Are Whippets Good Family Dogs? Intelligence, Training & FAQ
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The sleek, dignified, and gentle Whippet is also one of the fastest canines in the world, capable of reaching speeds of up to 35 miles per hour! One question you might have about these sleek and affectionate dogs is whether Whippets make good family dogs. The answer, we’re glad to say, is that Whippets make fantastic family dogs for several reasons! If you’re curious to find out why Whippets are great family dogs, we have the information for you below that will reveal why!
Are Whippets Intelligent?
Whippets are one of the most intelligent dog breeds, and they learn new commands and tricks quite easily and quickly. They’re so smart that, sometimes, their intelligence gets in the way of training. However, with patience and dedication, you’ll be amazed at what you can teach your Whippet to do, even if you’re not a dog-training expert.
Are Whippets Good With Children?
According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), Whippets are extremely good with children. They’re patient, deal with small children well, and are non-aggressive. When raised and socialized well, a Whippet will be your child’s best friend and very affectionate. Although not the most menacing of dogs, a Whippet will protect their family members fiercely, and they make good watchdogs.
Do Whippets Get Along Well with Other Dogs?
The average Whippet is a very social dog and will usually get along well with other dogs. As mentioned earlier, Whippets are non-aggressive and very laid-back dogs. They’re lovers, not fighters, and would rather snuggle and play than get into an “argument” with another dog. This is especially true if your Whippet is socialized well as a puppy.
Are Whippets a Good Choice for First-Time Owners?
According to our research, the Whippet makes a great first-time dog for several reasons, some of which we’ve touched on already. Whippets are intelligent and, although stubborn, they’re relatively easy to train. This breed is also affectionate with their family and other dogs, sheds very little, and doesn’t need much grooming.
Whippets are playful but need plenty of attention and a nice yard to run off their energy. They are also good watchdogs and, if necessary, can quickly adapt to apartment living. They bark less than most breeds, too, which is great if you live in an apartment.
Can Whippets Be Aggressive Dogs?
Any dog, including the Whippet, can be aggressive if raised in an aggressive environment and treated badly. However, all evidence points to Whippets being extremely non-aggressive dogs. As we’ve seen, they get along with other dogs, love their families, and are highly affectionate.
If there’s one area where it might be a concern, it’s that Whippets have a high prey drive. However, this is not considered aggression but is simply the way they are and a trait that will likely be a part of any Whippet. Socializing your Whippet with other small pets might work, but there’s a good chance they will run after it if they see one running.
Do Whippets Have a High Energy Level?
While your Whippet will be happy lounging with you on the sofa or hanging with you while you work from home, they need to release their energy once or twice a day. Remember, these are dogs that can run 35 miles an hour! Not only can Whippets run fast, but they love to run fast and need to do it often.
Whippets also need a lot of mental stimulation to stay healthy and happy. Playtime is important, as well as training, learning new skills and commands, and playing with mentally stimulating toys like slow-feeder bowls.
Are Whippets Easy to Train?
What you need to keep in mind when adopting a Whippet is that they are sighthounds. Sighthounds are a type of dog that can hunt without the need for their owner to give them any commands (which is pretty impressive). This makes the Whippet a highly independent breed, which can pose a problem when training.
One good thing about Whippets is that they’re eager to please their owners, which can make training a little easier. You can get past their sometimes stubborn nature with treat training and copious amounts of praise and patience.
It’s worth noting that Whippets are pretty sensitive, so any training methods you use should be based on positive reinforcement rather than negative. Yelling at your Whippet if they do something wrong will not get you the desired results and may cause them to sulk.
Are There Any Downsides to Having a Whippet as a Pet?
While they make excellent family dogs, Whippets have a handful of downsides you should know about before adopting one. That way, you’ll know if this is the breed for you or if you should keep searching.
Whippets Are Emotionally Sensitive
We touched on this earlier when talking about training a Whippet. They are sensitive to emotions, especially anger and emotional violence. If, for whatever reason, there is tension or heated emotions in your home, a Whippet will feel it. If these emotions continue long-term, your pet may become stressed and anxious, leading to health problems down the road.
Whippets Chase Small Animals that Run
There’s no sugarcoating that Whippets are skilled hunters and love to run after, catch, and usually kill small animals that run away from them. After being bred to do so for hundreds of years, it’s in their nature.
If you have small pets like rabbits, hamsters, mice, gerbils, or Guinea pigs, there’s a high probability your Whippet will chase and possibly hurt or kill them if those pets get loose.
Whippets Must Be Fenced in or on a Leash at All Times
The same instinct that tells a Whippet to chase can be the instinct that puts your pet in grave danger. If, for example, your Whippet is off-leash and runs out in the street after a squirrel or chipmunk, it could easily be hit by a passing car.
Even worse, your pet may run off chasing after something and never come back. Even a well-trained Whippet can succumb to its instinct, which means off-leash walking is out of the question.
Whippets Are Highly Independent
An independent dog can be a good thing, but it can also cause friction if they do whatever they want and don’t listen to your commands. You must train your Whippet well and let them know who’s boss. Otherwise, they will be the boss, and you’ll be the one wringing your hands in dismay.
Young Children Can Make Whippets Uncomfortable
Although a Whippet would rarely nip or bite a child, let alone attack them, they can be overwhelmed by high-energy children who scream, yell, pull, push, or tug on them. As you might imagine, this can be quite stressful for a Whippet.
Conclusion
As we’ve seen, there are many reasons why a Whippet would make an excellent dog for you and your family. They’re affectionate, relatively easy to train, low-shedding, and great with well-behaved kids. Whippets are adorable dogs and make fantastic companions; they’re also great for first-time pet parents.
Yes, Whippets have a few drawbacks, but so do all dog breeds. If raised in a loving, caring home, trained and socialized well, and allowed to run off some of their boundless energy regularly, a Whippet will make an outstanding family dog you will cherish for many years!
Featured Image Credit: Mitchell Orr, Unsplash
