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The Whippeteer: Whippet Dog News, Issue #85 - Barking Whippets
November 07, 2018


Whippet Art




Palazzo Te, Mantova - Italy

Whippet of the Day!



Make your whippet dog of the day! Don’t be shy, send us your best pictures and let the world know about a very special whippet dog... yours!

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The Whippet of the Day


Question of the Month



What should I feed my whippet?


Excessive Barking



Whippets are well known for being a quiet breed but sometimes, like any other dog they can become overexcited and turn too vocal for our taste and that of our neighbors.

There are various reasons why a dog would bark and some are perfectly acceptable like when they try to alert us. Nevertheless, if the alarm becomes excessive or compulsive it becomes useless and has to be curbed.

First of all we must try to understand the causes of this unpleasant behavior and find out what our dog is trying to communicate.

Causes of Whippet Barking

Is your dog trying to protect his territory from the invasion of other dogs or animals? Is he displaying aggressive behavior when another dog approaches?

Do you leave your dog alone for many hours and he becomes vocal trying to get the attention of his human pack?

Is he trying to get your attention to go out and play?

Solutions

Shouting at your dog won’t work because he will probably think you are joining him in the commotion and it will only make matters worse.

Make sure your dog has had enough exercise during the day. A tired whippet is far less excitable and more obedient.

Prevent the whippet barking from becoming an unstoppable frenzy by calling him and, once he has calmed down, offer a treat. After all a chewing dog cannot bark.

Limit the territory he has to defend by bringing him inside, limiting his view and crating him at night.

Crating limits the territory your dog must defend and will help him relax and feel safe.

Put the crate in your bedroom for further reassurance and, if he starts barking, knock on top, this will distract him from compulsive barking.

If you think your whippet barking is due to boredom, try to provide entertainment with toys or a plastic bottle filled with his ration of kibble. Sometimes a companion whippet may help.

Be careful not to reward unintentionally your whippet barking by immediately providing what he is looking for, may it be attention, food or a walk. Wait until he calms down and only then offer the reward.

Devices that emit high frequency sounds or spray citronella may work, especially if you are right there to reward the good behavior. These gadgets, though present a risk: while repressing the barking, they may increase the level of anxiety and trigger an aggressive response. There is a chance that your dog may turn barking into biting.

Another gentler and safer method to quiet your whippet in your absence could be a pheromone collar. Pheromones are an olfactory form of communication that affects the behavior. In the form of collars or spray, synthetic pheromones can be used to calm and relax in case of separation anxiety, fear of noise or in any of the many unnatural situations we put our pets trough.


News and Articles



Are you a Dog Person?

14 Dog Portraits That Show The Adorably Human Side Of Pups

Loose Dog? Don’t chase! Stop, Drop and Lie Down

The science of how behavior is inherited in aggressive dogs

Bob the Wonder Dog

The hidden menace of attacks by dogs off leads








I hope you enjoyed this issue of The Whippeteer.

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