Recall For Your Whippet
Are You Struggling with Recall?
Do you feel jealous watching other owners walking their dogs offlead. Wishing you could have that with your Whippet?
Maybe you have been told its just a breed thing. Whippets can't be trusted to go off the lead, so stop wasting your time.
But you'd much prefer to be enjoying calm walks without the risk of your Whippet disappearing or someone shouting at you after they have run over to them?
Independent Thinkers
Whippets, Lurchers and Sighthounds are bred to be impulsive and react fast to changes in their environment.
This can make recall a big challenge when they can move at speed, running from you when distracted. They may chase other dogs, people, prey or be distracted in general.
Making all that dancing and cheerleading you were taught at puppy classes pointless! They can't even see you as they career off into the distance.
It doesn't need to be this way though; you can train your Whippet recall, and enjoy freedom with your sighthound.
Get Expert Help now
Can you Teach a Whippet Recall?
One of the biggest frustrations that Whippet owners have is they can be fine with that recall as a pup, but once they hit adolesence, that recall can start to fail.
As their Whippet starts to develop a stronger prey drive, or becomes more sociable with other people and dogs they may range further or run to distractions.
Many people may say you can never teach a whippet recall, however that is because traditional approaches rely on lots of dancing, and making yourself the "most exciting thing ever", which sighthounds tend to find very unappealing! And it is often ineffective!
By training with Whippet Wonders options you will learn the keys to:
-Engagement
-A Reflexive Recall (no more dancing!)
-An Emergency Recall
-Teamwork for prey drive
Whippet Expert with over 14 Years Experience
5 Star rated with clients Worldwide
Experienced and Qualified in Dog Training and Behaviour
Rapid Recall Package
Enjoy Your Walks Again
Get your recall back on track or create strong foundations!
Here's what you get:
1 x Hour consult via zoom
1x 45 Min follow Up Session
Online Recall Course (Value £42)
Notes, sheets & videos
Ongoing support between sessions
All Tailored to you and your dog
Zoom sessions to be used within 3 months of booking. Course access for life.
Only £100 One Off Payment
-Intro offer
"I really feel well supported"
"Zara was really helpful, actively listening and giving clear and useful advice." Isabel R
Review - Kerstin
"Very good whippet trainer. I am attending an self paced online course which really works amazing.
I am really surprised how fast we are seeing results in recalling our whippet.
On top the course is really affordable and there is the option of private consulting for special problems/topics.
I was sceptic with the online course at first but I am really glad that I gave it a try. I can highly recommend Zara as Whippet trainer."
Why Whippet Wonders ?
Having lived with Whippets for 14 years all 4 of my Whippets have been offlead enjoying freedom and the world around them!
I realised quickly that dancing and cheerleading wasn't going to succeed in the face of distractions, instead I taught my Whippets I am a valuable team mate.
Working with Whippet Wonders you get breed experience, knowledge and you can get that anywhere in the world, ideal if you are in a location where the breed is less popular currently.
Whippets won't do because you tell them, they want to understand "What is in it for me?"
Arkle The Whippet working on choosing to watch and turn away from prey
This has taken practice and consistency!
Recall Training Options
Recall Package
1 x 60 Min Live Zoom Session
1 x 45 Min Follow up Session
Rapid Recall Online Course
Support between sessions
£100 - Intro Offer
Live Zoom Class
Saturday feb 21st 11am-12.30pm
Live Training with your whippet
Includes follow Up Videos
Learn foundations and how to handle distractions!
£35 One off Payment
Online Course
40+ Video Based Lessons.
Login & learn anytime to suit you
Foundations up to distractions
Includes Emergency Whistle recall and more.
£42 -One Off Payment
Me and my whippet x are taking part in an on line rapid recall course. The info has helped so much as well as the engagement games. We are now starting to get a solid recall. The course was reasonably priced and you can move at your own pace and go back to it at any point. Zara is also on hand for any additional tips you may need help with. Would recommend.
My dog Betty and I attended a Whippet Wonders workshop on Zoom to work on recall. As I live in France and haven’t managed to find an educator for Whippets, this was just what we were looking for! We learnt a multitude of games, in only an hour and a half, it was super well organised and animated by Zara. We received documentation by email shortly after the session explaining everything we’d learnt as well as a cute certificate. I really do feel that this session has had positive effects on Betty and myself and I can already see a massive improvement in her recall and her behaviour in general. Thank you Zara, we’ll be back for more! Highly recommended.
Zara's self paced courses are an invaluable resource for training and for understanding the needs of whippets. Concise and informative content presented in accessible video and ebook format
3 Top Tips For Handling Prey Drive
Whippets are bred to be skilled and adept hunters who can notice small changes in scents and sights to career off after the critter that created them.
