Grumpy whippet pup

[rooseblox]

I have a stunning black whippet called Nigel and he's my best friend, he's 6 months old, I'm very lucky because he can come with me most places but some times I'll go out for an hour or two but that's rare, he gets short walks only about 20 mins long just to teach him how to behave one walks,
My issue is sometimes at the end of the day I'll be watching to and he looks at me with blank eyes and and whines and barks, I try so hard to ignore him because I know he wants attention but it breaks my heart, we play so much through out the day and he goes to the loo often enough,
I just don't know what I'm doing wrong? I've never had a whippet before only springer spaniels, but I didn't realise he would be so shut off, he can go from blank eyes to super loving! He's so friendly and always greets me with a wagging tail and he loves meeting people, so I just can't pinpoint what's wrong?
I won't lie I think he hates me

 

[Brownmare]

He doesn't hate you I promise - whippets are totally different personalities to spaniels!

My whippet pup is 4 months and she will sometimes not settle in the evening if she hasn't done enough in the day. I find spending 10 minutes doing some clicker training is enough to give her something to think about and is surprisingly good at wearing her out. I think in general brain exercise is underused for pups and it is sooo effective

I would also say that if you give him attention all day why do you feel the need to ignore him in the evenings?

 

[AmyMay]

My dog gets my attention all day. And then when she asks to, gets played with in the evening.

I'm also wondering why you feel the need to ignore him in the evening?

 

[3Beasties]

My cocker went through a stage of barking/whining at me all night if she wasn't getting attention. It drove me potty as I couldn't sit down for longer than a few minutes without having to get up to let her out/feed her.

I can't quite pinpoint what was the issue but I did find that generally if I gave her a small feed she'd settle again. I think because she was such a fussy/light eater she would get to 9pm and start feeling hungry.

Once the feeding issue was sorted I would give her 'time out' in another room if she got mouthy at me, that does the trick - she gets attention, but only when she's not being rude/noisy (and that includes playing too rough with our other dog).
Brain training sessions or a bone to chew are also good!

Mine is much better now but I went through the 'she hates me' phase too, I really thought that we hadn't bonded, so don't worry, I think it's fairly normal and I'm sure you'll get through it without any problems!

 

[Leo Walker]

This is how my nearly 4yr old whippet communicates something is wrong. He has a whole little routine going, that starts with his best good boy sit, a hard stare and an attempt to use the force, and can escalate into hysterical barking and crying if its not resolved. In his case its not for attention, its usually hunger related or some other drama, like the cat being on his spot on the sofa.

He doesnt do it often, and I almost always catch it at the staring stage. Whippets arent like any other dog. I've never met one who isnt incredibly loving, but they do all seem to be prone to dramatics. Mine really does seem to take things personally and gets very upset if I dont psychically know what he wants :lol:

I'd be trying to work out what the issue is and fix it before it gets to the barking stage.

Is there anyway yours is hungry? If not then I'd be playing a game before we had quiet time, these are great:

http://www.nina-ottosson.com/

 

[rooseblox]

Thank you!
I don't feel so bad now,
I'd be surprised if he's hungry because he still gets fed three times a day and quite a bit for a whippet and he's not really a foody he'll always have small amount of dry food left that he could go eat If he was really hungry, but I bet he wants wet food!
We do a spot of training when we sit first sit down for the day, and then we'll usually play for a bit, it could be that he wasn't done playing but that's not how it works, this pizzles look like a good idea, maybe I should be getting him one of those treat ball for horses where the treats fall out! Them he'll never bother me!

 

[rooseblox]

I'm not ignoring him in the evening it's just when he whines, he has my attention all day and when we sit down he would have just gone out for a walk around the garden and then we'll train and play, it's just my down time, I think he's pushing me but I know I can't have a dog that a soon as he whines that I'll come running because then he'd never shut up, he's persistent!
Thing is in every other aspect he's great, easy to train, great recall, potters next to me on walks and then has a mad run around and then he'll be right by my side again, great with other dogs, house trained in weeks, and the best bit is he never wakes me up early he loves a lie in sometimes I have to really wake him up if we've got to be somewhere earlier than usual so i feel like we're a perfect match, it's just this one hour in the afternoon where I just want to chill

 

[planete]

My five year old whippet x can still be like that. I have taught him "Settle down" as he never wants to stop playing with me even when the other dogs are fast asleep. "Enough" signals the end of a game and settle down means go to your bed and stay there. I taught him two separate commands first, one to go to his bed, then a "stay" command, then put them together.

I agree that whippets can be total slave drivers and at the end of a long day enjoying walks, chases, games and training sessions there has to be a cut off point for the human to relax as well!

