Every so often one takes his fancy and he has a bit of a run, but I think he gets the most pleasure out of chasing his frisbee (or squirrels), so other dogs just lost their attraction. attitude toward training, Emotional sensitivity to stress and abrupt changes in schedule, You can avoid some negative traits by choosing an ADULT dog from an, If you want a puppy, you can avoid some negative traits by choosing the, Finally, you can avoid some negative traits by. Have a search for sighthound play groups - they're great for letting unreliable fast dogs off lead in secure locations. No part of this website may be copied, displayed on another website, or distributed in any way without permission from the author. Used as an inhalant drug to get high. So a properly exercised Whippet will be calm and peaceful, and will sleep just fine each night. Our whippet would tear around like crazy after every dog in the park until about 18 months old, but after that he really chilled out and now at 5.5years he practically ignores all other dogs, to the point where he pointedly ignores ones that want to play with him. With a calm demeanor (with spurts of energy), an intelligent mind, curious nature, and affection for family, the Beagle Whippet mix does great with children of all ages and loves other household pets. Whippets do not tend to climb fences, they are marvelous jumpers and can be escape artists but as far as I know they are not especially keen on fence climbing. in an excited voice. Subscribe to Mumsnet emails direct to your inbox. Both breeds are members of the sighthound  family, which hunts prey animals (rats, rabbits, etc.) When do they calm down?! The nails should be checked and trimmed periodically, but well-exercised dogs will wear them down naturally. This will also help prevent them from being anxious or aggravating their anxiety. Whippets are friendly, affectionate, and calm. The following list will help you decide if a whippet is suitable for your home. Whippets are notorious for their love of running, affectionate nature and being all-round amazing pets. Whippets love running games and require short bursts of vigorous exercise each day. But once he gets older, once you show him where safe and comfortable are, and where play and fun are, he'll turn into a great dog. The Whippet is calm and affectionate, with an amiable disposition. Keep in mind that the inheritance of temperament is less predictable than the inheritance of physical traits such as size or shedding. At five weeks, our Whippet puppies are racing up and down the stairs. If you do bathe them, try to do it on a warm day and towel dry them in the sun. Whippets are known to be affectionate, playful and calm, and they prefer being house dogs. Whippets don’t tend to smell, so bathing should be on a need-to-do basis. The Whippet, of course, looks like a small Greyhound. Bathing & Grooming The one I found from your link is only 15 miles away and is much cheaper than I expected. Stay calm and collected, if not for yourself, for your whippet. Under-exercised Whippets are known for going on hyperactive "tears" even when indoors: running like bullets through the house, knocking over everything in their paths. When this begins depends on growth rate, personality, level of training and home life. It’s quite normal for whippets to have a lot of energy, they have small bodies with large muscles and love to let off steam by running. Good luck with your boy! Whippet puppies can be mischievous and destructive, but adults are calm, undemanding, and unobtrusive indoors, trotting around with a light-footed easy grace and seldom making a peep. About the author: Michele Welton has over 40 years of experience as a Dog Trainer, Dog Breed Consultant, and founder of three Dog Training Centers. Whippets are mildly stubborn, but also very sensitive. The Houston SPCA explains that most puppies become fully able to use all of their senses and start to play with their littermates at around three to four weeks old. Temperament and behavior are also shaped by raising and training. They favor no… Share The Whippet is extremely fast, capable of reaching speeds up to 35 mph. Whippets were initially bred to race and with their 35 miles per hour top speed, it is fair to say they are good at it. At six months they can leap onto your kitchen counters. Thanks so much for that link to dog exercising fields Trionic. I recommend these dog training videos that are based on respect and leadership. I've been searching for one since we got our pair of lurchers 7 months ago and was beginning to think there were none in scotland. I'm going to book a slot for the weekend. See All of Michele's Best-Selling Dog Books, 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy, Homemade Dog Food Delivered To Your House, Puppy Training Schedule: What To Teach, and When, Solve Behavior Problems By Teaching Your Dog To Respect You, Looks like a medium-sized Greyhound, with a slender, elegant, racy build and a graceful, lightfooted gait, Has a sleek easy-care coat that comes in many colors, Indoors, is quiet and dignified, undemanding and unobtrusive, Outdoors, is playful and athletic and gallops with breathtaking speed, Is polite with everyone, including other dogs, Providing a safe enclosed area where he can occasionally gallop, Strong instincts to chase other living creatures that run, Fearfulness and timidity when not socialized enough, An independent "what's in it for me?" Even if it means driving in the car. Copyright © 2000-2020 by Michele Welton. They compete in different kinds of amateur racing and lure coursing.They were initially used a lot for a type of racing known as Whippet rags, where owners would