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The doghouse

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Original poster

8 month old whippet making me depressed

40 replies

Kione · 08/06/2022 19:39

He is still weeing inside, chewing furniture, destroying things, trying to rob food.

He is 3 hours alone tops a day.

Walked on a field where he can run.

Using kongs and chews.

It is really bringing me down, am putting on weight cos I just can't cook and enjoy a sitting down meal. I am not bonding with him and I feel awful.

Any words of encouragement please? I am in tears almost every day.

OP posts:
Mygosh · 08/06/2022 20:21

Awe, bless you. Pets generally bring joy to our lives. Can you afford to take him to dog training? Even if you've had dogs before this might help. My mum had a German shepherd that had been caged for years, it went to a dog trainer who turned its life around. If you have a garden can you leave the door open to your garden? Then praise him every time he goes outside to the toilet. When you are cooking and eating is there somewhere you can put the dog? Outside if the weather permits? I would imagine that these types of dogs need lots of exercise, is he getting enough, twice a day? If you really feel you can't bond with him it would be better for the dog to get him rehomed whilst he's still young.

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 08/06/2022 20:26

All dogs are arseholes for the first year, and whippets are arseholes anyway. But they are amazing, and it does get better, I promise (owner of a whippet x saluki).

Scaredypup · 08/06/2022 21:30

I feel the same. Mines 9 months and an absolute nightmare when everyone’s else’s seems to have calmed down a bit by now.
i can’t do housework anymore. Everything is 10x harder. I’m trying to remain hopeful.

Didiplanthis · 08/06/2022 21:43

I have an 8 month old whippet... still chewing, stealing and destroying anything she can get hold of..the more high value ( or the more she shouldn't have it ) the better. I can do NOTHING without her being a little bugger to get my attention.... she is like a spoilt naughty demanding toddler, despite firm boundaries and lots of training. I am surviving by putting her in day care 2 days a week so i can work/ do admin/ go upstairs/ wee..... thankfully she is the snuggliest, funniest thing I gave ever cone across. But she is NOT a dog she is Satan's pixie 🤬

Didiplanthis · 08/06/2022 21:45

Satan's pixie....

8 month old whippet making me depressed
Original poster
Kione · 08/06/2022 22:22

Aw thanks for all the replies!
Glad I am not alone and glad for the promise that it gets better 🙏

I have a back patio and door is open most of the time now that the weather is better and we do praise him when he goes out. Still sneaks upstairs to wee always in my kids rooms, I have shampooed the carper several times!

They don't need to exercise for a long time, but need that energy release, he has 2 short walks for toileting and one at the field for running.

Can't really afford a trainer, but if he doesn't calm down I'll take a bloody loan if needed!

And doggy daycare worked well for 3 visits, and now suddenly he is petrified when we go...

OP posts:
Original poster
Kione · 08/06/2022 22:26

I put him out when the kids are eating but ge cries and scratches the door. Maybe we have to stick to that.

My house layout doesn't help, no door in the kitchen, or option of putting one and direct access to stairs. I can put him in the living room. The bugger even learnt to open doors! But I have put a device to make it unable to push down the door handle.

OP posts:
Original poster
Kione · 08/06/2022 22:27

Satan's pixie is a cutie.

Here is our whirlwind

8 month old whippet making me depressed
OP posts:
userxx · 08/06/2022 22:40

@Didiplanthis what a beauty! Looks like butter wouldn't melt.

Floralnomad · 09/06/2022 00:58

Leaving the door open really doesn’t help with house training , you need to actually be out there with them every single time , he’s not peeing indoors to annoy you , he’s doing it because he’s not really got the idea that outside is good and inside is definitely not .

Dozycuntlaters · 09/06/2022 01:21

I agree with above poster. Don't leave the back door open, he needs to learn that the main reason he goes outside is for the loo. When I toilet trained my pup I used a bell, outside just for the loo then straight back inside. I didn't let her go in and out of her own accord until she was completely trained.

Original poster
Kione · 09/06/2022 01:27

Ah thank you! I didn't realize that!

