Are Whippets Easy to Train? (9 Training Tips for Whippet Owners)

Generally, Whippets are easy to train especially if he is still a puppy. This breed’s intelligence level is high which gives him an easier time learning new tricks and understanding house rules.

Training your Whippet sometimes just occurs and other times, it has to be consciously established. This may be overwhelming to some, but the rewards are worth it in the end. If you are eyeing the Whippet breed as your potential dog, this article is going to help you know about his temperament as well as the essential things to learn when training a Whippet!

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Temperament

Knowing that he comes from the sighthound breed, you might be surprised if in some cases, the Whippet temperament may exhibit stubbornness in following commands. This is because he belongs to the family that is not the most obedient compared to other dogs- the sighthound family.

Luckily, despite this dog having a mind of his own, he is considered the most obedient in the said class. He has an innate desire to please his owner, so why not follow what he wants? He seeks approval and strives to put a smile on his owner’s face every time he sits, stands, or rolls over when being asked to. Hence why establishing a relationship with your hound is important so the training will be a success.

Due to his lively personality, many dog owners might think that it is okay to train him for several hours a day. This shouldn’t be the case at all because Whippets have limitations. He is gentle by nature as well, so he would most likely respond well to tender yet firm training. Positive reinforcements like praises, treats, and pets are also enough to motivate him to keep on learning.

Why Is Whippet Training Necessary?

Training your Whippet gives him the chance of having fewer conflicts and a more satisfying quality of life. Here are 5 reasons why it should never be deprived of your medium-sized pooch.

It teaches them life skills

Living with humans and dogs may pressure them at one point, but if they are trained to coexist and behave well with others, they would be able to deal nicely in daily encounters.

You’ll better understand your dog

Training your whippet would also include bonding moments. Reading his body language and his expressions will enable you to know what exactly he wants!

It will keep him from danger

If you have taught him not to play on the road, he’ll be less likely to go there where he might get hit by a speeding car. This is a very common accident these days, so giving him boundaries will play to his advantage.

They will not be in so many conflicts

When properly socialized, your Whippet will be able to avoid confrontations that may lead to accidents and injuries. Some dogs dislike being around other canines, so let your puppy get exposed to his neighbor dogs!

Less likely to develop bad behaviors

Whippet owners can attest that an ignored and untrained puppy may develop bad habits such as constant barking, howling, biting, and chewing. If he grows into an adult Whippet, these may be hard to break. Oftentimes, dogs like this end up in shelter homes.

When to Start Training Your Whippet Puppy

Most puppy training programs are conducted after 6 months, however, as early as 7 weeks, you can start teaching your Whippet pup some basic training and rules. Once he knows how to follow cues such as sit and stay, moving on to housebreaking and potty training will come off much easier for him. It is all about giving him tidbits of meat now and a whole steak later!

Know that any dog can learn at any age, so right after bringing one home, start establishing rules right away so he’d understand that there are some things to follow in the house of his new owner. In every behavior he shows, respond to it appropriately, or else, he’ll do it again in the future.

Your Whippet puppy can start learning basic cues such as where his food bowl is, when his mealtime is, where his bed is and what time it should be. Repetition and predictability are the keys for him to remember these things and these will eventually become a habit.

How Long Does It Take to House-Train a Whippet?

The length of time to perfect house-training a Whippet varies from one owner to another. The efficacy of your strategy will determine whether your Whippet will start following the routine within a month or longer in training. There may be some cases when a Whippet goes back to soiling the house and forgetting his housebreaking lessons.

However, this can be avoided by following this guide:

Set Your Whippet up for Success

One primary goal in housebreaking your little puppy is to ensure that he won’t have the opportunity to fail. Always monitor his actions and make sure he never gets out of your sight. If ever you have to divert your attention to something else such as cooking or attending a virtual meeting, direct your Whippet to go to his crate. If he is left to do anything without your supervision, he might end up chewing off on random things.

