Whippets And Separation Anxiety

[@treatch3]

We have a 2-1/2 year old female whippet who we got from a breed we have dealt with previously. She is our third whippet. She had some separation anxiety but its now much improved. We are both retired so the "default value" is that we are around with her. We stared her in a crate as soon as we got her home from the breeder at 8 weeks. However, she would go berserk in the crate when we would go out the front door, howling and carrying on like a madman, scratching at the crate continuously, tearing up anything in the crate, dragging any clothing or bedding left near the create through the little holes in the crate and then tearing it up, howling, barking, etc. We set up a wifi web cam so we could watch what happened when we were away and she would carry on for a long time - tens of minutes sometimes. It's not perfect, but she's much better now. She sometimes still carries on when we leave, but it's usually only for a minute, then she konks out. Here's what I think has helped. She's mellowed out some as she's aged, especially from about age two onwards. She's highly food motivated so we fed her in her crate to make it a positive association and through a handful of kibble (or better yet, cut up strawberries) in the crate anytime we put her in there. She ALWAYS goes in the create when we are eating a meal or going out, and it has reached the point where if we say "crate" in a sentence when my wife and I are talking to one another, she runs into the crate. She still carries on for a minute or so when we leave, then falls asleep. We followed advice we received and never make a big deal when we're leaving or when we come home. Our house is an open concept design so we installed three permanent baby gates when she was very young so we could control her movement around the house. For example, we didn't want her underfoot in the kitchen when we were cooking so we would close the baby gate to keep her in the living room/dining area. It think this helped as a form of teaching her that it's OK when we can't be up close all the time.

[@sherrilldean211]

😊I was pleasantly surprised… that your dog was under the blanket… even though I could take 1 dog to work with me … I think I’ll wait until I retire in three years and I’ve done my traveling and I will get to to help alleviate anxiety. I want a male and female and not necessarily puppies. We have whippet mixtures here that do pig hunting, but mine will just be for fun long walks. We have quite a few places that they can go off leash with that fenced in away from cars… mahalo nui loa … for your advice ( thanks) … you have lots of brown and Grindel. I prefer the grays and blacks with whites colors.

[@lesleyelder2826]

Out of my 3, the middle one Oliver has bad separation anxiety, if I leave the house he acts like I'm not coming home, so we decided to stop letting him follow us around the house especially when we go upstairs, which is slowly working. Whippets are just so adorable softies ❤

[@ShowPaws]

Good job for finding a way to deal with the issue. With patience and persistence it will be resolved for sure 💗

[@karenmartley797]

We have a camera set up so when we are out we can check on our whippet Winx....I think this helps with our (husband and myself) with separation anxiety... thank you for all your helpful tips. Xxxxxxx

[@campbellfamilypets6585]

Coming back to this video, thanks Addie for the refresher. Bug may be getting a brother in the near future, fingers crossed

[@robsalvv5853]

...I know exactly what you mean. I see Lacey is in her usual position! My boy has mild anxiety even though he has company with his sister. A regular morning routine with an enrichment toy treat, some supportive calming chews and confidence that I will return, has built up his resilience. Loved your video, especially the home snippets - I recognised similar whippety scenes in my home. :)

[@ShowPaws]

It's great that you have found a gentle way to manage that. 🤗

[@iheartse10]

Hello. It was useful that you mentioned how we, as whippet owners, might create ‘dependency’ or separation anxiety….but it’s so hard not to give them attention when they are so pleased to see you or want to nuzzle round your legs! As you say we ‘project’ a lot of our feelings about leaving them onto them! They can be very independent dogs….and as you said, it’s useful to teach good behaviours from the start. Ours knows that when we are eating he stays away from the table, he also knows that his place is on the mat when we go out to eat, so we can happily take him to a restaurant. We got ours just as the first lockdown hit England so we didn’t leave him as much as we might have and are still working on this. I don’t think he has separation anxiety..it’s more like “How dare you go out and have fun and not take me with you!”. We set the video to monitor..it’s getting better 😊

[@Baby_kayyy]

Thank you thank you thank you 🎉

[@alexlola4723]

our whippet had his own au-pair, we couldn't handle his separation anxiety. really. we tried everything. we got him when he was an adult and he was very afraid to forgive us even for a moment...

[@xray606]

I knew about the higher incidence of SA, but... I didn't really know what it meant. I thought it meant that if you leave all day, they'd get upset. Since I work at home I figured that wouldn't be an issue. But I didn't realize it meant you literally can't take the garbage out. I knew I was in trouble the day I picked up my boy and he was screaming bloody murder the whole way home. Then I left him for 10 minutes in his ex pen... I heard his screaming all the way out in the street, and then when I came back in, he had pee/poo all over the pen, and was just panting and shaking. After 3 sleepless nights for both of us, I was seriously thinking about taking him back. But I decided to stick it out. Honestly, I have often thought that was a mistake. My life has been massively affected in a negative way. I really can't go anywhere or do anything significant. He hates the car as well, so he doesn't want to go with either. I've tried all the training, but it never works. I've never pampered him, but it doesn't matter. So I pretty much gave up. I would warn people... Don't assume your dog will NOT have SA... Assume that they WILL have it. If you can't handle it, then maybe think of a different breed.

[@Baby_kayyy]

This is the perfect video thank you I really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience ❤

[@omnipresent1215]

Another great upload. Thank you SP. A question regarding behaviour of Whippets. All information I'm seeing so far seems to suggest that the only way to address undesirable behaviour is through positive rewards for good behaviour which I understand but does this mean that they will not respond at all to hearing a... deserved 'NO' when they are doing something wrong?

