The Ultimate Whippet Puppy Survival Guide

Nothing is more appealing than the prospect of owning a whippet puppy. The whippet’s popular loving personality, undying loyalty, intelligence, calmness, and agility will make any sighthounds lover want to adopt this sweet dog.

Famous for their unrivalled speed, whippets acquired the nickname ‘lightning rag dog’ and ‘the poor man’s racehorse’ for racing during snap contests to grab a rag the guardians waved.

Although most people confuse whippets for greyhounds, this dog breed is unique; they have a trim waist and a deep chest.

In this ultimate whippet puppy survival guide, we go through everything you need to ensure your puppy is happy, healthy and well equipped for adulthood.

Let’s get to it…

Table of Contents

Owning A Puppy Isn’t A Free Ride

As much as whippet dogs are friendly home companions, having a whippet puppy for the first time needs proper planning and willingness to train this canine. Don’t let the movies lie to you; puppies can be a nuisance if you don’t know how to handle and teach them, something most pup owners don’t like admitting.

The truth is most people out here struggle to raise their puppies, particularly first-time owners. Are you planning to adopt a whippet puppy but have no clue where and how to start? Well, there’s no need to worry; this whippet puppy survival guide has got you covered.

This article will dig deeper on whippet puppies, the cost of adopting one, preparing for a whippet pup, training techniques, feeding, bonding, housebreaking tips, and other essential details about this dog breed.

The Cost Of A Whippet Puppy

There two standard options where you can procure a whippet pup, and they are breeders or rescue centres. All these options come with specific considerations, advantages, and drawbacks. Most breeders sell whippets at a price range of $900-$2000, but the average price is usually $1200.

In case your budget is slightly lower, you can opt to get one from a rescue center, which generally costs around $300- $600.

A rough estimate for the first year’s expenses after owning a whippet is $1300 yearly or $108 monthly for the subsequent years. It will averagely cost you around $20,800 to take care of your whippet throughout its lifetime.

If you’re planning to purchase a whippet puppy using the breeder option, it’s advisable to ensure that they’re highly reputable.

Eight Essentials A Whippet Puppy Needs

Most dog owners can admit that whippet puppies aren’t just adorable but demanding too. They’ll need to eat, sleep, be cleaned, trained, treated when sick or injured, and more impromptu expenses can arise. You need to well-prepared for all these costs when they arise.

This whippet puppy survival guide explores various whippet needs to help you plan adequately. Below are eight essential things that whippet puppies usually need to be comfortable and healthy;

Nutritious Dog Food

Just like you, your puppy also needs food to survive, be happy, and strong. But for pups to healthy and in good shape, they need a complete, high-quality, commercially available, and balanced diet, which usually varies with age.

If you’re not sure of the best diet to put your puppy on, you can ask your whippet’s veterinarian to advise you on the best diet for him/her. Most commercial dog foods come with guidelines, and you should always follow these dietary requirements.

It’s crucial that measure the food you give your puppy to ensure that he eats the proper amount every day. Your vet can also help you identify the feed measurement suitable for your little furry companion.

It’s also vital that you develop a consistent eating and drinking schedule for the whippet puppy. Most puppies eat 2-4 times a day, and if you decide your puppy will eat thrice daily, you should stick to this plan. Kindly ensure that you feed him/her daily at the same time since dogs like routines.

Comfortable Bedding

Whippets love napping a lot. Their short furred and skinny bodies don’t allow them to sleep on hard and cold surfaces. Therefore he’ll need a bed and some blankets. There are many types and designs of dog beddings for various dog sizes and breeds.

It would help if you used beddings suitable for puppy depending on your region’s weather, puppy size, and sleeping style. Your whippet will love them to be cosier, furrier, and thicker to maximally protect them from cold.

If you don’t like dog beds, you can go for those cosy sacks and foam beds for your little buddy.