First of all prey drive is NORMAL in Whippets. It is not an abnormal behaviour. This is not “reactive behaviour”. Reactive behaviour is an over emotional reaction to a trigger that should cause a neutral or friendly response. Such as people or dogs. You will have more luck looking for help on prey drive than reactivity if your issue is cats, squirrels, bunnies etc.
Prey drive is the innate passion and desire for your whippet to chase or hunt small animals/ wildlife.
This is a normal behaviour, one you cannot train out of your whippet.
That's not to say we can't train your whippet to work around prey drive more effectively and create greater calm and control around critters that move. But to expect your whippet to never react or react impulsively would be expecting a lot, and unfair given their breed.
Give them Chase Related Outlets
Rather than simply trying to STOP your dogs desire to chase, it's important to give them a similar prey related activity to fulfill that need. Giving them an outlet to chase will help them generally feel happier overall.
Dogs who have their needs met are less likely to be frustrated. In addition to this giving them an outlet WITH you will help your dog learn that you are a good team mate. The more your dog knows you HELP them with prey related outlets, the more their value in you increases. You are no longer the fun police, but a helpful team mate that is worth engaging with. Prey related outlets can be giving them tuggy toys to chase and play with you.
Many dogs enjoy the rabbit and sheepskin toys from Tugenuff. While flirt poles can be a great way to give them that adrenaline of the chase too! A flirt pole is simply like a giant cat teaser pole that you whip a toy around the end of. https://tug-e-nuff.com/WAGGINGWONDERS
When your whippet spots prey- stop don't follow
If your whippet spots a squirrel onlead; stop! Don't just follow them as they pull and career on towards that squirrel. They are rewarding themselves and will definitely do it again! They know they can just keep pulling.
Stop babbling too! Very often we start squeaking “fiiiiido” and all sorts such as “leave it” “no!” And anything we think that might stop them…but actually they are learning one lesson…to ignore us. Do we really think they're going to listen in that moment?
Instead we want to give them time to watch calmly and wait for them to disengage ( look away from prey) and reward that disengagement with a high value tasty treat and ideally let them CHASE that treat away from the prey triggering them.
Giving them a treat to chase means they can get that outlet of chase out on the treat - double the reward! You MUST regularly work on engagement with rewarding check ins and eye contact. Ideally setting your dog up at a distance ( though this can be tricky!)
Your dog can't lie- learn to read them !
Learn to read your dogs prey driven behaviours to help ensure you have control of them before you are too close to the trigger. Dogs can't lie.
This means if you see a change in behaviour, they're not likely to be wrong. You may on pavement walks see sudden pulling and zig zagging as they catch scent of cats.
Or offlead / long line you may suddenly notice them stick their nose to the floor ( or conversely in the air) and start dashing around. Asking them to do a basic cue or to check in may result I you bring ignored!
These are signs if you carry on, your likely to come across something of interest! If they start zoning you out, call them / reel them in and pop them back on lead with a high value reward. Or if onlead try a find it of tasty treats scattered on the ground to calm them and be aware of what might be around.
If you learn to read them, it's as lot less likely you'll be surprised by them suddenly lurching at something!
You can help your sighthound with recall check out our expert step by step courses.
https://whippetwonders.co.uk/recall
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers To Frequently Asked Questions
I live in another country, can you work with me?
Whippet Wonders has worked with clients around the world. Everywhere from USA, Australia, Denmark, Italy, Spain, France and more! Zooms can take place from anywhere in the world and you can buy courses from anywhere too.
Don't you need to see my dogs "bad behaviour" In person?
During a zoom I don't need to see your dog doing the wrong behaviour, our goal is to set your dog up for success. This would be the same as if I were in person. If you have any relevant video clips, that is handy, but our focus is on solutions and moving forward!
Do you work with other Breeds?
I work with Whippets, Whippet mixes, Italian Greyhounds, Lurchers, Bedlington Whippets - anything that is a bit "sighthound-y". I can be persuaded to work with other breeds in some circumstances.
Do you charge extra for multi dog households?
There is NO extra charge for households with multiple dogs. We can cover the most pressing issues for your multidog household in each session.
What if my dog is not food motivated?
If your dog is not a super foodie, don't worry! Motivation is a tricky topic, but very often it is about how we use food and we will cover strategies during your 121 zoom session.
Would a course or 121 suit me best?
Self paced courses or the School For Whippets are ideal if you are motivated and able to work on your own. Perfect if you are pressed for time. While 121's can be ideal if you need a plan, structure or help with a specific problem. Get in touch if you are unsure.