[@ShowPaws]

Good question! I use, support and recomment balanced methods of raising a whippet and teaching them things. I mainly use positive approach, treats and love. But I am also all about discipline and "no" or a strict "ah-ah" are something all my dogs learn from a very young age for stuff they aren't allowed to touch, places they're not supposed to go, etc. It's a huge topic I'm planning to make a video about at some point 😊

[@omnipresent1215]

Thank you for your honest answer. I'd like to think that Whippets 'can' be responsive to the odd scolding (for lack of a better word). Not necessarily harshly, but surely there will be times when you need to address (as I said before) undesirable behaviour(s). Even children need to 'be told' from time to time. Often for their own good/safety etc. 😉🙏🏻

[@treatch3]

@@omnipresent1215 It's essential to have a mixed approach, mainly positive reinforcement, but also using negative reinforcement when needed. For example, our whippet is incredibly food motivated and loved to counter surf at every opportunity. We tried an exclusively positive approach (for example, praising her for taking treats from the floor rather than jumping up) but it didn't get anywhere. We started using a sharp NO command (firm, not angry) whenever she tried to see what was on the counter and it has helped a lot. (We also reduced the reward of counter-surfing by leaving less food out.)

[@DarnWhippets]

One whippet is never enough.

[@ShowPaws]

Very true 🙈

[@richardcarey169]

Mine are drama queens and sulk for days even when I get home

[@TheDianaBarabas]

My whippet girl was almost perfectly behaved as a puppy when I was working on a strict schedule but ever since I took my sabbatical year, she has become much more clingy. She howls terribly as soon as I leave the house even though I leave her with family. After watchi g this video, I will start making more short trips without her and giving her a treT whenever I go out plus ignore her behaviour when I return and give her a treat when she xalmed down. Let s see what happens

[@laurenhollysmith36]

Did it work??

[@gmcrosa]

Thanks for the very good videos; as a recent whippet owner I am more than grateful for your dedication. Now I would appreciate your advice: Oliver, my three months whippet puppy is generally well behaved (he adapted very well to the crate and we already negotiate regarding the use of the furniture) but he tends to jumps in complete desperation while I am eating. Any suggestion?

[@GM-kp3ux]

Can you do a video about raising littermates from puppyhood?!

[@FallenCorpse900323]

I will have a whippet in the next year I think, until I'm financially okay and ready for taking care of a puppy and this video was really useful to me. Can you make a video in the future where you speak about their dramatic behaviour? Or their sensitivy. I heard they can crush if you speak with a kind of rude tone in your voice. How are they acting? How will it affect the training in the future. Thinking about a dog training school, and not every trainer know, that their personality can be stubborn. I'm really looking for a good school where I can learn how to teach them in the right way. Since January I'm searcing information about this breed, and reading tonns of topics. Someone suggests whippet as a first dog, someone says it's not the best choice for the first time mainly because of their instinct to chase (of course because they breed for chase things :) ). I know they can be stubborn, and you have to teach them in a really nice and kind way, making mentally training sessions a happy, interesting and not repeatative work for them. Thank you for your answer.

[@ShowPaws]

Thank you for doing a lot of research and preparing before getting a dog ❤ I will definitely make such a video and also on other breed specific traits. In terms of sensitivity, they all react differently depending on the specific situation. Whippets can be great first dogs to those who have done enough research and know what to be prepared for. They are more difficult, in comparison to working breeds, but with the right approach and understanding they are truly amazing companions. If you have any other specific questions, just ask away 💞

[@Clover13]

Just found your videos as we adopted a whippet mix puppy last week 😊 definitely can see those typical whippet traits in him already at only 10 weeks old! Thanks for these tips for separation anxiety, really would love to get our pup comfortable with being alone - having him in the crate at night has been an interesting experience so far 😂 if you have any tips for crate training a whippet pup specifically, please share! We have found that leaving radio on in room with him helps a little so he doesn’t feel totally alone!

[@Jun-js9cl]

Hi Chloe, thanks for sharing. But are you able to share what you mean by having your whippet pup "in the crate at night" being "an interesting experience"? Was it positive or negative, and how so? We are living in an apartment and are seriously considering getting a whippet and trying to ascertain how the first few months with a whippet puppy is going to be like. Thanks Chloe!

[@Oakleaf700]

I definitely helped create Separation anxiety in our first Lurcher....But am doing better with our third Whippet {Who is an ''Only'' at present} But I got her used to going in her crate for short times and now...She is asleep on the sofa in another room. I'd far rather she was with me...but must let her know it's ok to sometimes be alone in a room.

[@ShowPaws]

Great job with preventing anxiety 💗 It's great to teach them that being on their own is just as fine as having company.

[@Oakleaf700]

@@ShowPaws Thank you. Your channel gives such good advice on Whippets, who are such sensitive, affectionate little people.

[@emiliocalcines4479]

I have a question. What about Kennel training with a new whippet when they are a puppy? Does this help? As well, is it bad if after they are kennel trained we want them to sleep in the bed with us? Or should we create that boundary and not let them?? I just want what's best for them, but also cuddles if possible!!

[@ShowPaws]

Crate training can be very useful for different situations, for example when they are still in the naughty, destructive puppy stage and noone can keep an eye on them for the moment, potty training, traveling, etc. This doesn't mean that they need to sleep in the crate at night, so you can of course take them in bed with you. The idea is to teach them that the crate is a safe space and a place to be calm, whenever they need to be created. I hope that helped, but if not I will explain further 🤗

[@emiliocalcines4479]

@@ShowPaws Thank you so much for taking the time to respond! Really appreciate it :) This helped a lot!!