11 Ways Whippets Can Become Aggressive & Tips To Prevent

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If you are wondering about aggression when it comes to whippets, you are in the right place. Whippets are always painted as gentle, kind, and loving dogs but can whippets be aggressive?

Can Whippets Be Aggressive:

All dogs, including whippets can be aggressive. Without proper training, socialization, and care, a whippet could become aggressive. By nature whippets are not normally aggressive, they’re generally friendly, quiet, gentle, family dogs that are always looking to make new friends.

In this post you will discover:

11 ways a whippet can become aggressive
When a whippet shows signs of being aggressive
6 tips to help reduce or stop aggression (Tips #2 & #4 work surprisingly well!)
And much more

Let’s dive in…

11 Ways Whippets Can Become Aggressive

1) Whippets With Anxiety

A whippet that is timid and displays forms of anxiety can become aggressive in certain circumstances.

Anxious whippets may be triggered by things like loud noises, other dogs, new people, being home alone, etc.

Whippets are naturally more prone to anxiety due to their shy, timid nature. This can result in aggressive behaviors that usually start out as feeling anxious and then develops into fear.

This leads me to the next point.

2) Fear Reaction

When a whippet experiences fear it can easily transition them to a state of aggression.

If your whippet believes you are going to punish them or they find themselves in an unfamiliar situation, they may act aggressive in response.

Fear may cause a whippet to show aggression towards people, dogs, and even owners.

This is a response from a dog’s natural instinct to “fight or flight” when they find themselves in threatening situations.

3) Whippets With Trauma / Abandonment Issues

Usually a dog that has had past trauma or abandonment may appear, skittish, fearful, and potentially aggressive.

Traumatic experiences can leave their mark on a dog in many different forms. Some become aggressive over resources, physical touching, towards other dogs, etc.

It’s important to know that a whippet with negative past experiences can be aggressive but with the proper care and training this behavior can be eliminated.

4) Illness or Injury

If a whippet shows no sign of aggression and one day things seem to change, this may be due to illness or injury.

Certain illnesses may lead a whippet to become aggressive.

For example, an older whippet may start to develop conditions that make them forget things. This can lead your dog to forgetting their surroundings and becoming fearful.

Imagine walking around and all the sudden you forget where you are and the people around you. You would be fearful and possibly aggressive toward these “strangers”.

With that said, even nice gentle dogs like whippets can snap when injured.

If a whippet is harmed they may become aggressive to protect themselve. This is especially true if approached by something unfamiliar.

5) Whippets That Are Territorial

Dogs that develop territorial habits may feel like they need to protect everything and can be aggressive.

A whippet can become territorial over their space, belongings, and their beloved humans.

In order to deal with a territorial whippet you need to make them feel as though you are not a threat.

The longer this habit persists the harder it becomes to adjust.

6) Whippets Trying To Show Dominance

Although a majority of whippets tend to be submissive and timid there may be the odd one that feels as though they are the alpha.

Whippets that believe they are the leader of the pack may act out of aggression to control their owners, and put other dogs in line.

7) Frustration

No matter how loving and sweet a whippet is, frustration can cause any dog to show aggression.

Frustration can be displayed in many behaviors such as, growling, barking, snapping, biting, etc.

A whippet may become aggressive when frustrated over: an empty food bowl, restriction from leashes / harnesses, being unable to greet another dog through the window, when they want access to a part of the house closed off, etc.

All whippets have their own uniqueness so certain situations may make some whippets more frustrated than others.

8) Lacking Socialization

For whippets socialization with POSITIVE experiences can make the difference between a gentle, friendly whippet, and an aggressive, protective whippet.

Whippets unfamiliar with social settings may be fearful, hyper reactive, and sensitive when placed in these new scenarios.

If they were not properly socialized from a young age or had many negative social experiences aggression may develop toward other people or dogs.

9) Instinctual Responses

All whippets are unique and some might be hard-wired for protection more than others.

This means from birth they may have a habit of being over protective of things.

And because of this instinctual response they react aggressively toward anything that should touch, harm, or take what they feel is theirs.

Luckily, all dogs are trainable to reduce these types of behavior.

The primary thing your whippet needs to realize is that you are the boss. From there you are able to adjust their behavior with proper training.

