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Has your whippet been considerably lazy lately? Or have they been pretty darn lazy for as long as you’ve had them?
You might wonder if it’s normal for whippets to be so lazy.. Or if something’s wrong.
Why Is My Whippet So Lazy:
Whippets enjoy their lounge time when inside. But when a whippet behaves considerably lazy for an extended period of time it’s because they’re not getting enough mental or physical stimulation on a day to day basis. It can also be from a poor diet, age or a health issue.
In this post you’ll discover:
- 8 real reasons why whippets become so lazy
- When your whippet being lazy is something to worry about
- 4 tips to help your whippet not be so lazy (Tip #1 can help 90% of the time!)
- And much more
Let’s jump right in.
Table of Contents
Top 8 Reasons Why Your Whippet Is So Lazy
1) Lack Of Activities
When your whippet doesn’t get very much physical or mental stimulation, they may resort to being lazy.
Because they’ve gotten used to not doing too much, their baseline energy level is laziness.
If your whippet were to get lots of exercise everyday, where their heart gets pumping and they’re excited about what they’re doing, it’ll only help increase their energy levels.
Laziness can also become their baseline when their mind isn’t stimulated often.
For example, if they don’t have any puzzle toys to keep their mind occupied or if they aren’t challenged with learning new tricks.
These types of activities keep your pup excited as they never know when the next fun activity will be.
But when it doesn’t happen often they may simply resort to being lazy because they don’t do many fun activities often.
2) It’s a Whippet Thing
While whippets are known for being one of the fastest dog breeds, they’re also known for being phenomenal loungers.
When they get outside and are free to run around, they can go like crazy.
But when they’re home and in a comfortable spot, boy do they know how to relax.
Many other whippet owners talk about how when their pup is home they’re quite lazy.
If as far as you know your pup is healthy, they might just be following their whippet genes and really knowing how to relax when inside.
Related Reading: Are Whippets High Maintenance? (What To Expect + Tips)
3) Moving Into Their Senior Years
As your whippet moves into their senior years, it’s not uncommon for them to become lazier.
This is often due to a decrease in mobility as they age and they may not be able to move around like they used to.
Arthritis or other health conditions can make being active quite painful so your pup may just want to lounge around to avoid discomfort or pain.
A recent study found that once a dog reaches the age of 6-8 they noticeably become less active.
Of course this isn’t the case for every doggo.
But in general, once your whippet has reached their late adult years it’s normal to see them slow down and become a little more on the lazy side.
*Important Note: This doesn’t mean to stop giving them exercise! Ensuring they’re still active daily can help keep their energy levels higher than they otherwise would be if they sat around for most of the day.
4) Stomach Problems
Another potential reason your whippet may be lazy is because of an upset stomach or other digestive issues.
Whippets are known for having rather sensitive stomachs which means they are more likely to have food allergies.
If your whippet is constantly feeling nauseous or gassy, they’ll be less inclined to move around because they just don’t feel good.
If you suspect that your whippet’s laziness is due to stomach problems, it’s a good idea to take them to the vet for a check-up.
Related Reading: Are Whippets High Maintenance? (What To Expect + Tips)
5) Depression
Just like humans, dogs can suffer from depression.
Your whippet may be lazy because they just aren’t feeling themselves and may not have the energy or motivation to do much.
Signs of depression in dogs include a decrease in appetite, sleeping more than usual, lack of interest in activities they used to enjoy, and being withdrawn from their family.
While there are many potential reasons why your whippet is depressed, these are some of the most common ones.
Depression in dogs is usually brought on by big changes to their environment.
Things like losing a loved one (canine or human), a new baby coming home and getting all the attention, or a boyfriend/girlfriend moving in full time.
Related Reading: 8 Real Reasons Whippets Look Sad & Depressed + 4 Tips
6) Whippets Need More Sleep
What is often misunderstood as being lazy is simply your pup needing more sleep than you think is necessary.
Puppies need anywhere up to 16 hours of sleep per day.
Healthy adults will sleep roughly 12 hours per day.
And if your whippet is moving into their senior years they’ll start needing closer to 16 hours of sleep again.
So when you and your pup get a good 8 hours of sleep, and they are napping soon after waking up..
It’s not that your whippet is lazy, they simply need more sleep than you do.
The reason for this is that your pup only spends roughly 10% of their time sleeping in what’s considered REM sleep.
