We have a 6 month old whippet. She is a lovely loving bonkers baby. I've had some great advice on here up till now and looking for more as we need to adjust our training as she grows up and responds differently. I am fully prepared to accept that we are doing stuff a bit wrong and change it !
We have been on 3 waiting lists for puppy classes since before we got her at 8 weeks so are doing our best with books and on line stuff and with previous experience of a very reactive working lab puppy which looking back we got a fair bit wrong ( although we followed the advice of our trainer... in retrospect she was an idiot ).
She is VERY mouthy/bitey in a playful non aggressive way and I know this is typical whippet velociraptor, we need to work to minimise it. She has loads of chews of different textures but ignores them all to chew feet, hands and furniture. I'm trying to discourage it without giving her attention but can't ignore as she just keeps going. She lunges at faces not biting but with her mouth open which MUST stop. Currently if she does it, she is immediately removed from the sofa and if she comes back at me, I stand and turn my back on her. On the dog programmes this appears to work in 5 minutes. She is still going strong 2 weeks later. Also she nips at my ankles and holds my trouser hems constantly, walking across the room, up the corridor, when we are out on walks. Its doing my head in , hurts and is trashing my clothes. I have tried standing still immediately she does it, she starts again as soon as I move , so maybe that's what she wants ? I've tried treats to get her to walk nicely but I think our treat heavy training was encouraging the jumping up so I'm trying more verbal reward and fuss.
She also wants to be with me ALL the time. We have done slow short separations, she sleeps fine in her crate all night, and in day time naps But if she is not asleep, she howls and cries the whole time I am out of her sight..even with kongs etc. Jr can go on a LONG time. She's utterly controlling my life. I need to do some work from home and can only do it in her terms when she fancies a nap. I totally know this is my fault but don't know how to move things forward.
I know its all quite minor but could become much bigger if we don't sort it. She gets 2 walks daily, and from previous advice I have changed them from longer distance walks to slower sniffy walks as her brain needs exercising more than her body. She has lots of opportunities for puppy zooming and running at home in very big secure garden, and lots of rest opportunities which I now enforce but popping her in her crate with me Internet toom, as she wasnt sleeping enough for her age.
Any tips appreciated !!!!