Whippet driving me crackers! When do they calm down?!

[Richtea83]

My boy is 9 months old, he's an angel in the house but out of the house it's a different story. 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. Oh and he's normally barking and on his hind legs by this point.

I don't know what I'm doing wrong, we've been to training classes, he's fed a decent food and exercised regularly.

Please tell me it's just his age and he'll calm down?!

[elevenswan]

Watching with interest as my 9 month old puppy destroys the underneath of my sofa and rips apart all of my mail...

[DanielCraigsUnderpants]

They do go through an adolescent stage around 8 months (stroppy teenager phase) as their hormones start kicking in. So someone of it may well settle down, but it might be worth getting some more professional advice from a behaviourist. Does he go off lead?

and elevan- what have you tried with your chewer already?

[Richtea83]

He probably doesn't get enough off lead time. 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.

I think maybe I need to try and find some more off lead safe places so he can have a run. It's tough though as everywhere is either full of other dogs or livestock.

[CMOTDibbler]

Have a search for sighthound play groups - they're great for letting unreliable fast dogs off lead in secure locations. Or you can hire out secure fields in a suprising number of places. There is a FB group which lists them

[Afishcalledchips]

We're hoping that it's at about 12 years old.

[TrionicLettuce]

This is the FB group CMOT mentioned. It really is worth looking to see if there's anywhere you can hire near you. I always find mine are calmer and better behaved the more opportunity they have to really run.

I wouldn't expect the goading other dogs into chasing him to stop any time soon, it's pretty typical sighthound play!! I actually don't let my boys off lead with strange dogs much (only if they've already had a really good run and are nicely chilled out) as it's a play style that a lot of dogs don't appreciate. For all their dainty looks whippets really can be thuggish little things, particularly when they're in the "obnoxious teenager" phase.

If you can find a sighthound get together where you can introduce him to some others who he can run with (it's wise to start off with him muzzled at first) as it really does satisfy them like nothing else except chasing bunnies

It sounds like he's overly excited around other dogs more than anything else. This is a really good article about using clicker training with dogs who are overexcited greeters. It might also be worth picking up the training classes again (or seeing a trainer with their own dogs on a one to one basis) so you can do some work around other dogs in a controlled environment.

[elevenswan]

Daniel I feel like I've run out of ideas! He's got puzzles to keep him occupied, toys that are all different shapes and textures, and lots of chews like pizzles etc. Exercise and lots of fetch/tug of war and I've taught him no with treats so when he leave them alone he gets the treat. He wants my attention or to be played with constantly or he barks and if I turn my back for a second he starts finding stuff to destroy 🙁 thank god for baby gates!

[katonic]

Just takes time! 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. 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.
Really glad he changed as he did like that rough sighthound chasing with lots of excited noises, nipping at their back and tripping them up! Best to find other sighthound owners who understand it's play, not trying to murder their dog!

[Richtea83]

Thanks for the responses. 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. Nice to know he may eventually calm down!

[Veterinari]

eleven I can almost guarantee that you're inadvertently reinforcing the destruction by giving him attention (and any attention is good attention for some dogs) when he chews something he shouldn't.

Ignore the bad behaviour and redirect/praise when he focuses on something suitable.

[elevenswan]

Thanks vet I'll try that! Good luck richtea

[Whydidyoucallmethat]

Thanks so much for that link to dog exercising fields Trionic. 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. The one I found from your link is only 15 miles away and is much cheaper than I expected. I'm going to book a slot for the weekend.

[tkband3]

Our whippet is 5 months and is not too bad out of the house - he does love to play with other dogs though, but is learning to take notice of the cues when another dog isn't interested.

But he's driving me completely barmy in the evenings...our kitchen/dining room/family room is open plan and he spends most of his time in there. Once he hears me chopping or even just going into the kitchen he comes in, paws up on the counter and starts barking at me. It's a very enclosed space and so it's quite ear-shattering! I try distracting him with chews, kongs etc, but as soon as they're finished he's back!

Whereabouts are you Richtea? Would love to meet another whippet who likes running around - all the whippets we meet in the park are older and not much interested in playing.

[Richtea83]

Oh dear tkband3 that must be rather annoying! We're in Plymouth. I never find any sutiable dogs for mine to play with, all he does is annoy them.

[tkband3]

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!).

There's a great facebook group called Mad about Whippets - lots of great advice on there and you might find a whippet owner near you to meet up with for walks.

[Richtea83]

Thanks I'll take a look at that. Good luck with your boy!