Neutering And Spaying

If you don’t want your puppy not to have unwanted litters, you’ll have to take it to a vet hospital to be neutered or spayed. Spaying refers to the removal of female pets’ wombs. Male pets are usually castrated. This act doesn’t only prevent unwanted litters, but diseases too.

The best time to neuter a puppy is at six months, but it’s best to follow your vet’s advice on the most appropriate time to do it. This procedure has many benefits for your pet. Here are some of them;

For Female Puppies

● Reduces the odds of her getting breast cancer

● Prevents the development of Pyometra, a deadly illness in female dogs

● She’ll be more even-tempered since she won’t be having seasonal hormonal changes.

For Males

● Minimizes chances of him getting testicular cancer and prostate diseases

● He won’t be roaming more; hence the whippet will rarely go missing.

● Reduces certain behaviors like humping and urine marking

Vet Fees, Vaccinations, Dog Insurance and Other Essential Medicines

Puppies need regular deworming, treatment when injured or sick, vaccination, and additional necessary medical attention when the need arises.

Most professional dog sitters, walkers, kennels, dog daycares usually don’t accept unvaccinated dogs, so you should strongly consider vaccinating your whippet puppy if you plan to use these options.

Most breeders and dog rescue centres usually have already started vaccinating their puppies before you adopt them. Vets should provide you with the vaccination documentation to know when to start taking him for other jabs.

Having dog insurance can help you with some of the medical bills. So, if you plan to own a puppy, you should consider going for pet insurance to save on treatment costs when the whippet’s injured or sick.

Grooming

Grooming is necessary for all whippets since they shed, even during winter. Your whippet puppy will need grooming every 3-7 weeks to clean his clip nails, ears, ensure his skin is in good condition, and check his anal glands.

You might also want to groom your puppy regularly to remove any loose hairs from his coat so that they don’t fall all over your house.

It’s easy to discover undetected ticks, swellings, fleas, and injuries on your dog during grooming. Whippets are affectionate and sensitive dogs; therefore, grooming provides an opportune time to bond more with him and develop a more healthy relationship.

Training

Badly-behaved and unruly dogs can be a nightmare. Whippets aren’t easy to train and picking up things like other dog breeds such as GSDs. It takes a lot of patience and constancy to housebreak and teach them to behave appropriately and promptly follow your commands.

The reward training method is the best way to train whippets. Therefore, you should be prepared to invest more in treats and a clicker to make those training sessions exciting and productive.

Crate

A crate is one of the most crucial pieces of equipment when you have a whippet. You can use it to housetrain your puppy, keep them safe when you’re away, easily travel with them in your car, or act as his resting or napping area.

If your pup isn’t a crate guy, you’ll need to find a way to make him love going inside it willingly, such as tossing some of his favourite treats inside it or feeding the whippet while he’s inside the crate.

Harness and Collar

A harness and a collar are very critical for puppies. They are crucial during puppy training, walking, and teaching a dog to behave well while on the leash. Ideal collars for whippets are the martingale collars, which comfortably fit the whippets’ long and delicate skin and neck.

Most dog owners prefer a dog harness instead of a collar because it minimizes the probability of neck injuries, doesn’t inhibit breathing, and allows you to control your whippet without worrying about choking it.

Coats

Whippets are skinny and have short fur. Therefore, it’s essential to procure various coats and jumpers for your whippet puppy for those cold winters, evenings, and rainy seasons.

Whippets intensely hate water, so you should consider getting some rain dog coats for your little canine friend if you’re in rainy and snowy regions.

It would help if you kept replacement costs in mind since your pup will outgrow most of the clothing you’ll purchase as he develops.

Besides the above expenses, you should also plan for inevitable coat damages that may occur throughout your puppy’s lifespan.

How To Prepare For A Whippet Puppy

Are you thinking of bringing a new whippet puppy to your home? If you don’t have any preparation clues yet, don’t worry. This whippet puppy survival guide will help you familiarize yourself with the best way to prepare to live with a whippet puppy.

