Whippet Behaviour Problems: What To Do

Are you starting to experience whippet behaviour problems in your pooch? Don’t worry, you’re not alone.

Whippets are independent dogs that may require some extra training from time to time to remove unwanted behaviour problems.

In this post, we’re going to go through everything you need to know about this experience and how you can get your whippet back on the right track.

Table of Contents

Why Do Whippets Have Behaviour Problems

Whippet behaviour problems are likely to happen when whippets show signs of special needs. These special whippet needs include the need to exercise, the need for mental stimulation, or a combination of the two.

Most whippets with whippet behaviour problems have either not received enough exercise or enough distractions throughout the day.

However, there are lots of whippets that receive plenty of exercise and still have whippet behaviour problems.

In fact, many whippets with behaviour problems are whippets that get the perfect amount of exercise – not too much, but also not too little.

You may also see whippet behaviour problems when whippets are left at home alone for long periods of time or when they are in an environment where they’re not allowed to do what they want.

Separation anxiety is very apparent in whippets and if they start to miss you, they’ll likely become destructive out of frustration.

This can include chewing belongings, furniture, and other objects too. This is not only an annoyance for you as the owner, but it can be dangerous for your pet too as they may chew and swallow something that could get stuck in their stomachs.

If your whippet is still young and not hit maturing at the age of around 2, you’ll be much more likely to experience behaviour problems.

Once your pet starts to mature, they typically become much more obedient and easier to train with the proper guidance.

Another reason your whippet may be experiencing behaviour problems is due to a lack of training.

When your whippet reaches the age of around 6-months old, you should start basic training with them, teaching them basic commands and house rules.

There are many different reasons why you’re whippet may be having behaviour problems, but it’s your job to identify this as best you can and get to the root cause so that you can tackle it head-on.

What Type Of Behaviour Problems Are There

The words behaviour problems can be quite subjective, as what one whippet owner sees as a problem may not be an issue at all for another.

However, there are some typical behaviours that we owners are not particularly fond of, see below:

Biting Or Nipping

If your whippet has suddenly started to bite, then this is normally a sign of bad behaviour.

When whippets are young, they have to learn how to behave around humans and other dogs, so if they start nipping, it’s normally an indication that your whippet is trying to establish dominance over you or another pet in the house.

This can be a real problem, especially if you have children at home, so it’s an issue you’ll need to put a stop to immediately.

To stop your whippet biting or nipping it’s wise to invest in a dog muzzle at first, then start the training process to remove this unwanted behaviour.

Overly Sexual

Another common behaviour problem you may experience is your whippet being overly sexual. Nobody enjoys being humped by your whippet, not you, not your other dog, not even your Grandmother.

So this behaviour needs to be stopped, and besides, and it’s quite embarrassing when you have friends over and all of a sudden your whippet pounces on them and starts dry humping their leg.

This problem will likely go away on its own as your dog starts to mature, but if not then it’s wise to seek the help of a professional to help solve this behaviour.

Defecating At Home

If your whippet is defecating in your home, this is certainly unwanted behaviour. Often young whippets that are not yet potty-trained will do this, and not understand that what they are doing is a problem.

If your whippet is older and you’re experiencing this, it may be a case of they have a weak bladder and need more frequent exercise.

To stop this whippet behaviour problem you’ll need to undertake potty training with your whippet, this will stop them from urinating at home and ensure all their business is done outdoors.

Excessive Barking

Whippets are not known to be dogs that bark often. In fact, it’s rare to even hear them bark at all.

If you do have a whippet that won’t stop barking, this could be causing problems with your neighbours if you live in an apartment or attached house.

Effective crate training is the key to stop your whippet’s excessive barking, a crate acts as a safe place for your pet to go and they’ll learn to respect it as a quiet place with training.

Whining

If your whippet is whining, it’s likely they are seeking your attention, or they have anxiety. This is often the case when they are left alone downstairs away from their owner, for example when it’s time to go to sleep.

Give it time to understand if your whippet is trying to tell you something.

