Whippet Behavioral Problems?

Question

I have a very complicated problem with my six year old Whippet. He's had seperation anxiety ever since he was a puppy which is typical with a Whippet and after a couple of years, he got a lot better and stopped for the most part. When he was a puppy, he did everything bad a puppy could do. He trashed the house, chewed up EVERYTHING he could get his paws on and would urinate and defecate all over the house. With intense training and the use of a kennel, he eventually became controlable after a couple of years, only on occasion getting in to the trash but still frequently going to the bathroom in his kennel. When he was five, I moved out of my parents house and in with my husband and since then, Twiggy has been completely out of control once more. I've continued with the intense training and he still is getting in to the trash, going to the bathroom wherever and whenever he can and on top of that, my training methods are no longer working. I'm out of ideas and I'm ready to get rid him.

I've been working with him for a year now and it just seems to get worse. I've done everything by the book, rewarding him for good behavior and not diciplining him for bad behavior which is recommended for Whippets. We don't lock him in his kennel when we leave any more because he seems to become more destructive when we do that and we never punish him for his bad behavior. On top of acting up when we're gone, he also behaves badly when we're sleeping! We're constantly waking up to messes on the carpet and the trash knocked over and all strung about the house. We take him out four times a day, morning, noon, night and before bed and we've started putting up our kitcken trash but he then he justs gets in to the bathroom trash or chews up things on the coffee table. Again, I'm out of ideas and the recommended training techniques are no longer working. I want to give him up for adoption but my husband doesn't want to. Where do I go from here?

Oh and... I need to state now, my husband does NOT want to pay hundreds of dollars for a behavior specialist. Apparently he's willing to spend hundreds to replace our carpet when it's completely destroyed but he doesn't want to pay the money to get proffesional help. So, unless you know of a free service in CO, he won't agree to it. Joy!!

Well, I am home all day... I'm a housewife. He does have several playmates, three cats and an older dog who has been with him since he was a puppy and I have enough dog toys to entertain an entire Animal Shelter. He's never alone unless we're sleeping or we go shopping which is about once every two-three weeks. Again, he gets a lot of time and attention.

I've read several dog behavioral books, many specific to Whippets and as far as I know, my training is flawless. The only thing I haven't tried is a click tool but at this point, I think something that basic wouldn't be useful or effective.

Well, it is very possible he doesn't get enough exercise but at the same time, I live in Denver, Colorado and it's cold a LOT. I've tried dog jackets to keep him warm but he hates them and tries to rip them off, usually succeeding. So it's kind of hard for me to take him on long walks when it's cold which it can be cold six to eight months out of the year. I have tried all kinds toys for him and he doesn't seem interested, especially the Kong toys. The only toys that he enjoys seems to be the soft, fabric toys; he cuddles with them. I can't use Nylabones because I have a bigger dog and they're not safe for him. The T-Shirt idea is something to consider, I've never tried that before. I have tried putting a blanket over his kennel... It only freaks him out. The kennel he has now is what was recommened by my vet so I'm guessing it's not too big; not all dogs follow the den rule. I think a big part of my problem is he doesn't see his kennel as a den any more but I can't figure out why.

Answer 1

Well put the garbage UP. Confine him to a crate when you can't supervise him and use baby gates to restrict his access to some parts of your house.

He is probably still having issues with seperation anxiety, is she an only dog? He would probably be happier with another dog in the house.

Some Whippets are always naughty and never really grow out of it. Your training methods may be off, there is nothing wrong with a loud firm No! but it has to be used when they are doing the wrong and not after the fact.

I would not leave most of mine out loose when I am gone, they would destroy my house. If yours is naughty at night, either use a baby gate to confine him to your bedroom or put her in a crate.

If you are expecting your Whippet to be obedient like a Lab, you are not going to have that. If you decide to rehome her, contact WRAP (probably a link on the American Whippet Club website) or email me and I will assist you. If you have more questions, you can email me as well. Have you contacted the breeder for help? Most Whippet breeders will want to be contacted before you give him up and will take him back and rehome him.



If he is never alone how does he have the opportunity to get into trouble? Sounds like he needs to be watched better. Get him a nylabone or knuckle bone for when he is in his crate and make sure he has a nice soft comforter to lay on in the crate.

