Help! Boisterous whippet

[Willowby]

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any advice please? We rehomed a male whippet in March, he's 2 and half now. We already have a whippet the same age so thought it was a good idea. He is adorable but it is very clear that he had no boundaries at all! We have taught him the usual, sit, lie down and wait. He is fab with recall as long as there are no distractions. We have problems in the house as he still acts like a pup, ie, chewing things and emptying the bin! Our main problem is that he chases small dogs and pins them down, he doesn't hurt them but tries to play and I've no idea how to stop it. I now just keep him on the lead but its driving him crazy. We have a miniature yorkie but he doesn't do it to her because she's older so doesn't run round much. We've had him neutered in hope it would calm him down a bit but it hasn't! Whenever he sees another dog he jumps around everywhere barking and trying to get off his lead to play with it but I'm worried one day he'll hurt one with how rough he is, it does look like he's going in to attack but he isn't, but to a small dog they must be frightened to death

 

[JudyN]

Welcome to the forum - we have a few whippet owners here, so hopefully some one can help.

What do you feed him on? I'm wondering if a different food might make him a little less hyper.

For chewing in the house, I'd give him lots of alternatives to chew, such as large cardboard boxes to shred. It's messy, but a better option than your shoes. Try to be as tidy as possible and put away anything you don't want him to chew. As for the bin, either put it where he can't get it, such as under the sink, or get one he can't open - SimpleHuman bins are meant to be good.

You do need to stop him pinning other dogs when out, because the more he does it the more the habit will be fixed. (And also for the sake of the other dog of course.) Do you know of anywhere you can let him off lead where there won't be other dogs? There's a website that lists enclosed dog walking fields, but I don't know if they have details of ones where only one dog is allowed in at a time: The Original Listings Site for Enclosed Dog Walking Fields in the UK If you can face it, walking him at silly o'clock in the morning when there's no other dogs around might help.

 

[lurcherman]

As he’s 2 and you don’t know his background it’s train train train, lots of exercise, mine whip x was a bit mad early but good exercise calmed him loads .

 

[Whippylove]

Hi i have whippets and they can be a hand full! Chewing things is really common in some whippets my 3 year old still chews, tears and destroys things I just have to keep a close eye on him I bought lots of chew toys so he can take his Chewing out on them.
I would definitely keep him on the lead if he's pinning dogs down that's not good i understand he needs to run but you need to stop him, is there somewhere else you can run him? My 3 year old would pin my youngest down a lot everytime he did it I would put him back on his lead and his playtime would stop. When a whippet sees something small an furry they can just go in for the chase. Was it this march you got him? If it is he's probably still settling in it can take longer for an older whippet.

 

[lurcherman]

For little thin dogs they can be bully boys at times, mine was trying to be boss over my saluki x , I stepped in at times but I let them get on with it and finally the saluki x gave him a telling off and from that point it got mor friendly, consistent rules and training is all I can offer, nice deep voice when telling him he’s doing wrong,

 

[Willowby]

I do let him off the lead but I'm constantly on guard , the second I see another dog I put him back on the lead otherwise he'll go diving over like a crazy animal. I can only describe him as a dog with ADHD. Everything and everyone is exciting to him and he goes in at 100mph. His training at home is excellent but in the outdoors its like hes completely forgot it all. I've trained him recall with the whistle but he won't come back if there's another dog.

 

[Willowby]

Welcome to the forum - we have a few whippet owners here, so hopefully some one can help.

What do you feed him on? I'm wondering if a different food might make him a little less hyper.

For chewing in the house, I'd give him lots of alternatives to chew, such as large cardboard boxes to shred. It's messy, but a better option than your shoes. Try to be as tidy as possible and put away anything you don't want him to chew. As for the bin, either put it where he can't get it, such as under the sink, or get one he can't open - SimpleHuman bins are meant to be good.

You do need to stop him pinning other dogs when out, because the more he does it the more the habit will be fixed. (And also for the sake of the other dog of course.) Do you know of anywhere you can let him off lead where there won't be other dogs? There's a website that lists enclosed dog walking fields, but I don't know if they have details of ones where only one dog is allowed in at a time: The Original Listings Site for Enclosed Dog Walking Fields in the UK If you can face it, walking him at silly o'clock in the morning when there's no other dogs around might help.

Hi, I feed him on James well-behaved biscuits

 

[Tinytom]

I do let him off the lead but I'm constantly on guard , the second I see another dog I put him back on the lead otherwise he'll go diving over like a crazy animal. I can only describe him as a dog with ADHD. Everything and everyone is exciting to him and he goes in at 100mph. His training at home is excellent but in the outdoors its like hes completely forgot it all. I've trained him recall with the whistle but he won't come back if there's another dog.

What are you feeding him. ..

 

[lurcherman]

I was lucky with my dogs as only injuries they got was a few cut eyes and a chest wound but I’d watch out as if he’s running at full throttle then broken bones will be a worry, not just the dogs but humans also , I clocked my whip x once at 30 mph

 

[Willowby]

What are you feeding him. ..

James wellbeloved biscuits twice a day but evening meal they also get meat or fish

 

[Willowby]

I was lucking with my dogs as only injuries they got was a few cut eyes and a chest wound but I’d watch out as if he’s running at full throttle then broken bones will be a worry, not just the dogs but humans also , I clocked my whip x once at 30 mph

I have had a few bruises where they have ran into me! My bitch whippet is fab but we got her from a pup. I'm just worried he's stuck in his ways now! I've tried a muzzle which he hates and people then think he's an aggressive dog but he's not just full of energy and wants to play non stop

 

[Tinytom]

James wellbeloved biscuits twice a day but evening meal they also get meat or fish

You may find changing his food to a better quality. ..lower protein may help in his behaviour. ...sighthounds ideally want a kibble less than 18% protein. ...