Leaving your whippet with a dog blanket or an old hoodie with your scent on it can be the key to stop this whippet behaviour problem. They will feel much closer to you and less anxious if they have your scent next to them.

Unsociable

An unsociable dog can be very tricky to handle when out on dog walks. Maybe your pet is snapping and aggressively barking at other dogs and their owners.

Or maybe they’re chasing after cars as they see them as a threat. Whatever the case, an unsociable whippet can be a behaviour problem that you seek to get rid of.

Socialising your whippet from a young age is the key to avoid this problem, get them used to being in situations with new people and dogs to ensure they are well socialised for adulthood.

Greedy

Whippet bin raiding is a common problem among owners. Our beloved sighthounds love nothing more than a dumpster dive to try and pick up some easy human treats.

Teaching your whippet to stop raiding the bin whilst you are not home is almost impossible, and punishing your pet on your return will only make them fear you.

The best solution for this problem is to simply move the bin out of reach from your whippet. Simple, and effective.

Jumping Up

Whippets can become excited dogs when their owner comes home from work. They’ll often greet you with a warm welcome but can sometimes jump up on you unexpectedly.

Although this behaviour is often out of love and means no harm, it can become quite the problem if they have muddy paws or they’re jumping up on children or elderly family members.

To correct this behaviour you should train your whippet how to greet you when you come home from work.

Thankfully correcting this behaviour isn’t difficult, it will just require patience. It’s wise to use a dog crate to help remove this unwanted whippet behaviour.

Analysing Whippet Behaviour

As a whole, whippets are usually well-behaved dogs. They’re very intelligent which makes them easy to train and they are very much people pleaser dogs.

They love nothing more than to see their owners happy so don’t take well to being told off or being put in the bad books.

If your whippet behaviour problems are disrupting your family life and become a real obstacle, then it needs solving sooner rather than later. Not only for the good of your dog but for the good of you and your family too.

When To See A Vet

If your whippet’s problematic behaviour gets worse over time – such as chasing the grandchildren and they won’t obey any commands or start to attack other dogs – it’s important to see a vet.

The reason whippets behave badly could be because of an illness, injury, or pain. So your whippet needs medical attention first and foremost before you can do anything else.

There may be an underlying issue that has caused the whippet to become aggressive. All whippets and dogs in general, need a good diet and exercise.

If your whippet is not getting enough of both then this could be what’s causing them to misbehave.

It may seem like common sense but all dogs need to be looked after properly before they can be expected to be the perfect pet.

Not The Dogs Problem, Maybe It’s You?

Bear with me on this one, maybe it’s not actually the dog’s behaviour that is the problem. Dogs are like children in a way, they reflect back to us how we behave towards them.

If you think your whippet is aggressive but it’s not actually them then maybe try looking into your own actions and reactions.

For example, if you shout at the whippet when he gets the ball you do not want him to have, he will learn that your reactions are to do with the ball.

Other Considerations

When it comes to whippet behaviour problems, try not to worry yourself. Dogs are certainly not perfect, and they require time, dedication, and commitment to learn them how to behave around you and your family.

Thankfully you’ve identified that there is a problem, and that’s the main key to the solution. It’s also important to consider the fact that whippets are natural-born hunters, and they have a powerful prey drive instinct.

If your whippet is not listening to your commands and not returning to you whilst on a walk, it could be because they are following the scent of a rabbit or other animal.

This is going to require extra work and bonding on your part to build a strong relationship with your pet to ensure they listen to you when commanded.

Final Thoughts

As a whole, whippets are a very loving, loyal, and gentle breed of dog. They do not like confrontation and thrive on the love and attention they receive from their family members. If you can provide this, whippet behaviour problems may be a thing of the past.

Whippets make great family pets as long as there is at least one person in the family at home to keep them company. If not, whippets will become bored and could resort to unwanted behaviour.

Give your whippet time and commitment to help resolve these behaviour problems, and once you work through them together you’ll have a much stronger bond with your beloved pet.

Thanks for taking the time to read this article on whippet behaviour problems. I hope that you have learned something in this post and can take away and implement it with your whippet.