Official address for any correspondence relating to the Association is:
The Secretary
Ms Robynne Spencer
5 Lamont Avenue,
The Patch, Victoria, 3792
DEAR WHIPPET LOVERS,
Winter is well and truly upon us now. Puppies are starting to appear again but still pretty light on the ground. There are a few more litters around. Always check the reputation of any breeders with me or one of our other committee members before committing. Also, from time to time our ethical breeders will have their litters listed on our website so always check the “PUPPIES AVAILABLE” page as well.
If you are in the process of researching whippets, are starting to look for a whippet puppy or are thinking of adding another “potatoe chip dog” to your collection and would like some hands on experience with our beautiful breed please consider coming to our two champ show which is not far off – Saturday Friday September 27 –– and Saturday September 28 2024 - venue is STATE DOG CENTRE – KCC Park, Skye- we will be inside the big undercover pavilion from 8.30 am til mid to late afternoon. With plenty of whippets to cuddle, lots of owners and breeders present this event is a must for all whippet enthusiasts.
If you are planning to come to the champ show to buy some of our lovely merchandise including brand new 2025 calendars we do have credit card facilities now but still bring along cash if you wish. FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THESE SHOWS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE SECRETARY AT rspencer21@bigpond.com OR 0413451454
News is a little better on the “puppy front” and fortunately there are a few more puppies around from our reputable ethical breeders that I know of at the moment. There have always been one or two but you need to be quick and get onto a waiting list. Our bitches don’t come into season when WE want them to. THEY decide when it’s convenient for THEM. Those of you
who know something about animal reproduction will realise this. Please be patient but all the same please contact me as I may have news “tomorrow” or “next week” about a litter coming up or being planned.
I do believe there are a few whippet breeders either planning or expecting puppies in the next few months. If you do some research yourself please pass any breeder’s names by myself or any of the committee members who appear on our website to confirm that these breeders are ethical and reputable. The fact that they are “registered” with their state controlling body doesn’t always mean they are.
I am not sure if you, “Joe or Jane Public” understand the whole point of breeding a litter is for the betterment of the breed NOT to breed puppies for sale to make a profit. Of course out of a litter of say 6 puppies there might be 4 for sale as “pets”. Two puppies will be run on as prospective show/breeding stock. SO you will have to be very patient or simply choose another more popular and prolific breed. Shows are happening again so possibly more puppies will be around in the not too distant future.
All of a sudden whippets have become very popular and as I’ve said to some of the people waiting I’ve been involved with the breed for almost 30 years and all that time there has never been many whippet litters around. Breeders who have been involved with whippets even longer than me will attest to this. “We” (Dogs Vic members) receive a magazine/gazette monthly and in all that time the most you might see is 3 or 4 litters listed and that’s a lot. Other times there might be one, or at times none at all. Unlike all the really popular breeds like Labradors, golden retrievers, Staffordshire bull terriers, French bulldogs, etc. there will be column after column of these breeds listed. Our ETHICAL breeders have always only bred a litter when they have a couple of spaces in their kennels to keep another dog. It’s been like this for as long as I can remember and is not going to change any time soon.
Whippets feel the cold any time the temperature drops, it’s a fact of life with this breed so you should be always thinking about a nice warm coat for your whippet. We now have two coat designs, the usual one with ties and another style that is completely reversible, comes up under the chest and fastens over the back with Velcro. The new design is slightly more expensive but beautifully finished. You can see images of the two designs on the merchandise page. Please don’t be fussy about colours for the either of the designs though because each batch comes in different colours. They are made of double polar fleece with a polo collar. My boys lived in theirs, on and off all year round really.
The wonderful thing about them is that they wash and dry so easily. If I don’t have your size I can easily get one made up and posted out to you. If
you are looking for a waterproof coat Elise Brown of Fair Dinkum Dog Coats from country Victoria contacted me to say, she makes fleece lined oil skin coats at a VERY REASONABLE price tailor made especially for each whippet. Follow this link to contact Elise for more details. www.fairdinkumdogs.com.au or We all like to support Australia owned and made companies don’t we?