Here are six ways to ensure you adequately prepare to accommodate a whippet puppy in your home;

Set Aside Some Space In Your House For Your Puppy

Every dog becomes curious when taken to new homes, particularly the first few days. Days before you bring your puppy home, find a nice place in your house where he can comfortably explore without destroying things, for example, the laundry room, den, or a free room/corner.

It would help if you didn’t allow the whippet puppy to go everywhere in the house. Puppies below six months don’t have full control of their bladders. Keeping them in specific areas prevents them from soiling all over your home.

Ensure The Puppy’s Place Is Clean

It’s crucial to ensure that where you intend to keep your dog is safe and clean. For example, ensure there are no cables, poisonous stuff, or ornaments he can chew. In short, you should remove anything that can be hazardous to his health and general wellbeing.

Obtain A Dog Crate

Crate training is among the most effective ways to housetrain a puppy. You should get one for your puppy if you intend to conduct crate training. You should ensure that you pick the right crate for your pup. It should big enough for him to lie, stand, and move comfortably.

It shouldn’t be too big because he can use its corners as a place to do his business, and you don’t want that. The crate should have a soft and comfy bed for him to rest or nap well.

Invest In Proper Bedding, Clothes, Bowls and Dog Food

Dogs are just like people; they need to eat, sleep, dress warmly, drink water, and socialise. Days before you get your dog, it’s best you purchase the right dog food, protective clothing, beddings, feeding bowls, and other essential equipment necessary for him to live healthily and comfortably.

Machine washable beddings and clothing are the best for easy cleaning. It is advisable to obtain raised doggy beddings to prevent them from floor draught cold at night and during cold seasons.

Purchase Potty-training Equipment

For your whippet to learn where to do his business without needing your guidance, you’ll have to potty-train him. You can train him to go outside, but sometimes, puppy pads can be handy, for example, during the night or rainy days when you can’t take him outdoors.

Talk To Your Family

You must talk to your family first before bringing a puppy home. Having a puppy is a commitment, and you can’t assume all your family members are ready for it.

You should talk to them and agree on areas the puppy can and cannot access, his sleeping and feeding schedules, plus other ground rules and details concerning the puppy’s wellbeing.

Training Your Whippet Puppy

Appropriate and timely training for your whippet helps to ensure he becomes a loyal, obedient companion. Some of the essential teachings that you need to instil in your whippet include crate training, respect, housebreaking, and others.

Before you start your whippet training, it would help if you had a well-defined puppy training schedule. This schedule will provide a structured and organized framework for your whippet to follow and when to train.

Whippet training should ideally begin when the pup is approximately seven weeks old, and the initial phase should focus on teaching the whippet his daily routines. This schedule helps govern your whippet’s life and should teach him the basics.

the ultimate whippet puppy survival guide — Image: Adam Colegate

The whippet should learn meal times and location, the sleeping area, where and when to go to the bathroom. Your whippet puppy should follow this strict schedule without breaking protocol.

If you wish to have an ultimate whippet puppy survival guide, finding an accurate way to train your whippet should be an essential part of it. Ideally, planning for your whippet’s training should begin when introducing the pup into your household.

Whippet training should begin with housebreaking to ensure the puppy is more manageable when he is indoors. Crate training involving teaching your whippet his cage is a safe space that can simplify the housebreaking process.

Since whippets are adoring and eager to please their owners, it is often easy to teach them obedience and tricks. However, whippet puppies are easily excited, which can interfere with training sessions. Owners can avoid this issue by encouraging the whippet puppy to remain calm.

When the whippet is physically and mentally calm, it’s easier for him to learn good behaviour than when the pup is in an excited or reactive state. You can achieve this objective by regularly confining the whippet puppy in his crate or room until he is adequately housebroken.