10) Hormonal Aggression

You’ve probably heard that getting your dog ‘fixed’ can reduce aggression and energy in dogs.

This is because it’s quite common for dogs that are hormonal (both male & female) to behave aggressively when it comes to reproduction.

Female whippets in heat may act aggressively toward male dogs whereas the male whippets may act aggressively towards other male dogs.

Male whippets are aggressive in order to ‘win’ over the female and may need to express dominance in order to succeed.

The best way to solve this aggression is by neutering or spaying your whippet.

11) Improper Training

Lastly, on our list of ways a whippet can become aggressive is through improper training.

It’s true that owners can sometimes be the sole reason their whippet is aggressive.

This usually happens unknowingly by accidentally reinforcing the behavior.

For example, when your dog starts barking and becoming aggressive towards other dogs, owners may yell at their dog to quiet down.

The problem here is you yelling at them might make them think you are just ‘barking’ with them.

And because they think you are just helping out, they think it’s acceptable behavior.

This is the same reason some whippets develop barking habits.

6 Tips To Reduce, Stop, & Avoid Whippet Aggression

1) Identify Triggers

When a whippet is in a situation that results in their aggression, what triggered them?

Was it another dog? Did someone go near their food?

If you can determine the possible reason for their reaction you can then look to solve the issue.

2) Socialize Them

Regardless of a whippet’s reason for being aggressive, they need to be socialized.

This needs to be done in a safe, controlled manner. The last thing you want is to create negative social experiences.

That would just create more problems. Instead try and plan a social experience with people that are familiar with the situations.

People who will actively help you with training them and creating the best experience possible.

Also, if you are bringing your whippet to socialize with other dogs do not take them to the dog park at first.

This is far too chaotic with too many dogs and other variables to try and control here.

Instead try and bring your dog to meet other dogs that you know are well behaved with a good track record.

This leads me to my next point.

3) Always Keep Control

When it comes to handling aggression you want to always be in control of your whippet AND the environment.

This is why in step number 2 I mentioned avoiding dog parks at first.

You cannot control this environment and all the other dogs around.

Another strategy for keeping control of your whippet is to use a leash or indoor line to control them.

This always allows you to grab them and easily control the situation should they become aggressive.

And this also asserts your dominance and lets them know you are the boss, not them.

You want to apply this tip of always being in control to whatever the situation is where your whippet is aggressive.

If you know your whippet always gets aggressive around his food, make sure to control this environment.

Do not put their food out while guests are around. Make sure they have a safe spot to eat, and then work to slowly reduce their reactivity when you go near their food.

4) Don’t Encourage Rough Play

If you play aggressively with your whippet this may contribute to them becoming aggressive.

So if you start to notice aggression avoid games like tug of war since it can encourage rough play.

If they are already aggressive, look for stimulating things they can do that don’t involve destruction.

For example, instead of giving them a plus toy they can play with and rip apart, look for puzzle toys that they cannot destroy.

This way you stimulate them without them destroying toys or flinging them all over the place.

And this should discourage rough play and aggression.

5) Seek Professional Help

When it comes to aggression with dogs there is a fine line.

The last thing you want is for your whippet to bite someone or another dog and hurt them.

This can lead to many negative ramifications and possible euthanization.

Remember, all dogs are trainable no matter how hopeless it seems, sometimes we just indeed get help from the experts.

Dog trainers that have dealt with aggression are your best bet for eliminating this behavior.

6) Take Them To Vet

Aggression can sometimes be disguised in illness and injury invisible to you.

This is why you should always check in with a vet to make sure there are no health care issues that could be contributing to their aggression.

Other posts you might find interesting:

7 Alarming Reasons Whippets Eat Poop + Tips To Stop It

Can Whippets Be Left Alone? (Quick Answers & 9 Tips)

8 Reasons Why Your Whippet Is Shedding So Much + 4 Tips

Citations

7 Proven Ways to Calm Your Anxious Dog
Understanding Pet Aggression
6+ Medical Causes of Aggressive Behaviors in Dogs
Aggression
Understanding The Different Types Of Canine Aggression
When Your Dog is Overly Aggressive Towards Other Dogs
Reasons Why Dogs Get Aggressive and How to Stop It
Sex-Related Aggression in Dogs