 

[Clodagh]

I really love the name Nigel! I see all you people who claim whippets are the easiest dogs ever are having the fess up to their neediness.
Those of you who recommend giving your dog attnetion every time he requests it really are making a rod for your own backs - what if you are having an important conversation, or in the middle of something? 'I must stop now, the dog wants to play'?

 

[rooseblox]

I'm trying to teach him bed at the moment and I know he knows what I mean because sometimes he'll go but sometimes he'll just look slightly the left of me, which scares me so much because it's just the two of us! The other annoying this is sometimes I want to pet him or just stroke him but he'll be mid whine so I have to wait, he's his own worst enemy sometimes!

 

[{97702}]

My whippet x greyhound is like this - but then I always blame Cayla's poor training - Amy is about 8 or 9 now and is still an attention junkie! I am firm but fair with my dogs, so they get attention in equal amounts - and if Amy sits and stares/whines at me (which she can often do) she will get told to shut up if it isn't necessarily her turn

Sounds like your whippet has you firmly under his paw, I love whippets to bits but they do need to be told sometimes in my experience - greyhounds are so much more laid back

 

[alliwantforchristmas]

I'm trying to teach him bed at the moment and I know he knows what I mean because sometimes he'll go but sometimes he'll just look slightly the left of me, which scares me so much because it's just the two of us! The other annoying this is sometimes I want to pet him or just stroke him but he'll be mid whine so I have to wait, he's his own worst enemy sometimes!

I think you are getting yourself in a real mess as to when to reward/not reward your dog's behaviour. You also need to be teaching and encouraging independence - and if necessary a 'no attention' cue to manage your dog. As someone else has said, whippets can be needy and they need very clear (not harsh) communication from you as to what they need to do and when attention is available. If you confuse your dog, it will make him more needy - because he will want to keep 'checking in' with you that everything is ok - it's a vicious circle. It is really important for a dog's mental well-being that they learn to 'switch off' from you, and not 'work' you all the time - and it is equally important for owners to learn to switch off from dogs! I would suggest getting in a good dog trainer to do a session with you at home and show you what you need to be doing - ensure that they are reward based and do not talk dominance twaddle,or tell you that you need to be the pack leader, and if they suggest using a 'time out' they should clearly explain the timing to you - *exactly* when to use it, and how long to use it for.

With regards to looking to the left of you, the 'look away' is a dog body language signal which shows they are slightly uncomfortable (psychologically speaking, not physically) and trying to 'diffuse' a situation ... it does not mean your house is haunted!!

 

[rooseblox]

I think you are getting yourself in a real mess as to when to reward/not reward your dog's behaviour. You also need to be teaching and encouraging independence - and if necessary a 'no attention' cue to manage your dog. As someone else has said, whippets can be needy and they need very clear (not harsh) communication from you as to what they need to do and when attention is available. If you confuse your dog, it will make him more needy - because he will want to keep 'checking in' with you that everything is ok - it's a vicious circle. It is really important for a dog's mental well-being that they learn to 'switch off' from you, and not 'work' you all the time - and it is equally important for owners to learn to switch off from dogs! I would suggest getting in a good dog trainer to do a session with you at home and show you what you need to be doing - ensure that they are reward based and do not talk dominance twaddle,or tell you that you need to be the pack leader, and if they suggest using a 'time out' they should clearly explain the timing to you - *exactly* when to use it, and how long to use it for.

With regards to looking to the left of you, the 'look away' is a dog body language signal which shows they are slightly uncomfortable (psychologically speaking, not physically) and trying to 'diffuse' a situation ... it does not mean your house is haunted!!

The thing is my grandma who was a dog trainer lives in an annex here with me( I'm her part time carer) and she has helped me out so much but I can't hoick her out of her chair and make her sit with me til Nigel does it and I think she'd be broken up if I got a trainer,
I also think it's a new habit and I just need to work a way around it, I just wanted to make sure I'm not the only one!

Also booked him into the vets so he'll no longer be a 'proper man' poor boy will be in the cone of shame for a while

 

[alliwantforchristmas]

hmmm... tough one. trouble is, it's the the subtle nuances ... eg, if he whines, you wait until he stops and then pat him, you have actually rewarded the whining as well, in the form of a behaviour chain. And if you teach him 'on the bed' he will be looking at you/waiting for the next cue all the time - and you'll be looking at him which gives him the attention! You need someone to show you how to teach a complete switch off and settle. Starting and ending play clearly is also so important with these needy dogs ... - it's not a case of 'sitting with him until he does it' - it's more a case of seeing the bigger picture and adjusting tactics overall.

castration won't change the behaviour as its not hormonally driven.