entice the whippet at the end of the track by waving a rag for them to jump up and grab. He just has such an obsession with other dogs, there's been a few times I've let him off thinking there was no one else around only for him to go hurtling off into the distance in pursuit of another dog. Give your whippet plenty of love, hugs, inside time and walks. Whippets are naturally skinny dogs and have a tiny amount of body fat. Dog training videos. Whippet puppies can be mischievous and destructive, but adults are calm, undemanding, and unobtrusive indoors, trotting around with a light-footed easy grace and seldom making a peep. Whippets are one of the fastest domesticated dog breeds of their height. There are, however, a few things that can affect a Whippet’s quality of life that Whippet owners should be aware of. They’re accepting with new people, but are prone to extreme shyness. This leads to a vicious circle of anxiousness. They have a low percentage of body fat and a thin coat so they do not make good kennel dogs. Like most grown up whippets, my girls have 2 … 1. All of my whippets have stopped their major chewing between 18 months and 2 years of age. Puppies are always a challenge, and whippetare very high energy even for puppies. In temperament, Whippets are known as calm, affectionate, playful dogs. They'll still get into edible stuff if you leave it out, all their lives. They do go through an adolescent stage around 8 months (stroppy teenager phase) as their hormones start kicking in. Whippet Dog Breed - Temperament. If you want to learn more about Whippets’ speed and which dogs they can outrun, this article will guide you. If they see a rabbit, a squirrel or anything else of interest, they will be gone in a flash. by spotting movement and running the unfortunate animal down blazing speed. Sometimes it's easier to train your puppy (or adult dog) when you can see the correct training techniques in action. (17 Posts) Add message | Report. More traits and characteristics of the Whippet. Personally I think that the sighthound breeds do best in homes without young children. Whippets are inveterate thieves. I always tell prospective owners to get a 2 year old or older. The same dog who will curl up under the blankets – a perfect couch potato, sleeping for hours – will tear enthusiastically around the yard, darting and zigzagging and turning on a dime without slowing down. Whippets are very fast, and can cover a lot of ground very quickly at speeds approaching 35mph. My boy is 9 months old, he's an angel in the house but out of the house it's a different story. Find Whippet Puppies and Breeders in your area and helpful Whippet information. The Beagle and the Whippet do have similar temperaments, which makes it wonderfully easy for us to tell you how your Whippet Beagle mix may behave! Just takes time! They do insist on the luxury of being up on the furniture, so if this offends you, you shouldn't consider a sighthound. In full motion, the Whippet's body is full… At nine months they can leap from behind the sofa and land on the floor in front of it. I recommend that you find ways of correcting your whippet without being too harsh so that they can be comfortable with you. If you are considering getting a whippet, you need to carefully consider whether or not you can offer the best possible environment for this breed. They Get Cold. Oh and he's normally barking and on his hind legs by this point. Their double-suspension gallop and flexible body language enable them to run easily at a speed that is much faster than any other breed. I think what he really needs is a big open feild and another sighthound to play with, no way I'm getting another one though. A dog's energetic spirit is part of his charm, and he should always keep that smoldering fire throughout life. Living Needs The ideal living situation for a whippet, as with most dogs, will include a securely fenced yard—for whippets, this means a fence that is at least 6 feet high because these dogs are extremely agile. Richtea83 Fri 20-Jan-17 11:49:14. So someone of it may well settle down, but it might be worth getting some more professional advice from a behaviourist. Whippet races usually took place on a straight track that spread down roads and across fields. However, the crazy puppy days do subside, and dogs begin to mellow as they mature. Whippet temperament, personality, training, behavior, pros and cons, advice, and information, by Michele Welton, Dog Trainer, Behavioral Consultant, Author of 15 Dog Books, The AKC Standard says the Whippet is "amiable, friendly, gentle, but capable of great intensity during sporting pursuits.". Does he go off lead? The whippet may also start shaking uncontrollably and may take some time to calm down or stop the shaking. I realise this is most likely due to his age and is something we will grow out of but is there anything we can do to try and calm this down or stop this now? The Whippets would chase a rag or piece of cloth, and the contests became known as rag races. Probably if whippets could express their preferences, they would put at the top of their "favorite friends list" first loving humans, then other whippets, sighthounds and finally other dogs. They respond favorably only to calm, upbeat training methods that emphasize praise and food. To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account. As a precaution, Whippets should be safely and consistently exposed to new environments, noises, and people during puppyhood and throughout their lives. Do this to get him excited to come to you. I hope this little rescued whippet has a second chance and finds a "forever family" soon. To use this feature subscribe to Mumsnet