ABOUT WHIPPETS

Those of us who have been blessed with the presence of a Whippet consider them to be nature's best kept secret.  The Whippet is a wonderful, gentle, sensitive soul, who responds instinctively to what their owners want from them.  Harsh corrections are not needed when training a Whippet, but rather a harsh word is generally sufficient.  A Whippet should never be struck, as a method of punishment, since their sensitive side will react and that would devastate their day.

The Whippet is an active and playful dog as puppies and develop into calm and loyal companions upon reaching adulthood.  It is strongly recommended to use a cage/crate when training a puppy, since Whippet puppies can be very mischievous and will get themselves into trouble when left to their own devices.  Housebreaking a Whippet is rather easy, since they are very clean by nature, and learn quickly not to soil the area they consider their home.  The use of the crate is very important during this stage.

Whippet puppies are like most puppies, in that they like to dig and chew.  It is recommended that a number of soft stuffed toys, natural beef chew bones, and other dog safe toys be provided for the puppy to give it many different options for things to play with, so as to avoid boredom. 

Additionally, it is very important to give a Whippet plenty of exercise daily.  This would include leash walking, free running, and play.  A Whippet needs plenty of mental and physical stimulation to keep them healthy both mentally and physically.

Another consideration that must be mentioned is the Whippet breeds tendency toward owner dependency, which can result in separation anxiety if not handled properly when the puppy is still young.  While we all want to hug and cuddle and spoil our puppy rotten, especially the first few weeks we have them, doing this with a Whippet can result in an overly dependent Whippet.  To avoid this outcome, it is recommended that the Whippet be left alone for a few hours each day, in their crate, so they will learn it is o.k. to be left alone.  This concept is very similar to that exercised with human infants, when parents are told not to hold the baby constantly and to allow the baby to cry for a short time before rushing to pick them up.  This will help to teach the concept of self-soothing, which is a very important thing for any young Whippet.

Whippets can be very manipulative, and how can we refuse those huge dark eyes and sad expression, right?  Believe me when I tell you that Whippets will quickly take charge and rule the household, if you do not teach them from the beginning who is boss.  Don't ever let a Whippet get the upper hand, since it will set the tone for future challenges you will ultimately face.  It is important for the Whippet to understand that they are not the alpha of your pack, and they are submissive to all human members of your household.  Once this hierarchy is achieved, you will find the Whippet to be a very loving and wonderful addition to the family. 

The average life expectancy of the Whippet is 12-15 years. Whippets have been recorded to live a number of years longer, with the oldest recorded Whippet living to 21 years of age.   The Whippet is a wonderful family pet, with a short soft coat, and frequent bathing is not necessary, since the breed has little if any doggie odor, due to their primarily oil-free coat.  While the Whippet does shed, it's haircoat is softer in texture and not wirey, so it comes off easily in the dryer, and vacuum up easily off floors and furniture.  Whippets are noted for the gentle nature around children, and when challenged or frightened, will generally run away, rather than confront and/or bite.