Answer 2

I do not have a Whippet, but I have a Blue Lacy which is part greyhound. He also suffers from seperation anxiety, although he is getting better with time.
If I didn't kennel my dog we would both go absolutely crazy. Every time I leave the house for an extended period of time, at night, and sometimes just for a snooze Duke goes into his kennel. When he's experiencing bad seperation anxiety I put an old t-shirt of mine into the kennel with him and that seems to calm him down a lot. Some people also place a blanket over the kennel to create a den feel for the dog, mine hates this, but for others it makes the feel safe and comfortable.
Does your whippet get enough exercise? I've noticed that if my dog doesn't get at least 4 miles a day in he starts to tear up the house, chase the cat, and be all around disobedient. I take my dog out for a 2 mile walk in the morning, a short break in the afternoon, and another 2 miles in the evening. It's a big time commitment, but for high energy dogs it's an absolute must.
I'd also try adding a doggy back-pack to your walks. If you add a little weight to his daily walks it will wear him out even more. My vet said not to put more than 20% of the dogs body weight in the pack.
You may want to consider putting the trash somewhere the dog cannot access. If he's learned how to open the door to the trash, install a child saftey lock.
Another trick I've found to control my dog is to stimulate his brain. I know it sounds funny, but these dogs are smart and they need to feel useful and "accomplish" something. I have a Kong, most amazing toy ever, that I fill with peanut butter and freeze, sometimes I put bones it there and he has to figure out how to get them out, other times I just shove his other favorite toy inside the Kong. If your dog is a chewer than try out Nylabones. It's another toy that has saved my sanity. My dog can't handle rawhide bones, so I switched to these and couldn't be happier. When he feels like chewing my shoes, I replace it with his bone.

I'd also check to see if his kennel is too large. Most dogs will not use the bathroom in the same space they're sleeping, thus the usefullness of the kennel. It may seem small enough, but ask a breeder or your vet how small you could go.
Good luck and don't give up!

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Whippet Behavioral Problems?
I have a very complicated problem with my six year old Whippet. He's had seperation anxiety ever since he was a puppy which is typical with a Whippet and after a couple of years, he got a lot better and stopped for the most part. When he was a puppy, he did everything bad a puppy could do. He...

Answer 4

Whippet Puppy Behaviour

Answer 5

I have never had a whippet. It sounds from what you say like you have simply picked an unsuitable breed for your lifestyle. They're small, intelligent, active, easily bored and socially demanding, right? Whippets sound like four-year-old boys. Are you gone from the house all day and he is inside while no-one is there? If so then I suggest re-homing him with someone who will be home with him during the day. Or you could get him a companion dog - some little sweet-natured mongrel from the rescue centre who will keep your whippet company during the day and hopefully distract him from his fascinating and time-consuming pastimes of Destruction and Defecation. Perhaps your training methods are simply faulty - it's certainly possible that with the best intentions in the world, a faulty tool is being applied with negative results. If you think this might be the case, read a copy of The Koehler Method of Dog Training, the second half of the book, which deals with dog psychology from the neurons up yet is easy to read and simple to apply.
He sure sounds like a handful. Don't get stressed too much over a dog. Perhaps he would be more suitable for someone else. Good luck.

Answer 6

I have a 6 yr old Pound Whippet. We us with a kitty door she used all the time, and 5 acres. Now my husband has died and the cat died, There is only her and I. My Husband would hold her and scratch her for hours. She has always slept with us. now with me.
I moved to a travel trailer, to save money and stay in the area so I can go see to my 91 yr old Mother. When she is gone I hope to travel. anyway, I walk her, she won't stay out side on a run. She sits and watches the doorIn the house I can't walk because she is under my feet. Yes even when I go to the bathroom. If I make the

Answer 7

I have had Whippets for a LONG time and I would NEVER EVER consider letting them run loose in my house all night loose. They are busy and easily bored dogs and they will be destructive so put him in a crate/kennel when you are not going to supervise him then you won't have the issues with him tearing your house apart. If you have to clean the crate out it is a lot easier than cleaning carpet or your bed or furniture.

Answer 8

Perhaps he has ADHD or something :l (being serious btw) maybe talk to your vet about it. The other thing it could be: He's a young dog, he's sort of a teenager, my dog suddenly became hyper and disobedient at 3 , then he settled down. Hope this helps

Answer 9

You and your dog need some help from a behaviorist. Check http://www.iaabc.org/
for info.