Premium - get first access to new features see fewer ads, and support Mumsnet. All rights reserved. That being said, a whippet left alone for long stretches or without exercise can lose its calm and eat through the curtains and couch. Polite with strangers, the Whippet should be accustomed to people and noises at an early age. These ‘tears’ are rarely destructive; whippets are not given to bodyslamming the bookcase or clearing the coffee table with a sweep of the tail. There it is a pain reliever and can also be administered to calm an anxious patient. Nice to know he may eventually calm down! Hula is an agitated little dog, but learns to stop barking and meet others. This is an appropriate outlet for the full-speed galloping behaviors that are "hardwired" into your Whippet's genes. When you love your dog, you want to take your pet with you wherever you go. Instead, ensure they feel safe first and foremost and then very gradually and slowly introduce them to situations whilst rewarding calm behaviour. He probably doesn't get enough off lead time. They have a low to the ground pace that is free-moving and vigorous. Why does my Whippet shiver? When he gets at least ten feet away, then say his name and tell him to "Come!" He is peaceful with other dogs but has a high prey drive and cannot be trusted with smaller pets. In order to predict when your puppy may calm down, it's helpful to understand how puppies grow, both physically and mentally. An expert researcher and author of 15 books about dogs, she loves helping people choose, train, and care for their dogs. Like Greyhounds, Whippets feel the cold. Whippets love to have company and are often friendly towards other dogs. The Whippet is actually a very old breed, having been recognized by the AKC in 1888. Thanks for the responses. If you invite a Whippet into your household, though, you will have to make sure that he gets enough exercise – about an hour or two in any given day. Nitrous oxide found in small metal cannisters used in refillable whipped cream cannisters. There is a FB group which lists them. The Whippet is a very active, athletic breed that tends to be very healthy, especially compared to other purebred dogs. The Whippet is sweet-natured and docile, yet playful and athletic. He's uncontrollable around other dogs as he just wants to leap on them and chase, he pulls me around all over the place trying to get to every other dog/person we pass. We're hoping that it's at about 12 years old. The Whippet is a Sight Hound, originally bred to run fast and chase game. All Whippet found here are from AKC-Registered parents. However Oscar, our whippet charges around and jumps on the other dogs trying to engage them in play fights. As whippets are very in tune with their owners emotions (as with all dogs), an owner's own anxiousness about their dog getting anxious will project onto the dog itself. Whippets are a quiet and intelligent breed, and do not bark unnecessarily. My boy is 9 months old, he's an angel in the house but out of the house it's a different story. They are not edgy nor nervous by nature, but if they see something to chase, they're off! You should plan for your Whippet to be a house dog most of the time – or consider a different breed. That's a bit far for us (we're in North London) - especially as he's sick pretty much every time he gets in the car (even a 2 minute journey!). Whippets are usually calm in the house but most have spells of running and leaping about in play a few times a day. Should you consider a Whippet if you have young children? He'll settle down eventually. A full-grown adult whippet can reach a breakneck speed of 58 km/h. More often than not my whippets enjoy a good game of catch with other whippets and sighthounds, while their relationship with other breeds is less predictable. Allow your Whippet to wander at least ten feet away from you on the long leash. So, how fast can a Whippet dog run? These sensitive dogs often feel overwhelmed by the loud voices and quick movements that children can't help making – and stress and shyness may be the result. It depends on the individual dog and the individual children. If I was considering a Whippet, I would be most concerned about... See if there is a dog club in your area that offers an activity called lure coursing, which is chasing a mechanical lure in a controlled setting. The Whippet possesses a lean body with long legs, enabling it to run at a very high pace to cover a lot of ground within a very short time with the smallest amount of energy expended. It is typically administered during dental procedures as an alternative to general anesthesia or other forms of sedation. Most sighthounds tend to be touch-sensitive, tending to startle a bit when touched unexpectedly or grabbed for a hug. This small, light pup can be a relaxed and friendly companion indoors, and an … They do insist on the luxury of being up on the furniture, so if this offends you, you shouldn't consider a … Whippets are very calm and carefree, but they should still be kept on a leash during walks and runs. Be prepared to have a selection of clothing and warm blankets for these sensitive little dogs. The area must be fenced, for this racy breed is the fastest dog of his weight: he can run up to 35 mph. Or you can hire out secure fields in a suprising number of places. Here are a few exercise ideas: Walking: Two 30-minute walks per day is a good target When you call him, act goofy at the same time by jumping up and down, shuffling your feet, or waving your arms around. The problem is that most dog training videos on the internet are worthless, because they use the wrong training method. Thanks I'll take a look at that.