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Nothing is more frustrating than coming home after work only to find your whippet destroyed something else. It wasn’t the first thing they’ve destroyed and the way things are going, it’s not going to be their last.
Are whippets normally so destructive or is something wrong?
Are Whippets Destructive:
When a whippet doesn’t get enough physical or mental stimulation there’s a good chance they will become destructive. Without at least 60 minutes of daily exercise there is an increased chance they will become destructive. Big changes to their environment can also cause them to be destructive.
In this post you’ll discover:
- 7 real reasons why whippets are destructive
- When a whippet being destructive is something to worry about
- 7 tips to help your whippet be less destructive (Tip #6 is the quickest solution!)
- And much more
Let’s jump right in.
Table of Contents
7 Reasons Why Whippets Are Destructive
1) Separation Anxiety
Whippets are known for being a more nervous dog breed which contributes to them feeling anxious when alone.
One of the many signs that your pup is dealing with separation anxiety is destructive behavior.
If your whippet is doing anything to an excessive extent it’s a good sign that something is bothering them either emotionally or physically.
You’ll also notice that their destructive behavior is only when you’re not around.
This is because they feel fine when you’re home but find being apart from you unbearable.
If their destructive behavior is new there are few things that could have brought on their separation anxiety.
Such as:
- A change in home environment – Moving to a new house, getting a new guardian, someone new starting to live in your home full time, etc.
- The loss of a family member – Dogs mourn as well and can develop separation anxiety when a loved one passes away.
- A change in schedule – if your work schedule has recently changed this means your whippets schedule has changed as well. Dog’s love structure and routine and when their structure changes it can be hard on them.
If any of these things have happened recently they could be the culprit behind your whippets new destructive behavior.
Related Reading: Is Separation Anxiety Common In Whippets? The Truth + Tips
2) Not Getting Enough Exercise
If your whippet isn’t getting roughly 60 minutes of physical activity every day, they’re much more likely to be destructive.
Your whippet is a high energy breed that needs a good amount of physical stimulation each day in order to be a well behaved pup.
When they have too much pent up energy it’s normal to see them become destructive.
It’s not that your whippet is destroying things to be a pain in the butt, they just have so much extra energy that needs to be expressed.
And unfortunately they’ve chosen to be destructive to help get rid of their excess energy.
Related Reading: 7 Simple Strategies To Help Quickly Calm A Reactive Dog
3) Lack of Mental Stimulation
A bored doggo is a mischievous doggo.
Whether it’s because they’re bored of the toys they currently have or they aren’t receiving enough training.
If your whippet isn’t getting enough mental stimulation it’s not uncommon to see them act out and become destructive.
Challenge is good for a dog and is necessary for them to be mentally happy and healthy.
That’s why frequent training and mentally stimulating dog toys are so helpful in keeping your pup entertained.
If they don’t use their head at all every day they’ll act out because they need something to focus on.
4) Puppy Teething
If your whippet is just a puppy and they’re destroying things more often than they ever have, they could be in their teething phase.
Teething is a painful time where your pup’s teeth are pushing through their gums.
Keep in mind that they aren’t chewing on things and wrecking them for fun, they’re doing it to help soothe the aches and pains in their mouth.
Unfortunately teething can last for a few months so it’s best to not leave anything around that they could possibly destroy.
5) Acting Out For Attention
Sometimes dogs aren’t too concerned about whether they get positive attention or negative attention.
Their biggest concern is that they got your attention when you weren’t interacting with them before.
So if your whippet is destroying many things in your home it could be because of how you react to their destruction.
If you make a big deal, chase after them yelling at what they’ve done, you’re unintentionally giving them what they want. Your attention.
While you don’t want to simply allow them to destroy things, the best thing to do is not react.
Simply say no in a firm voice and put them in their crate or outside.
This shows them that destroying things doesn’t work to get your attention.
Related Reading: Are Whippets High Maintenance? (What To Expect + Tips)
6) Bad Habit Becoming Worse
When a whippet is a young puppy they’re so darn cute it’s easy to let things go that should otherwise be corrected.
And if your pup would destroy toys and other things as a puppy but didn’t learn that it was bad behavior, it can easily evolve into something worse.
