Whippet Breed Behaviour
The Whippet looks like a small Greyhound. Both breeds are members of the sight hound family, which means that they hunt prey animals (rats, rabbits, etc.) by spotting movement and taking it out at great speed. Bred in the 19th century, originally to chase rabbits in an arena. They are a combination of the terrier and small greyhounds.
Positives Traits of Whippets:
- Gentle and friendly with humans.
- Calm in the home
- Good with children
- Very trainable
- Sociable with other dogs
Gentle Temperament
The Whippet is very sweet-natured and docile, but at the same time, playful and athletic. They will happily sleep for hours, and then tear round the garden like a coiled spring.
Responsive to Training
As with any breed of dog, they need clear leadership and training from a young age, but do not respond well harsh leadership, as they are by nature very sensitive, particularly to individuals who may have a tendency to shout!
Are Whippets Good Family Dogs?
They make amazing family pets, and can live very well with children, other dogs, cats and other small furry members of the family such as guinea pigs etc. This may be contested by others, but having a Whippet myself, I know this to be true.
Are Whippets Good With Other Dogs?
The Whippet is a very sociable breed that are happy to engage and play with other dogs they meet either in the street of at the local dog park, provided they are socialised on a regular basis.
Potential Behavioural challenges of whippets:
- Prone to injury
- Very high prey drive
- High energy outside
- Prone to separation anxiety
Whippet Exercise and Energy Requirements
The Whippet has a huge amount of energy to burn off when outside, and as such require frequent and regular exercise. They can reach speeds of up to 30mph which makes them a formidable hunter.
Unfortunately, this can also make them very prone to injury. Due to their light frame and high speeds, they can suffer torn cruciate ligaments, broken toes, and even broken legs.
Whippet Prey Drive and Recall
The Whippet has an incredibly high prey drive, which can make them very difficult to control outside. Without complete control of your Whippet when out on a walk, if they see or smell a prey animal, forget about it, they are gone.
With the right training however, and a huge amount of patience, they can be taught to disengage from the chase, although I should point out that this takes a huge amount of commitment to achieve. They are not a breed for inactive owners, and a couple of 20 minute lead walks per day will simply not cut it for this breed.
Separation Anxiety in Whippets
Whippets can be quite controlling of their owners, by way of gentle pokes with the nose and small vocalisations within the home. They like to hover around you, and consistently invade your space.
Many owners find this to be endearing, but it can often lead to quite acute separation anxiety. For this reason, it is healthy for the owner to practice separation in a positive way, so as to allow their Whippet to remain calm, and self-assured, particularly if they need to be on their own for any period of time.
Overall, the Whippet is a lovely breed of dog with an easy temperament that can make a great addition to any individual, or family environment.
Need help with whippet behaviour?
Azz Rainey has experience working with a wide range of behavioural issues in dogs, including, separation anxiety, destructive behaviour, aggression, reactivity, high prey drive, extreme fear and resource guarding.
Support is available through in-person one to one sessions across Oxfordshire, Gloucester, Swindon and Evesham as the surrounding areas, as well as online dog behaviour consultations and ongoing support packages.
If you need help with your Whippets behaviour, don’t hesitate to get in touch below to discuss the most suitable support for you and your dog.
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