Understanding Whippet Barking and Reactivity

Reactivity In Whippets

A surprisingly common problem that I work with is Whippets who bark and lunge at other dogs or people when out on walks. These dogs are often on their back legs, lunging, spinning and for some whippets redirecting aggression (nipping or biting at their owners instead). Many people don’t believe a whippet can be capable of this, but any dog breed can become reactive and whippets are no exception to that. Having lived with this behaviours with my own whippets I understand the embarrassment and frustration that comes with owning a “reactive” whippet.

Why Does My Whippet Bark At Other Dogs?

When your whippet is Reacting to another dog or person, it is because they are overwhelmed with emotions. They are no longer able to think straight or make good choices and this results in your whippet barking and lunging. Why do they do it? Sometimes it is complicated! It stems from emotions, this can be fear. Your whippet barks to create distance as they don’t want to interact with the other dog. While some may react with frustration, they may desperately want to play and want to communicate that but lacks the skills to know how to do it calmly. Some may react because they are in pain and don’t want another dog jumping all over them. Many of the whippets I work with have chronic back pain of some variety.

While for others it could be negative experiences, genetics or their baseline personality is just a bit more emotional.

Was It Bad Training?

No. It is really if ever “bad training”. There is a dangerous rhetoric online that dogs who bark and lung at other dogs do so because their owners have no trained them well enough, or the owners are not a good enough leader, or they haven’t been firm enough. This is all not true. A dog is who reacts is not untrained, far from it. Many of the reactive dogs I work with are trained to a higher standard than many pet dogs! The reaction is from a place of overwhelm. It is more like a panic attack or a lack of emotional regulation. These dogs are not bad dogs, and their owners have not failed them. They are dogs who need support with the world to stop their barking at other dogs.

Should I Socialise My Whippet More?

It can be instinctual to think the issue for Whippets who bark and lunge at other dogs is that the need to be socialised more, or they weren’t socialised enough. But this is not the case. Socialisation is a small window for a puppy to get familiar with interacting in the world, you cannot “re socialise an adult dog. And trying to force your barking whippet into going to daycares, or meeting dogs they don’t like on walks tends to create more problems and a lack of trust. These dogs don’t need more exposure that overwhelms them. They need the Right exposure.

How Can I Stop My Whippet Barking?

This is a huge question and I can’t go over it simply in a small blog, not in the grat detail it requires! But simply put you need to find the safe distance your whippet can cope, and work with them at that. If they are barking or lunging, they cannot be trained in that mindset. They are “over threshold” and at a distance they cannot handle. They normally need more distance where they can see their trigger and react to seeing them calmly. Then when at this distance you want to praise and reward them with tasty high value treats such as small pieces of chicken or ham.

This will help your whippet if fearful, to see the other dog as less scary. As they don’t get so close to overwhelm them but the positive association of a tasty treat. If your whippet is overexcited or frustrated it teaches them to look calmly instead of reacting, keeping them at a distance they can regulate themselves instead.

It is a process. It takes time to change emotions and you should ideally do this under guidance from a qualified and experienced behaviourist. One who uses modern and reward based techniques.

Amongst this you want to work on meeting your dogs needs, addressing underlying issues of confidence or calm and management skills to handle different situations.

Do You Need Support With Your Reactive Whippet?

I have worked with reactive whippet owners worldwide since 2020, working locally in Lincoln with reactivity since 2012. Working with reactive dogs is very rewarding as I also understand what it is like to live with whippets with reactivity behaviours. If you would like support, check out our online courses and 121 zoom sessions. Learn more