Accompany Him Outside

It isn’t a pretty sight when your dog has already deposited in one of the corners inside your home or your rug has been soiled again. Avoiding this can be done through taking your Whippet puppy frequently outside on these circumstances:

After his sleep
After his meal
Before letting him to a more open area of your house
When he exhibits signs that he needs to do potty
When he’s been in the house for too long

Once outside, use verbal cues and deliver them in a firm tone to encourage your dog to do what he needs to do. When he does it, praise him!

Deal With Accidents Appropriately

This is so common at the beginning of house training. Before anything happens, you must have already figured out how to react once it occurs. The way you respond will either correct or discourage your puppy. If ever you end up catching him about to make a waste inside the house, give a verbal cue that would make him understand that he isn’t in the right place for his business. Direct him outside and compliment him after he’s done.

Is the House-Training Working?

This question will surely pop up on your head after a month of training your Whippet. Unfortunately, there is no definite answer to this question. It always depends on your manner of executing the house rules and how you deal with this buddy.

To guarantee success though, do not ever stop the training abruptly. If you were used to taking your puppy outside every 20 minutes several months ago, you can start shifting it to 40 minutes. Installing a puppy door will make things easier for you. Generally, the only time you can stop house-breaking the whippet dog and be assured he’s got the routine is when he’s anywhere from 8 to 9 months old.

Female vs Male Whippet: Which One Is Easier to Train?

It is the male Whippet that is easier to train. Any Whippet owner may observe that males may get slightly more loyal and enjoy repetitive tasks than the female ones. The explanation behind this is that since this dog breed is naturally independent, females are more complex and strong-willed and can be more aggressive despite Whippets being generally non-combative. Despite this, both genders are equally devoted to their owners. They’re just wired differently which sets each gender apart uniquely.

Whippet Training Basics: To-Do’s and Not to-Dos

Avoid training him if you’re not in the mood. Given that your dog is sensitive, once he senses that you’re not focused on training him, his mind will wander off too.

Get used to training him before his meal. Food is a powerful tool in encouraging him to learn obedience training, crate training, and more. If he is full before training, you might have a hard time enforcing his behavior with treats.

Keep the training short. A 40-minute training each day, divided into smaller sessions can be more effective than making your Whippet puppy learn all things at once. Whippets have an attention span and once you’ve reached the maximum, your dog will get distracted by other things.

Reward, reward, reward. Keep a positive attitude and respond properly when he commits a mistake. If he shows good behavior, throw a snack for him to catch!

Train him after an exercise. It is a good idea to let him release his pent-up energy first before you start training him again. If he stays in the house for too long and feels hyper, he would hardly listen to you.

End the session positively. If he makes a mistake, correct and direct him even if you’ll be consuming a few more minutes than the desired duration. Give him a chance to achieve good results!

Enjoy the moment. If you get bored, your dog will get bored too so show enthusiasm! To keep him interested for the next day’s training, end the training class well even if he’s asking for more.

Training Tips 101

The first weeks with your puppy can either be chaotic or magical. Watching helpful tutorials and training sessions can help you make the best encounters with the new dog. Make him feel that he’s finally at home with a loving family to ease him from having separation anxiety!
Crate training will grant him the understanding that his safe space is his crate. Whippets are social dogs and once you’re away, they might show odd behaviors. This training will ease his distress.
House training may be difficult, but being consistent and positive about it can lead you and your Whippet to success.
Teach him the basics when using verbal cues such as sit or stay.
Be creative with puppy games. Keep him interested!
Socialize your Whippet. Bringing him to doggy daycare or a dog park will expose him to different smells, faces, and sights.
Leash-train him. Whippets can run fast for up to 35 mph! They may not like it first, but they’ll eventually get used to it.
Want to see a different side of your Whippet? Encourage him for a race. Despite being labeled as a couch potato, nothing pumps his energy better than a running activity!
Want your whippet to join dog shows? Teach him advanced dog training as soon as he’s perfected the basics.

Training your dog is not as complicated as it sounds compared to dealing with his bad behaviors if he is used to having his way. Not only would you be able to enjoy fully how it feels to have a well-behaved puppy, but you’re also giving him the chance to live a less anxious and less dangerous kind of life.

Just always remember these things when training your Whippet: Be firm, be consistent, be patient, reinforce well, and reward him!