Whippet Owners-?

Im looking to get a Whippet
Currently own a Min Pin and 2 cats
have a large house, and very large yard, and park access
young kids will be around

as i understand whippets are good with kids and other animals
but where can i find one?
How much do they normally cost?
and any tips i should know about?

Actually, whippets can have VERY high prey drive, making them dangerous to small dogs and cats. You'd need to make extra sure that you use a responsible breeder who temperament tests each of the pups and has exposed them to small animals.

Whippets can be great with kids, but not young and/or irresponsible kids. Whippets are sighthounds. If your kids leave the gate open, the dog will be gone. If they leave the front door open, the dog will be gone. If the dog sees a cat and decides it wants to go after it, a kid is likely to not be paying attention and drop the leash.

Whippets will also run through highways of traffic to get something on the other side. Many sighthounds face death this way. They are so focused on the hunt that they ignore cars.

A well bred dog of any breed will run $750-$2000 for pet quality.

I really really suggest that you do some more research on the breed and how to get a dog from a good breeder. Here's a great start: http://www.americanwhippetclub.net/

Whippets do come up through rescue, so don't forget that option as well.

Check local rescues - lots of Whippets and Whippet mixes end up there. Do you also understand that they're fast? ;)

Contact the Whippet Club (try the AKC for their info) and see about a reputable breeder in your area.

I have a Whippet and multiple Italian Greyhounds. For the safety of the small dogs, I can't let them all out together until after the Whippet has expended her energy. She is the kindest soul, and she would never hurt them intentionally, but she is 30lbs abd the IGs are 10lbs.

They are prey driven and will chase something that runs, so you have to be aware of that.

I had to return a very expensive Whippet I bought from California as she would try to kill the smaller dogs repeatedly. Since I don't have dogs to keep them in kennels, I had to make the decision to return her to the breeder.

But they are great with kids, lots of fun, you just have to make some concessions if you want to combine them with smaller animals.

I actually have a greyhound which is like a whippet, they are really sweet dogs and we payed $300 at a greyhound rescue center in cape cod, but they also sold goldens and whippets. They need alot of attention or they will tear your house apart, they are very cute affectionate dogs!