Behavioural issues in dogs are a common challenge for many owners. Whippets may experience problems such as separation anxiety, fear reactivity and destructive chewing. Overcoming these challenges requires a comprehensive approach that includes proper training, diet, exercise and enrichment. For example, this video offers valuable insights on overcoming dog behaviour challenges:
Building Confidence Through Routine and Predictability
Routine and predictability are vital for building your dog's confidence and reducing behavioural issues in everyday life. A consistent schedule helps your dog learn what to expect and minimises anxiety by reducing surprises that may trigger stress. Establishing a daily routine for feeding, exercise and play creates a secure environment and leads to significant improvements in behaviour.
This video highlights the importance of a consistent routine and clear cues that help your dog build confidence:
It also shows how a predictable structure can transform your dog's daily experience:
Threshold Training: Creating Calm and Controlled Behaviours
Threshold training is an essential tool for raising a well-mannered and calm dog. This technique teaches your dog to pause at transition points such as, but not limited to, crate doors, gates and entryways, so that they learn to wait calmly before moving on.
For example, when coming out of a crate, wait for the final behaviour you wish to see. Your dog should be sitting calmly, not vocalising and not pawing at the crate door. Once your dog is in this state, slowly begin to open the crate door. If your dog gets up, paws at the crate or vocalises, immediately back away and stand still until the correct behaviour is seen again. Then slowly resume opening the door. Repeat this process until you reach a point where the door is fully open and your dog remains sitting quietly. When your dog stays calm and sits as desired, wait for them to make eye contact with you (this is very important) and then release them with a release cue or their name. In the beginning you may take a step backwards and encourage them as you release them to make it more clear that they are allowed to exit now. Once your dog learns the release cue, gradually phase out the step backwards so that they can exit in a calm manner on their own.
A similar approach should be used for doorways and gates. Stand at the threshold and wait until your dog is sitting calmly. Then slowly open the door or gate and immediately close it if your dog gets up. Repeat the process until the door or gate is fully open and your dog remains calm by your side. When your dog looks at you, use your release cue or their name to let them know they may now pass through.
This training is crucial because it drastically reduces over arousal in your dog on a daily basis. By learning to pause at thresholds, your dog learns to stop, think and look to you for direction. Even if a gate is left open accidentally, your dog will pause and consider the trained behaviour rather than rushing through and down the street.
For additional guidance on threshold training, check out this video:
Separation Anxiety Prevention and Management
Understanding Seperation Anxiety: Separation anxiety occurs when a dog becomes overly distressed when left alone. Unlike simple boredom, true separation anxiety is characterized by extreme stress, including excessive vocalization, pacing, drooling, destructive chewing, and attempts to escape. Whippets, being highly social dogs, are especially prone to this condition.
When you leave, try to keep your departure low key and don't make a big fuss over leaving your puppr or dog at home. When you come home, consider a period of non dog time lasting 10 to 30 minutes. During this time, focus on activities like working on the computer or doing the dishes, anything that takes the focus off of your dog, resisting the urge to immediately engage with them. This helps show that your arrival is a calm, unexciting event, which in turn helps prevent your dog from becoming overly anxious while awaiting your return.
Once the initial non dog period is over, you can sit on the couch and calmly pat your dog and give them a snuggle while watching TV. A gradual and calm welcome teaches your dog that your return does not always mean excitement. Over time, your dog will learn to settle down – perhaps taking a nap or enjoying their favourite chew when you walk in the door – rather than fixating on your absence.
Separation Anxiety Protocol
A well-structured training plan can make all the difference in helping your dog feel confident when left alone. One of my go-to resources is the following step-by-step protocol:
Step-by-Step Approach:
Start with Short Absences – Begin by leaving your dog alone for just a few seconds at a time and gradually increase the duration as they remain calm.
Use Special Enrichment Items – Food-stuffed toys, long-lasting chews, and puzzle feeders can help distract and comfort your dog while alone.
Ignore Overexcitement on Return – Keep greetings calm and low-key to prevent reinforcing anxious behaviors.
Practice Independence Daily – Encourage your dog to spend time alone even when you’re home by using baby gates or a crate to create distance.
Provide Predictability – A consistent routine helps your dog feel secure and reduces anxiety.
Desensitize Departure Cues – Many dogs become anxious when they recognize signs that you’re about to leave. Practicing putting on shoes, grabbing keys, and opening doors without actually leaving can reduce anticipatory anxiety.
Here is a video on my go-to method of preventing and reducing seperation anxiety on dogs and puppies:
This video offers further guidance on creating a calm puppy:
How Diet Affects Behavior
Many people underestimate how much diet plays a role in behavior. Susan Garrett, a world-renowned agility trainer, has worked extensively with dogs suffering from anxiety, fear, and reactivity. She has found that diet adjustments can make a significant difference in many behavioral issues through leanring about this with one of her own dogs, which makes for a very interesting topic.
A raw diet consisting of lower-protein, higher-fat diet with reduced offal and an increased portion of vegetables has helped some dogs struggling with anxiety-based behaviors. Commercial kibble, which often contains grains, legumes and cereals, is high in carbohydrates and can lead to gut imbalances and energy spikes that worsen behavioural problems. If raw feeding or commercial raw feeding is not feasible, opting for a lower-carb kibble is a good alternative.