Whereas people spend 20-25% of their time sleeping in REM.
Which simply means your pup needs more sleeping hours to feel well rested than you might expect.
Related Reading: 9 Reasons Why Whippets Sleep So Much + Helpful Tips
7) Matching You
If you’re someone who is naturally quite laid-back, or maybe you’ve been working from home and in a bit of a rut with your fitness..
Chances are your whippet has picked up on this and matched their energy levels to yours.
Dogs are very good at reading our energy and emotions.
So if you’re feeling low and not motivated to do much, your pup is likely going to mirror that behavior.
Or if you simply like to chill out when you’re home after work, your pup has picked up on this habit.
The easiest way to combat this is by ensuring you yourself are active and upbeat around your pup.
This will help set the tone for them and encourage them to want to be more active as well.
8) They’re Unwell
If your whippet’s laziness has come on suddenly and they’re not their usual self, it’s possible they may be unwell.
Dogs can’t tell us when they’re feeling under the weather, so it’s important to keep an eye out for signs such as a decrease in energy levels, changes in appetite, or increased water consumption.
Health issues that may cause your whippet to become lethargic include liver disease, heartworm, or diabetes.
If you’re worried about your whippet’s health, it’s always best to get them checked out by a vet.
Bonus: Too Warm
While not super common for whippets considering their thin coat, your pup might be behaving lazy because they’re too warm.
If it gets considerably warm where you live there’s a chance your pup is uncomfortably warm.
Your whippet isn’t able to sweat all over their body to help release heat like you and I can.
Which makes it more difficult for them to regulate their temperature.
And if they’re feeling too warm, it’s natural for them to be lazy and not want to move around and make themselves warmer.
4 Tips To Help Your Whippet Not Be So Lazy
1) Bring Up Their Baseline
One way to help your pup be less lazy is by gradually increasing how much they exercise each day.
You might be scratching your head thinking about how more exercise can help your pup be less lazy…
But that’s exactly what you should do!
*If they don’t have any health issues.*
When you give your whippet more daily exercise it raises their baseline activity levels.
Their body becomes better at managing their energy levels and they’ll prefer to be moving around more rather than simply lying around being lazy.
This gradual increase can be done by adding 5-10 minutes of exercise to their day for a week or two, and then gradually increasing that time each week.
So if your pup usually exercises for 30 minutes per day, increase it to 45 minutes for a week, and then an hour the following week.
And so on.
This will help them be more active and less lazy overall.
2) Garbage In Garbage Out
You are what you eat, and the same goes for your whippet.
If your pup is eating a diet that’s high in fillers and low in nutrients, it’s no wonder they might be feeling lazy.
A poor quality diet can lead to your pup feeling tired and sluggish as their body isn’t getting the proper nourishment it needs.
On the other hand, if your pup is eating a diet that’s high in good quality proteins and nutrients, they’ll have more energy and be less lazy.
So it’s important to feed your whippet a balanced diet that will help them maintain their optimal health.
A general rule to always keep in mind is that 90% of your pup’s daily calorie intake should be from their dog food and only 10% from treats & snacks.
3) More Fun Activities
Another way to help your whippet be less lazy is by engaging them in more fun activities.
Not only can this help bring them out of a funk if they’re feeling depressed lately..
But when you start doing more activities with your pup they’ll be excited more often because they’ll be expecting to do fun things with you.
Which should limit how lazy your whippet is on a weekly basis.
They’ll likely always enjoy their lounge time.
But the more activities you do with them the more interested they may become in doing them.
Related Reading: 13 Best Mind Stimulating Dog Toys: Features & Benefits
4) Vet Check-In
As mentioned earlier, if you’re concerned about your whippet’s lethargy it’s always best to have them checked out by a vet.
There could be an underlying health issue causing them to act this way and only a professional will be able to tell for sure.
Plus, regular vet check-ups are important for all dog owners to ensure their pup is in optimal health.
Other posts you might find interesting:
9 Real Reasons Why Your Whippet Grunts & Groans + 4 Tips
9 Reasons Why Your Whippet Lays On You So Much + 5 Tips
9 Weird Reasons Whippets Stop Eating + 6 Helpful Tips
Sources:
Old dog, new tricks: Age differences in dog personality traits
Owners’ Perceptions of Their Animal’s Behavioural Response to the Loss of an Animal Companion