Whippet Puppies
Please only buy a puppy from a reputable breeder
Always visit the puppy at the breeder’s kennels or home to see the puppies with their mother. You may be lucky enough to view the sire but not always. Never buy a puppy from a pet shop or commercial kennels, as puppies from these outlets could well come from puppy farms.
The breeder should give you a diet sheet and advice on how to rear your puppy, so that all the requisite items can be purchased beforehand.
You should receive a five-generation pedigree although you should be aware that these are often hand written and therefore subject to forgery and in the worst case may not be relevant to the puppy you are buying. A five-generation pedigree on its own is not confirmation of registration.
You should receive a copy of the Kennel Club registration documents which will include a slip to return to the kennel club for change of ownership. This registration form must contain the registered name of the puppy you are purchasing and should correspond with the name on the five-generation pedigree. You will need to return this slip to the kennel club to ensure that the puppy is re-registered in your name. It is not possible for a buyer to register a puppy with the Kennel Club after purchase.
Since 6th April 2016 it has been a legal requirement for all puppies to be microchipped before the age of eight weeks of age. As no reputable breeder will let you purchase a puppy before it is eight weeks of age it therefore follows that it is the breeder’s responsibility to have the puppy microchipped in compliance with the law. Failure to do so could result in a fine of up to £500. You can therefore expect to receive a copy of the microchip registration form also with a slip for you to send off to have the microchip contact details changed to your name. Under the law you have twenty-one days to carry out this procedure
Your puppy will also come with six weeks insurance cover. This insurance is supplied free of charge to the breeder by the kennel Club as part of the terms of registration so there should be no argument. If the puppy has been registered correctly insurance WILL BE available.
If the breeder of the puppies has agreed to have the first inoculation ( you will probably need to pay extra for this) carried out for you then you then you should receive a copy of the inoculation certificate for you to take to your vet at the time of the second inoculation.
The subject of inoculations should anyway be discussed with the breeder when agreeing the purchase so all parties are aware of what is expected.
All reputable breeders will have the dew claws removed from the front legs of the puppies prior to purchase. This is a veterinary procedure and needs to be carried out before the puppy is four days old. Some breeders will take this opportunity to have a health check carried out on the complete litter at this time and if this was done the results should be made available to you. Not all breeders have the health check carried out so an absence of this document is not necessarily a negative indication as to reputation of the breeder. Ask before you purchase to prevent any misunderstanding.
Please do your homework before making your purchase, if only to establish what you can reasonably expect to pay for your pedigree, fully registered puppy. Bitches will generally be more expensive than dogs. The secretary of The Whippet Club or the secretary of any of the clubs listed on this site will be pleased to advise you.
Please buy your puppy with your head and not your heart. Do not fall into the trap of buying a puppy because you feel sorry for it and want to get it away from the conditions you find it in. You are doing your favoured breed a disservice and encouraging unscrupulous breeders (puppy farmers) to continue with their unsavoury trade.
The Whippet Club hear far too many heart-breaking stories from people who have quite literally been “sold a pup”. Please don’t allow your name to be added to this list.
Incorrectly or unregistered dogs cannot be shown or raced. It maybe that you don’t intend to indulge in any of these pastimes but it is good to know that you have that option if you change your mind.
Litters advertised on the internet or social media should come with their own health warning.
If you have any doubts about any of the circumstances surrounding the purchase of any puppy then it is better to walk away. There will always be another litter to look at.
The Whippet Club does not list available litters on this website but the club secretary keeps details of litters notified to her by known breeders and will be happy to pass on details.
Alternatively, you can contact one of the breed clubs listed and they will be happy to help you.
Join the Whippet Club
Membership Of The Whippet club entitles you to up to date information on all forthcoming Whippet Club shows as well as two free issues a year of our great club magazine.