does prefer a partridge. She comes everywhere with me and has even been out duck flighting, where she has retrieved teal and other duck species, but her favourite is squirrels.
I have had someone out shooting ask me how I have trained her. This made me laugh as the truth is whippets are generally untrainable when it comes to anything other than house training and basic manners. Most whippet owners will tell you they seem to be exempt from rules, slyly sneaking up on sofas and beds unnoticed. They certainly don’t like being told off – a stern voice is all that is required.
I think these dogs are often overlooked or misunderstood. They are not what you would call a ‘cuddly’ dog, and as Sir Johnny says, they are certainly aloof and assured of their own superiority. I would say that once you own one, it would be impossible to live without one.
They curl up like sleeping cats for the most part, but out working they are such fun little dogs. Of course, on the shooting field, it’s all on her own terms and God forbid we see a hare.