 

[rooseblox]

hmmm... tough one. trouble is, it's the the subtle nuances ... eg, if he whines, you wait until he stops and then pat him, you have actually rewarded the whining as well, in the form of a behaviour chain. And if you teach him 'on the bed' he will be looking at you/waiting for the next cue all the time - and you'll be looking at him which gives him the attention! You need someone to show you how to teach a complete switch off and settle. Starting and ending play clearly is also so important with these needy dogs ... - it's not a case of 'sitting with him until he does it' - it's more a case of seeing the bigger picture and adjusting tactics overall.

castration won't change the behaviour as its not hormonally driven.

Oh the castration has nothing to do with the behaviour I just have always wanted to have him castrated and he had his 6 month check up today and the had a cancellation on Wednesday,
I ignore him when he's whining I don't watch him because that's when it gets worse he's getting better with just ignoring his whining, I don't pet him as soon as he's stopped whining that was badly worded from me, it's just sometimes I want a cuddle but he's whining, at the same time I can't be as needy as him, lol, bad owner alert I just love cuddles more than he does sometimes

I'm probably worse than him!

 

[Leo Walker]

Please dont castrate him at 6 months old. Wait until hes more like 18 months old and is mentally and skeletally mature. Castration now could well make this into a huge problem as there will be a sudden and huge drop in testosterone that can manifest itself in anxious behaviour

 

[rooseblox]

Please dont castrate him at 6 months old. Wait until hes more like 18 months old and is mentally and skeletally mature. Castration now could well make this into a huge problem as there will be a sudden and huge drop in testosterone that can manifest itself in anxious behaviour

I spoke to the vet and they said he was all good to go, I only brought it up as a passing comment, I know some vets are wrong but surely they wouldn't suggest he was ready when he's not? Or is something they overlook for the money side of things, I'm happy to cancel castration if this is a well known problem, though before I bought Nigel I did a lot of research and a lot of people say you shouldn't do it too late because that can cause problems too, I'm new to boys I've only had birches before l, any advice very welcome

 

[Teaselmeg]

I would also not castrate him yet. He is still growing physically and mentally. I had my lad done at 7 months as he had to be ( rescue) and I am still dealing with the behavioural fallout.

 

[Leo Walker]

Purely from a behavioural point of view, now is not a good time. But waiting till they are mature doesnt cause problems. There is lots and lots of information out there. Its well worth reading and making an informed decisions. The first google hit:

http://www.doglistener.co.uk/neutering/spaying_neutering.shtml

 

[alliwantforchristmas]

how is he with other dogs - is he confident and friendly? is he cocking his leg and marking? is he nervous of anything?

 

[rooseblox]

Hi he's very confident but not over bearing and knows when to stop if they don't want to play, but if a dog does play back he can be extremely playful but nothing that would ever worry an owner, he cocks his leg but he's not constantly marking he'll just go to the loo once or twice, is that something he should be doing before castration?

Thank you all so much, I'll wait, I love my dog to bits and want the best for him, I wouldn't want him suffering because of a quick decision, I'm from a family that has bred a long line of wonderful gun dogs, but as I said they were all bitches so this is all new to me and I just thought the vet was right! I'm so glad I posted here!!!

When did you all get your dogs castrated? I know it varies from dog and breed, but would be interesting to know, I'm in no hurry to castrate him because he's never tried to 'perform' I just thought I was doing the right thing.

 

[alliwantforchristmas]

personally I like to see them properly cocking a leg/marking for at least a couple of months before considering castration. It's great that he's confident without being OTT, I don't think there's any harm in hanging on a bit, esp if the hormones haven't kicked in yet.

I do quite a bit with agility/performance dogs, and we certainly try to hang on for as long as possible to allow the growth plates to close - unless there is some really tricky 'maley' behaviour going on that's affecting their relationships with other dogs for the worse we try to hang on until they are mature ... varies depending on breed of dog. This is a pretty good article if you can google it Long-Term Health Risks and Benefits Associated with Spay / Neuter in Dogs
Laura J. Sanborn, M.S.
May 14, 2007 I've only got it in pdf and I don't know how to link it on here.

 

[Molly'sMama]

yeah I like my males to be adults before they're neutered tbh; neutering at 6 months kinda feels like you're making them a eunoch hahah. We did ours at 18 months.

 

[Annette4]

Sounds like a normal whippet to me (mines working bred)....she is either upside down in her bed (or on the sofa if my parents are out) or she wants to play.