8 month old whippet making me depressed

[Kione]

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.

No, while am at home too, and of course we ask him to stop. And then barks 😭

Really sad to read this.

There's a really good FB Dog Training group, which I've found really helpful, as you forget between pups. Plus it changed my mindset to one where if the dog has problems, it's more their needs are not being met & not their fault. It's been interesting as that helped me relax but my DH still got stressed.

We took ages to house train our first dog (terrier) but with subsequent pups (whippets) found it much easier. Take them outside after food, play & sleep.

Get the Simple Solution spray for any patches inside, as if they've had no option but to go inside, the smell remains.

Put yourself in their head, you want them to go outside but that option perhaps wasn't there when needed, before they could "hold". Now they're old enough to hold, they are still going inside where marked & their special person stays inside too.

Whippets aren't good alone, we still don't leave ours, which isn't an option for everyone.

I say this very kindly but JR Whippet Rescue are very good if you get to a point it's not sustainable. It does sound like you're both struggling. Gets better as time goes on, if it doesn't, definitely seek help.

Stair gate? Go outside regularly with the dog, don’t leave door open.

Stair gate not possible due to lay out.

A lady at work gas a farm with horses and 3 hounds, she said she'll have him if we want and I know he will be super happy there... but of course don't want to break the DC hearts

Get the Simple Solution spray for any patches inside, as if they've had no option but to go inside, the smell remains.

I will, thanks, I spent a fortune in carpet cleaners too... I am worried it has soaked through. I already had to remove the rug downstairs

I know people mean well, but the kind of exercise people are talking about is far too much for a dog that age, they really shouldn’t be doing anything more that an hour a day until they are over a year as it’s terrible for their joint development.

the teenage phase is awful, but sounds like a bit more than that. Maybe back to basics on toilet training and can you look at brain tiring games or exercise- I believe whippets don’t generally need it, but it looks like you’ve got a sparky one!

itake it you’ve had a vet check there is nothing wrong re toiletting?

Says who? The 5 minute exercise rule is complete rubbish and have been dreadful for dogs.

I know people say to ignore indoor accidents and I completely agree with that if you find them after the event but surely nobody just sees a dog peeing and stands waiting silently for it to finish ?

The 5 minute rule has been roundly debunked - as long as exercise is built up over time, an eight month old whippet won't do themselves any damage by walking for over an hour a day.

I found brain games helped too.. mine does the level four ones in about 4 minutes... not quite what I had in mind as I planned for them to occupy her for a while, but turns out she us incredibly sharp just stubborn ( rather than dim like I thought ). It helped me to understand that Whippets a bit like some terriers have been bred for centuries to be independent thinkers when working as they would have been out of handler sight, unlike some other utility breeds which need to working on handler command to do their job. It helped me upstand and adapt my training, as its not as much in her nature to just do what she is told.... it didn't mean she wasn't trainable but we have to use different toys and rewards for her which fit with her instincts... for example a fluffy toy on a rope wiggled around is far more exciting and rewarding than a treat.

I'll have him.

If I caught a dog in the act I would pick them up and take them outside.

I think what people are saying is that they never punish an accident or tell the dog off for one.

Ok, lots of sound advice to take on board!

Thanks a lot. Also spoke to a man with a lurcher during this morning's walk, (went to the field instead of just round the block as per advice here 🙂 )who put my mind a but more at ease too!

*bit

My colleague with a farm first in the queue. But really want to keep him, my DS 5 says he is his brothet