A pair of whippets

By Katie Wong Hoy

Jane Langton-Bunker and her slender whippets moved to Docklands in July.

Ruby and Valentine are both 13-years-old but enjoy a leisurely afternoon stroll along NewQuay Promenade.

While they may seem like your typical whippets, this is certainly not the case.

“They’ve got the highest obedience of any whippet in Australian history and this is confirmed by the VCA with whom they’ve done exams. They are UD (utility dog) titled,” Jane said.

Jane still takes them out and trains them to keep their minds’ active and to prevent forgetfulness. She says Ruby and Valentine love socialising with other dogs.  

“They sat with nine German Shepherds for one exam … they’re very good with all dogs,” Jane said.

“It’s so much more pleasurable having a dog that’s trained and will stay when you want it to stay and doesn’t attack other dogs.”

Jane and her award-winning dogs are settling in well to their new Docklands apartment. She says training her whippets has helped her gain more confidence in herself.  

“I don’t have a lot of confidence and they’ve made me much more confident,” she said.