A Thoughtful Gift Whippet-Loves and Tips for Owning a Whippet

There are some people who see dogs merely as pets, and then there are those of us who understand that their companionship runs much more deeply. My Airedale terrier, Rolo, brings so much joy into my life. We'd wanted a dog for many years before Rolo was born. When my daughter was younger, we'd love spotting dogs together on the journey to school and some of the first photos I posted to Instagram were of dogs who visited my Tunbridge Wells jewellery shop and atelier. Rolo now brings so much happiness to my day, he's my work companion and always makes sure I get out and about for walks. You can find out more about how he spends his days here. I wouldn't swap Rolo for the world but I have a huge soft spot for whippets and was lucky enough to make a very special whippet necklace. Here's its story.

Whippet Necklace

My Whippet necklace was such a joyful design to create. It started as a commission, a special gift for a whippet-lover who wanted a piece of jewellery to celebrate their treasured whippet Bert. With my customer's permission I've now added the necklace to my collection. Here is Bert in my shop.

I wanted to capture the quiet and gentle nature of whippets but also their shape, form and characteristic movement. I wanted the necklace to look elegant to wear but also feel beautiful, to do justice to the special whippets that have bought joy and companionship, hugs and humour to their owners. 

A Guide to Owning a Whippet 

A friend who's a whippet-owner has shared her thoughts on owning a whippet. If you are thinking of having a whippet I hope you might find it useful and if you already have a whippet I'd love to know if it resonates!

Here are some basic facts you should know:

• They are silent on their feet, and can move around without being detected.
• They can (and will) open any bin, whenever the opportunity arises. We have an airlock system in our house. There are two doors to the kitchen, and woe-betide anyone who leaves one of them open at any time. I have come back to find the hall littered with coffee grounds, chicken carcass remains and rotten vegetables too many times to allow this rule to be relaxed. They will also pilfer anything edible from your coffee table, mantlepiece or worktops. It’s like having a stealth toddler.
• Your bed is no longer your own. Standard wake-up time for my female whippet is 4.30/5am, and she likes to jump on the bed heavily and then stand between my husband and I until we open up the covers and let her in for an extra doze (it’s either that, or get up and get them breakfast).
• They will chase and hunt down anything from a pigeon to a deer. There is no recall more powerful than the smell of prey and the thrill of the chase.
• My whippets are brother and sister, but whilst they share some traits they are very different in their outlook. Tia is bold and bossy, her brother Reggie is subdued and anxious.
• We only intended to get one whippet, but it doesn't work that way. They are like potato chips - it’s difficult to have only one.
• Whippets love company. My female whippet wouldn’t settle at night until we got her brother Reggie (one sleepless week later). Once Tia had someone to boss around, she was fine. Reggie, meanwhile, became the Woody Allen of the whippet world.
• Whippets are not as skinny and fragile as they may look. Ours are really a pair of thugs who weigh 18kg each and are very muscled.
• Whippets have two speeds: Full Pelt, and Comatose. They run about at top speed, then collapse on the sofa.
• Forget about constraining your whippet to a dog bed. They will wonder why you are treating them like some kind of pet. They prefer to look elegant on the sofa or in an armchair as they listen intently to your conversation.
• They always want the warm spot that someone else has created. If you move out of your seat for even a second, they will grab it. They are also masters of sitting next to you and gradually easing you off your chair/out of bed so they can have your spot.
• They are actually undercover kangaroos, able to jump high in the air from standing, and leap across a room in a single bound, if a place on the sofa is at stake.

And now for the good news...

• They are highly entertaining and have the facial expression of Charlie Chaplin.
• Their physique is incredibly beautiful both at rest and in action. They look stylish on the lead.
• They are soft and silky to touch.
• They don’t like getting wet or muddy, so they are low maintenance from a cleaning point of view.
• They look cute in their winter coats.
• They love cuddles and will always be there if you need a hug.
• Their eyes are the most expressive I have ever seen in a dog. They can, and do, look into your soul and hold your gaze for as long as you let them.
• They live a long time, provided you keep them away from barbed wire, and they have a robust physique and constitution for something that’s looks so delicate.
• They are a joy to watch running around, and they can calm you down and lower your blood pressure if you cuddle up to them while they are sleeping.

You won’t regret getting a whippet. Just make sure you have enough seating and a bed large enough to accommodate them!

The Gift of Supporting Makers

If you are looking for a gift for a dog-lover or whippet enthusiast then I would urge you to consider buying from an independant craftsperson. For the recipient it brings the added pleasure of knowing their gift has a story and also supports creativity and keeps traditional skills alive.

In the end, gifts for dog-lovers and whippet enthusiasts do need not be grand or ostentatious. They simply need to be thoughtful, rooted in quality, and reflective of the bond between human and hound. A handmade treasure carries with it a quiet grace, echoing the spirit of the whippet itself: elegant, affectionate, and enduring.

You can shop my Whippet pendant necklace here. I'm also considering adding more dogs to my collection, so if you are looking to commission a necklace of a different dog or treasured pet then please do get in touch here.

Special thanks to my friend Michele for her wonderful words about Whippets and the photos of her lovely dogs Reggie & Tia. To my friend Olya for the photos of the gorgeous Alfie & Bunny and the walks we share and of course to Bert for being the inspiration for the necklace.