If you are considering buying a puppy, please go through the correct channels. If there are no litters available on our website at the time of your search please contact me or another of our committee members as there is bound to be litters being planned so please try to be patient. It will pay off in the end. Registered Breeders do not necessarily advertise their puppies on our website but on other websites such as Dogsonline and Dogs Victoria but be careful all the same. Even though these breeders are registered with Dogs Vic some are not necessarily reputable. Just pass their names by me or any or any of the other contact people on our website to check their integrity before making a definite commitment.
All breeders should allow you to visit their premises and view their puppies at around 6 weeks of age. This will also give you a chance to view how the puppies are being raised and see the puppy’s dam and older dogs as well. At this stage if you decide on a puppy (or a puppy picks you) it would pay to leave a deposit after you have visited to ensure you don’t miss out. Our ethical breeders will NOT ask for a deposit before your visit so be well aware of this. Whippet puppies are very few and far between.
You may see puppies advertised on Gumtree, the Trading Post or FB and other mediums. These people are NOT REGISTERED BREEDERS. And they are charging $1500- PLUS for a puppy which they cannot guarantee to be free of any hereditary diseases or other health issues. They are breeding purely for monetary gain. It’s generally a matter of “what you pay for is what you get”!!!! They will simply take your money and not want to talk to you again if you have any concerns or queries at all. Some of these “puppy farmers” even have websites advertising that their puppies are “registered”. Ask the question “with whom, Dogs Victoria”? Ask for their membership number and if you are not sure please pass their details by me or one of our other committee members before making a commitment.
Check out all the pages on our most informative website. There is interesting information there for all to read, reinforcing the importance of what I have just said. Hopefully the new legislation that has come into effect now will close down some of these establishments. But I am sure there will still be those who go “undercover” and will still breed indiscriminately. 99.9% of whippets that end up in pounds and shelters come from these sources, the “back yard breeders” and the “puppy farmers”.
You don’t need to spend a lot to feed your whippet. Whippets really don’t need a lot of food to keep them looking trim taut and terrific. There are reputable brands of dry food available at supermarkets, some Aust. owned and made. Wet food!! What about chicken necks? Chicken shops and the supermarkets sell these very cheaply. Or for red meat, buy from a reputable pet supplies. NOT one that sells live creatures including birds and reptiles!!! Lamb (not beef bones because these are too hard on the teeth) offcuts can be purchased cheaply from Woolworths and Coles and are great for teeth. I know Vet bills can be very expensive but shop around, make some phone calls. You will be surprised at the difference. Speaking to various people, I am shocked by the cost some folk pay just for vaccinations and neutering operations. Don’t forget that some dog shelters have Vet services available for a very reasonable price and, at the same time you are helping to support the shelters.
If you are going away and don’t wish to leave your whippet in kennels I have a few fantastic options. There are people who mind whippets in their own homes or will come to your home to stay. Please contact me by email for more info.
If you can’t catch me on the phone send me an email or text message and you can also leave a message on my mobile number and I will endeavour to get back to you as soon as I can. The email might be the middle of the night but at least it won’t disturb your sleep. Thank you for your patience lovely people; cuddles for all your whippets and until next time stay safe and “HAPPY WHIPPETING”!!!!!!
Rae Mitchelson, Life Member,
Breed Information & Membership Officer The Whippet Association of Victoria Inc Email: raemitch@hotkey.net.au
LATEST NEWS
MEETING DATES
Our General Meetings are usually held on the second Wednesday of every third month starting in the month of February each year. Please contact our Secretary on 0413451454 rspencer@bigpond.com for further information. If you are a financial member of the Association your attendance is most welcome. I have many email contacts in my address book that are out of date. If anyone has contacted me in the past and I have sent out details of any “special” events or “urgent” emails about whippets in dire straits and you wish to remain in my address book to keep in touch please send me an update of your address if you have changed it over the past couple of years. Also members, if you change your home or email address, or phone number please let me know the changes as otherwise you will miss out on your Whippet Rag Many Thanks,
Rae Mitchelson
Breed Information – Puppy Officers
Rae Mitchelson
0418397719
Peter More
0417370624
Sue Delaney
0425737418
NOTICE
We have changed banks.
As of the first of 1st March, 2019 our accounts are now with National Australia Bank.
Account Name: The Whippet Association Of Victoria Inc.
BSB: 083 – 427
Account Number: 91919 3733
Swift Code: NATAAU
Please correct you records and delete the Westpac account details.
p.s: Always remember to include a reference with any transfers made & send details to Treasurer, thank you.