Patchworkpony
Well-Known Member
Can you train a whippet to competition standard obedience or are they less willing to be trained than say a spaniel?
Can you train a whippet
- Thread starter Patchworkpony
- Start date
Leo Walker
Well-Known Member
One of mine would do it and love it, hes one of the most trainable dogs I have ever met. The other one there is not a snowballs chance in hell he would even entertain the idea obedience classes! I think most fall somewhere in between. Its not a breed I would pick for obedience training.
Cortez
Tough but Fair
Whippets are great little hounds and highly intelligent, which may not actually be an advantage in the obedience end of things 
It depends on the particular dog of course, but I have seen whippets in competitions. Ours would definitely be trainable enough, although she does get bored easily.
It depends on the particular dog of course, but I have seen whippets in competitions. Ours would definitely be trainable enough, although she does get bored easily.
splashgirl45
Lurcher lover
if you want to do obedience a border collie would be better than a whippet. i am sure there are some very well trained whippets out there and someone will come on here and prove me wrong,,,
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I couldn't train my first whippet, Isobel. She was tiny (17" at the shoulder) and really I suppose the 'runt' of the litter, but she was my first proper dog when I was 17 and I adored her.... she terrorised every dog in the neighbourhood if she had the chance, which of course I tried to ensure she didn't have!
I do remember vividly to this day Isobel meeting a massive rottie on a walk and barking fiercely at it.... the equally huge macho owner stomped past and actually said to his dog "don't worry Rambo"............
I do remember vividly to this day Isobel meeting a massive rottie on a walk and barking fiercely at it.... the equally huge macho owner stomped past and actually said to his dog "don't worry Rambo"............
CorvusCorax
'Do you come here often?'
Horses for courses is the old saying, certain breeds/types do better in certain disciplines, horses and dogs alike.
Depends how far you want to go....if you want to do competitive obedience at higher levels you would be better with a breed that's more suited to it. Intelligent dogs are not always the ones that do better in competition. The smart ones soon learn the difference between training and competing
Depends how far you want to go....if you want to do competitive obedience at higher levels you would be better with a breed that's more suited to it. Intelligent dogs are not always the ones that do better in competition. The smart ones soon learn the difference between training and competing
Leo Walker
Well-Known Member
Intelligent dogs are not always the ones that do better in competition. The smart ones soon learn the difference between training and competing
And the really smart ones decide they are having none of any of this nonsense and refuse to engage with it.
Patchworkpony
Well-Known Member
Whippets sound a bit like fell ponies - too intelligent at times!
Chiffy
Well-Known Member
Absolutely you can! I belonged to an obedience club with my first whippet, the first dog I ever trained. She was brilliant, learnt very quickly and loved it. The only issue I had was training in a hall that she didn’t really like sitting on the hard floor and her bottom would hover an inch above the ground! Down stays were no bother though.
I got her to quite a good competition standard. I bred a litter from her and trained her daughter who would have been good too but I didn’t have as much time for her.
Does annoy me when people think you have to have a Border Collie for obedience, I went on to a high standard with Flatcoats. Funnily enough though, I now have a rescue dog that I am sure has a big dose of Collie in her breeding and my goodness is she quick on the uptake! ðŸ˜
I got her to quite a good competition standard. I bred a litter from her and trained her daughter who would have been good too but I didn’t have as much time for her.
Does annoy me when people think you have to have a Border Collie for obedience, I went on to a high standard with Flatcoats. Funnily enough though, I now have a rescue dog that I am sure has a big dose of Collie in her breeding and my goodness is she quick on the uptake! ðŸ˜
Snowfilly
Well-Known Member
Have had three whippets, the bitch was sweet and trainable and learnt lots but as I was a kid, it was mainly silly things she learnt. Lots of tricks. I think she would have learnt a down stay as she learnt 'fall down dead' and 'roll upside down!'
First dog was the smartest dog I've ever met. He'd learn things very quickly, got bored with everything and generally was far too intelligent for his own good. Some days he'd do everything, other times he'd just say 'not today, thanks' and stare at you. I don't think you could have competed him, you'd never know what he was going to do.
Second dog was as dumb as a box of rocks, and I'm a bit suprised he learnt his own name. He was the sweetest kindest dog but walking on a lead was about the limit. He once run into a stream and sunk as it was deep. Less than five minutes later, he run into the stream at the same place and sunk again. Would have been useless for anything requiring obedience!
But everyone should have a whippet. They're the best.
First dog was the smartest dog I've ever met. He'd learn things very quickly, got bored with everything and generally was far too intelligent for his own good. Some days he'd do everything, other times he'd just say 'not today, thanks' and stare at you. I don't think you could have competed him, you'd never know what he was going to do.
Second dog was as dumb as a box of rocks, and I'm a bit suprised he learnt his own name. He was the sweetest kindest dog but walking on a lead was about the limit. He once run into a stream and sunk as it was deep. Less than five minutes later, he run into the stream at the same place and sunk again. Would have been useless for anything requiring obedience!
But everyone should have a whippet. They're the best.
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Snowfilly that is so funny Brilliant descriptions
Brilliant descriptions
Leo Walker
Well-Known Member
Thats my big dog Dylan. He watched me training Floyd to ring a bell the other day. Floyd was slowly getting the idea. Dylan watched a couple of goes, walked over, rang the bell and demanded a treat before wandering off again. Hes so clever he regularly outsmarts me. He also does the staring thing. Hes mellowed in middle age but he was an absolute devil until he was about 3. We picked Floyd very carefully after that.
And yes, everyone should have a whippet, or 2!
Annette4
Well-Known Member
If I was in any way inclined both of mine (one whippet one Saluki x whippet) could do well but none of us have the inclination. Both love learning, Fizz would rather learn things at speed as opposed to ‘tricks’ so gets fed up of training isn’t interspersed with box turns/jump work etc. Dobby is so incredibly willing but often his seeming lack of control of his limbs and enthusiasm when he gets things right can get in the way (a successful stay is normally followed by spinning on the spot).
I much prefer ‘sport’ so they have enough obedience to do Flyball (still working on Dobby’s recall with distractions on a walk) and some fun tricks and that’s it.
I much prefer ‘sport’ so they have enough obedience to do Flyball (still working on Dobby’s recall with distractions on a walk) and some fun tricks and that’s it.
paisley
Well-Known Member
handbagsandhay
Well-Known Member
I have had whippets at opposite ends of the scale - one untrainable little cutie who was only really on this earth for a laugh. lost him 2 Christmasses ago bless him. And my remaining little gal who is highly trainable
Peter7917
Well-Known Member
Hahaha mine would not entertain the idea. Flyball perhaps, obedience no. She is nothing short of a diva.