Well fingers crossed not leaving the door open helps!

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Floralnomad · 09/06/2022 01:48

If it’s any help our terrier , who was an older rescue pup but completely untrained took a while to get house training and I think the thing that clinched it eventually was me catching him mid wee , scooping him up and running to the garden saying outside as we ran . It also may help to teach him a command word if you’ve not done so already - we use go quick .

Original poster
Kione · 09/06/2022 07:11

I was told not to do that but to absolutely ignore it when he goes inside.
I do use "go wee wees!" When he is out, it works, just not all the time

OP posts:
Original poster
Kione · 09/06/2022 07:12

Dozycuntlaters · 09/06/2022 01:21

I agree with above poster. Don't leave the back door open, he needs to learn that the main reason he goes outside is for the loo. When I toilet trained my pup I used a bell, outside just for the loo then straight back inside. I didn't let her go in and out of her own accord until she was completely trained.

I will not leave the door open now but what about when my son is playing out etc. we all use the back patio...

OP posts:
Dinosaur975326788900864322456778899900754543 · 09/06/2022 07:17

Give her a high reward treat when ever she wees outside. A bit of chicken or whatever. No attention and totally ignore her when she wees inside

StopGo · 09/06/2022 07:27

We found a spray to break down the enzymes in urine really helped as it actually broke down the wee scent.

The hourly putting her out in the garden and telling her to toilet really helped. Watching my 6 foot plus son going the "wee wee dance" is priceless but it works.

I also ignore inappropriate wees and just quietly clean up. She's 11 months now and very few mishaps.

We crate trained and it's a controversial subject. Madam likes to retreat to her space, opening the door and tucking herself up.

coffeecupsandfairylights · 09/06/2022 07:35

I will not leave the door open now but what about when my son is playing out etc. we all use the back patio...

Either keep him in or out - if he's not toilet trained then he'll just get confused about where the boundaries are otherwise.

So keep him outside so he can't have accidents, or inside with supervision so that you can let him out if necessary.

I also recommend doggy doorbells.

Flaunch · 09/06/2022 07:36

My half whippet would be an absolute nightmare on such little exercise tbh and would have been unbearable at 8 months old. Get him out for some long walks, do some training so he can go off lead away from an enclosed dog field and try and tire him out a bit. A tired dog is a happy dog.

coffeecupsandfairylights · 09/06/2022 07:52

Oh, and how much exercise is he getting?

My friend has a young whippet and she gets at least two hours a day - ideally off the lead so she can run.

While it's true that whippets are generally built for short bursts, all young dogs need a decent amount of exercise regardless of breed. I'd be looking at least 90 minutes a day, split over two walks at a minimum.

Original poster
Kione · 09/06/2022 07:53

He goes off the leash on a field, full pelt running for at least 40 minutes during the week, more at the weekend. the other two walks are on the leash for about 20min.

OP posts:
Original poster
Kione · 09/06/2022 07:54

Will increase the walks, thanks.

OP posts:
coffeecupsandfairylights · 09/06/2022 07:55

Remember - a tired dog is a happy dog Smile

Is the destruction occurring when you go out? I'm just wondering whether it's more separation anxiety than because he's got too much energy.

Roystonv · 09/06/2022 07:57

Sorry you are having problems. Had lots of whippet/lurcher types. Does your house set up allow a stair gate at the bottom. Like early potty trained child take him out often, have a phrase you use and praise when he goes and maybe a small treat too. He is gorgeous. Good luck they are testing at this age but once they settle are wonderful.

Flaunch · 09/06/2022 08:00

Mine gets about 2 and a half hours off lead walks everyday too tbh and is an absolute dickhead if he doesn’t get them. His most favourite thing when he’s feeling hard done by is finding something plastic and noisily destroying it under my bed at 2am and he did once wee in my doc martins! He’s 17 months now and a dream dog as long as he’s exercised enough. tbh I don’t think there’s many dog problems that can’t be solved with more exercise 😂

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