Supporting your dog's gut health with probiotic supplements and meal toppers such as natural Greek yoghurt, kefir or fermented vegetables can improve digestion, nutrient absorption and overall mood. This balanced nutrition contributes to a calmer, more stable disposition.
For further insights on the connection between diet and behaviour, watch this video:
Providing Positive Outlets for Natural Chewing Behaviors
Chewing is a natural stress-reliever and boredom buster for dogs. If your whippet is chewing things they shouldn’t, the first step is to make sure they have appropriate outlets.
We recommend keeping these chews available around your house, providing a variety andretotaing between the different chews can help to prevent boredom to these chew, so they are always fresh and exciting:
✅ Cow hooves
✅ Goat horns
✅ Dry bones
✅ Marrowz chews
✅ Himalayan Yak chews
If your whippet is chewing inappropriate items, ask yourself:
Have they had enough physical exercise?
Do they have appropriate access to correct toys and chews of different textures?
Are they expecting a meal and getting frustrated?
Could there be a medical issue, such as dental pain?
Dogs seek their own reinforcement when their needs aren’t met, so it’s important to provide structured outlets for both mental and physical stimulation to prevent them from seeking this in their own ways.
Managing Reactivity and Fear Barking
Fear reactivity can be challenging for many dogs and often appears as barking, lunging, or avoidance when confronted with unfamiliar people, animals, or stimuli. A proven approach to managing this reactivity is through desensitisation and counter-conditioning. This means gradually exposing your dog to the trigger at a distance where they remain calm and pairing that exposure with a positive reward. Over time, your dog learns to associate the once-feared stimulus with positive outcomes.
For example, if your dog reacts when seeing other dogs on walks, begin by keeping a safe distance where your dog remains relaxed. Reward calm behaviour with a high-value treat or a favourite toy. Gradually decrease the distance over several sessions, always ensuring your dog stays below their threshold for reactivity. This process helps change their emotional response and reduces their fear over time.
Another useful strategy is distance management. Avoid overwhelming your dog by not exposing them to intense triggers all at once. Instead, control the environment by using visual barriers or crossing the street until your dog builds up confidence. Teaching your dog a reliable "look at me" cue can also be invaluable, as it redirects their attention to you when they encounter a trigger.
Additionally, create a safe space in your home where your dog can retreat when feeling anxious. This could be a crate, a quiet room, or a designated area with their bed and favourite chew. Training your dog to settle in this space can help them manage stress and gradually lower their overall reactivity.
Reward-based training is key to success. For instance, if your dog sees another dog and remains calm, immediately reward that calm behaviour. This consistent positive reinforcement teaches your dog that calmness leads to rewards, while reactive behaviours do not.
For further guidance on effective techniques for desensitisation and counter-conditioning, check out this resource:
The Importance of Free Running and Lure Coursing
Exercise is essential for reducing behavioural problems in whippets. These dogs are built to run and if they do not have an appropriate outlet for their natural drive, they may resort to behaviours such as excessive chewing, barking or restlessness. Although a game of fetch may tire out your dog, it does not fully satisfy the chase instinct. Through my own experience, I have found that the only means of truly fulfilling the chase instinct are hunting and lure coursing. My dogs will sleep for days after a lure coursing trial – an effect that even hours of playing fetch cannot achieve.
Consider the example of Border Collies. Their natural herding instinct, if not channelled properly, can lead to barking, nipping, obsessive and destructive behaviours as they find their own way to scratch that itch in their brains, behaviour which you do not see in a working Border Collie who has it's herding desire fulfilled on a regular basis. Whippets are much the same, although they are driven by a strong chasing instinct instead. When your dog's natural chase instinct is met in a positive and structured way through lure coursing, they become more relaxed and balanced at home, instead of seeking out ways to fulfill this desire themselves.
I would not be able to have as many whippets as I do in my home, if their natural needs were not met through activities like lure coursing. It is the key to keeping many dogs peacefully resting in their beds every day. Between lure coursing events, a couple weekly sessions of free running or fetch is all they need to help maintain this calm and balanced demeanour.
Lure Coursing is a sport which allows them to chase a moving target in a controlled environment, mimicking their natural prey drive. If your whippet’s chasing instinct is fulfilled, they are far less likely to display anxiety-based behaviors that are stemming from this lack of direction in how to engange in this instinct they have. Here is a video showing the sport of lure coursing:
Final Thoughts
Addressing separation anxiety and behavioral issues in whippets comes down to meeting their needs, both physical and mental. A well-exercised whippet with a proper diet, structured training, and positive outlets for natural behaviors will be a happy and well-balanced companion.
By implementing these strategies, you’ll be giving your whippet the best chance at a stress-free and fulfilling life. I highly recommend doing continued research on your dogs specific training needs and I encourgae you to take a deeper dive into Susan Garratts training protocols, although she is more specifically an agility and sports trainer, her methods can always be applied to day to day life, encouraging positive training methods and providing acency and confidence in your dog.
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