Now that they’re older and stronger their ability to be destructive has gotten much worse.
While this doesn’t mean they’ll be destructive the rest of their life..
It does mean they’ll have to unlearn this destructive behavior which will take time and patience.
7) Fear/Stress
If your whippet is feeling fearful or overly stressed they may destroy things as a way to cope with their feelings.
The act of destroying something momentarily takes their mind off of whatever is bothering them which makes them feel better.
When it comes to fear or stress related destruction there’s only two ways of fixing it.
Find out and remove whatever is causing them to feel this way.
Or, in a slow, safe way, give them more exposure to what’s making them feel this way and help them overcome it.
Related Reading: 9 Reasons Why Your Whippet Is Always Nervous + 3 Tips
7 Tips To Help Whippets Become Less Destructive
1) Increase Daily Physical Activity
A tired doggo is a well behaved doggo.
If your whippet is otherwise healthy, the more exercise they get the less destructive they should be.
One of the biggest reasons why a dog will destroy things is because they simply have too much energy.
And the best way to reduce this behavior or even get rid of it completely is with more physical activity.
This could be increasing the length of their existing daily walks.
Adding another walk to their routine.
Or making sure to have some highly engaged playtime in between their walks.
The more you’re able to help your whippet get rid of their pent up energy the less likely they’re to be destructive.
2) Try Mentally Stimulating Dog Toys
Mentally stimulating dog toys are a great way to keep your whippets mind focused on their toys and not looking around for something to destroy.
When you’re gone for many hours of the day your pup needs something to do with their time.
And mentally stimulating puzzle toys can be very helpful for this.
Not only does it give them something to focus on and challenge them, it gives them a reward when they solve the puzzle.
If they know one of their favorite treats is inside their toy it can hold their attention for quite some time.
Definitely not all day.
But enough time for them not to be so bored they feel the need to be destructive.
3) Indestructible Chew Toys
Sometimes when a whippet destroys toys from a young age they learn to rip things apart as a way of having fun.
That’s why if your whippet likes to destroy their toys it’s important to get them toys that are built to last.
While no toy is truly indestructible, there are many that are designed to hold up to even the toughest chewers.
One of the best ‘indestructible’ dog toys are Goughnuts.
They’re by far the best toys available in terms of durability and if your pup is able to break it apart the company will send you a replacement toy.
Which is very rare to find for dog toys.
4) Increase Training
Another way to help make sure your pup stays mentally stimulated is with training.
If you find your whippet is being destructive, outside of training them not to chew things apart, give them daily training for other tricks and behaviors.
Not only will this increase their quality 1-on-1 time with you but it should help tire them out mentally which makes them less interested in being destructive.
And they’ll also learn some fun new tricks that you can show off next time you have visitors!
5) Increase Play Time
The more time your whippet is occupied the less time they’ll have to be destructive.
Playing with your pup gives them both physical and mental stimulation.
Plus it also helps strengthen your bond.
If you’ve been working a lot lately your whippet’s destructive behavior could be them communicating that they miss you.
It’s easy to get caught up in your day to day and forget about spending quality time with your pup.
So if that’s the case for you, make an effort to schedule in some play time with your pup each day.
6) Limit Where They Can Go When Alone
If you’re unable to figure out why your whippet is being destructive or how to solve it, for the time being it might be best to limit where they can go in your house.
As opposed to worrying about whether your pup is chewing something apart when you’re gone, simply don’t give them the opportunity to.
Only give them access to a certain part of your home.
And only once they’ve overcome their destructive behavior are they allowed to go wherever they please when you’re gone.
7) Consult With a Professional
Sometimes destructive behavior can be difficult to solve on your own.
Some triggers for the behavior are obvious but other times it’s very challenging trying to understand why your pup is behaving the way they are.
That’s why consulting with a professional can help you get the well behaved whippet of your dreams much quicker.
Other posts you might find interesting:
Can Whippets Be Crate Trained? The Truth + 11 Helpful Tips
Are Whippets Aggressive? The Truth + Anti Aggression Tips
Whippets & Separation Anxiety | The Truth + Helpful Tips