Whippet Theft: How To Prevent Your Whippet Being Stolen

With everything that’s going on in the world, whippet theft is on the rise.

More and more people are looking to steal our beloved pets than ever, so it’s important that we are responsible whippet owners who stay ahead of the game and are doing everything in our power to prevent this from happening.

By reading this post you’re already one step ahead, we’re going to go through how to prevent your whippet from being stolen and why it happens in the first place.

Let’s get into it…

Table of Contents

Why Are Whippets Being Stolen?

So why are more and more whippets being stolen in the first place? Well, it’s becoming easier than ever for dog thieves to steal an animal.

Why?

A lot of people think that the whippets are stolen as a result of dogfighting rings or to be used as bait dogs but this is not true!

The fact of the matter is, it’s easier than ever for thieves to find and catch a whippet, then they will typically breed them and sell the puppies.

The price of puppies in the last five years has skyrocketed, which in conjunction has also meant dog theft has done the same.

Our prized whippets are top-tier targets too, especially whippets that have been used as racing, show, or working dogs.

These can go for a lot of money and so can their pups, which is why thieves will go to any lengths necessary including stealing your non-performing whippets too.

So what does this mean for you?

You need to take as many precautions as possible with keeping your whippets safe and away from the hands of potential thieves!

How To Prevent Your Whippet Being Stolen

When it comes to preventing your whippet from being stolen, thankfully there are some things you can do.

Situational Awareness

The first is always being aware of your surroundings, situational awareness is crucial if you want to keep your whippet away from thieves, especially when on a walk.

This is because thieves will use tactics such as hissing at your whippet to get them to come over to them or wrapping a tennis ball up in rabbit skin to lure your whippet away from you.

The stuff of nightmares, I know!

Being aware of your surroundings at all times is essential, don’t let your whippet stray too far especially if you’re in a dense forest or woodland.

Avoid Talking About Your Whippets Pedigree or Price

I don’t know about you, but over the years I’ve had many people come up to me whilst walking Bonnie and ask how much I paid for her, or if they could buy her.

They have also asked what breed she is and if she is purebred or a mix.

This raises red flags for me, and when I’m asked such questions I’m incredibly vague with my response.

Not because I’m trying to be rude, but because I know the risks of letting a stranger know my dog’s exact breed and how much I paid for her.

A potential thief will see nothing but $$$ signs and how easy it would be to steal her.

They will also generally ask if the dog is chipped, which is an immediate concern.

A risky person will ask you questions about your whippet to see if they are worth stealing/buying, so play it safe and don’t tell anyone anything that could put you or your pet at risk.

Don’t Be Distracted By Electronics

Mobile phones, tablets, and other electronics are becoming more and more of a distraction for us as time goes by.

I know because I’ve fallen victim to this many times, being guilty of taking my eyes off my whippet for only a few seconds while she’s chewing on her bone, or when I’m trying to put her lead on.

It’s so dangerous and honestly beyond stupid, but it has happened to me too many times already, so this tip is not just for others out there with dogs…

Don’t allow yourself to be distracted by electronics whilst out and about with your whippet, this gives a potential thief a golden opportunity to strike and snag your whippet from under your nose.

Always Keep A Watchful Eye

This one goes without saying but always keep a watchful eye over your whippet when you are out on walks.

If they are off-leash, then this is even more important.

Don’t allow them to run too far ahead, if you want to keep your eye on them then they should never be out of your eyesight.

It is such a common thing for whippets to be stolen off their lead whilst owners are distracted by something else, usually their cellphones or sunglasses.

Lock Doors At Home

Another precaution you should take to keep your whippet safe and secure is to always lock your doors at home when you are going out.

This one should be done regardless as burglary is on the rise too, but many people assume that because they live in a gated community or nice area that it doesn’t apply to them.

Thieves will intentionally go to these upper-class areas because they know that the occupants will leave their doors open thinking it’s safe.

If your whippet is at home, the door should always be locked, no matter where you live.

Keep Your Whippet On A Leash

If you hear of neighbours or other people’s dogs in your local area being stolen, then it’s important that you always keep your whippet on a leash during this time.

Don’t give thieves the opportunity to run off with your whippet because you couldn’t be bothered to keep them on a leash.

One of my friends had their whippet stolen when it slipped its collar and was chased down by thieves in a car.

It’s not worth having your dog stolen because you wanted to let them off the leash, they are still being exercised whilst walking beside you nice and safe.

Keep Tabs On Whos In Contact With Your Whippet

This one is important, many dog thefts happen because of tip-offs.

Meaning someone who knows you have a valuable dog has tipped a thief off and they’ve come to know that you have a valuable dog.

Keeping tabs on who’s in contact with your whippet is crucial as you never know who may find out if you’re telling everybody about your £3000 pedigree whippet.

As mentioned above, don’t give anyone specifics or information about how much your dog is worth unless they are trusted.

Report Suspicious Activity

If you notice any suspicious activity in your local area, be sure to report it to your local authority.

This will help them realise that this is a common thing for dogs to be stolen in your area, causing more attention to be drawn towards dog theft.

Secure Your Property

Ensuring you have CCTV in place at your home is a great way to not only protect your dog from theft but also your home from burglary.

Having CCTV in place is a great deterrent for burglars and will also help police to identify and convict any crooks.

If you don’t have the budget for a full CCTV system, there is no need to worry!

You can easily protect your property with a few security lights which automatically come on when it gets dark.

This gives off the message that there is someone home on the property.

Also, putting up a sign indicating there is CCTV in place will also stop thieves from attempting to break into your home.

Using A GPS Tracker To Easily Find Your Whippet

Having experienced many friends’ dogs being stolen, I now believe it’s absolutely necessary to own a GPS tracker to easily find your dog if it goes missing.

This is especially true if you don’t know the area too well, so if the worst does happen and they’ve been stolen then you can see exactly where they are by using a GPS tracker.

GPS trackers tell you their current location no matter what it’s doing, be it in your house or outside on holiday.

All you have to do is download an app onto your smartphone from the website or product description of a GPS tracker. Then, turn it on and follow the map!

Using a GPS tracker not only gives you peace of mind but allows you to locate to the exact coordinates where your dog is if it does get stolen.

This is super important as without this, it’s going to be incredibly difficult to track down a stolen dog.

Sadly many dogs that are stolen never get returned to their owners, which is why I prefer to always have a GPS tracker on my whippets.

I use a GPS tracker and collar together when I take my dogs for walks, this ensures I can always locate them if they go missing.

See the best GPS trackers for whippets in this post.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, whippet theft is increasing and I don’t think it’s going to slow down anytime soon.

This is why it’s important you take all of the above precautions, to ensure your whippet doesn’t get stolen.

I’ve been a victim of whippet theft, and it’s absolutely heartbreaking. So please do what you can to prevent the same from happening to you.

Hopefully, this post has learned you the importance of always being aware of your surroundings and how crucial it is to take extra precautions to ensure your whippet doesn’t get stolen.

If you found this post helpful and informative, please do not hesitate to share it on social media!

Thanks for taking the time to read this post and I really hope it helps keep your wonderful whippet safe.