Teaching your whippet puppy is also essential. Your whippet may follow commands but may fail to show due regard for your feelings and rights. Respect training helps your whippet avoid rude and uncouth behaviour.

Feeding A Whippet Puppy

in this whippet puppy survival guide, you’ll also get to learn how to feed your puppy. Kindly read on to discover the best feeding time, method, preferable amount, and food type to give your whippet puppy.

After bringing your whippet puppy home, you may be excited to introduce him to another diet different from the one the breeder was giving him. However, it’s advisable to continue with his breeder’s diet for about 2-4 weeks before introducing him to other foods.

Since whippets are prone to anxiety and fear, giving them food they’re used to can help reduce stress and bond with you as he continues to adapt to the new environment.

After several weeks in your home, your puppy would’ve acclimated to the new environment. You can now gradually introduce him to brand-new foods until he fully adopts the novel living style. During this period, you should closely monitor them to detect any side effects of the food, such as constipation or diarrhoea.

There are various food types for whippets of different ages. You should ensure to go foods explicitly made for whippet puppies since they need more calories and proteins than adult whippets.

Whippet puppies need food 3-4 times daily, and twice when they get older (like a year old). When they get older, gradually introduce them to adult whippet foods until they adapt well.

In case your breeder doesn’t give your puppy’s diet sheet, you can ask your vet the right food amount to give your puppy.

There are several forms of puppy foods; they can be dry, wet, raw, or homemade. Whichever your whippet puppy will prefer, go for it. Dry foods are usually convenient and cheaper. Wet foods are tastier, highly nutritious, and expensive than dry foods.

Raw foods are recommended but are associated with certain health risks, be careful not to contaminate them.

Advice For Whippet Puppy Owners

Raising whippet puppies isn’t always a bed of roses. Having a whippet puppy can be fun and daunting at other times. However, with proper preparation, training, and execution of routine puppy practices, nurturing a whippet puppy can be a hassle-free process.

If you are a new or recurrent whippet owner, it would be best to consider the following tips while raising your pup.

Always Start With General Puppy Training For Your Whippet

Kindly ensure your whippet learns the basics first and encourage him all the way. As your whippet ages, you can start introducing more complex training.

Avoid Unwanted Behaviour By Nipping These Issues In The Bud

Like other puppies, whippets can start displaying unwanted tendencies at an early age. Whippet puppies can start chewing items and acting shy while young.

If you wish to prevent such behavioural issues, it would be best to procure chew-toys and start early socialization to avoid shyness. Proper whippet socialisation can also help prevent destructive behaviour.

Be Consistent With Your Whippet Puppy

Whippet puppies are adorable and often like to use the puppy-eyes-look when you catch them acting naughty. You should always be consistent in dealing with your whippet’s deviant behaviour if you want him to be respectful and well-mannered.

Know What Is Toxic For Your Whippet Puppy

Whippet puppies need constant vigilance, particularly when indoors. Curious whippets can easily consume harmful items, which are often ordinary household foods. For instance, raisings, garlic, alcohol, caffeine, nuts, and mushrooms can adversely affect your whippet puppy’s health.

Build An Unbreakable Bond With Your Whippet Puppy

After deciding to own a young whippet, the owners prefer to develop a healthy unbreakable relationship with their pets. Many individuals achieve this through training and spending quality time with their whippets.

As part of this whippet puppy survival guide, here are tips that will ensure you and whippet have an unbreakable bond.

Find time to play with the whippet puppy, no matter how busy you are with work.
Use clear cut communication and avoid shouting at your whippet.
Try to learn what your whippet puppy likes and dislikes.
Try new dog food recipes for your whippet to ensure he always enjoys mealtime.
Offer emotional support to your whippet by offering cuddles and comfort whenever he needs it.

Final Thoughts

Having a whippet puppy requires you to conduct appropriate planning and handle several responsibilities. With this ultimate whippet puppy survival guide, you can effectively prepare to address any potential issues that may affect your whippet puppy.