A Whippet-Friendly Christmas

Christmas is often that time we can't wait for, getting the opportunity to see family, friends...and spend time with our whippets! There can be so much going on for our dogs at this time of year though, it is not surprising I get a surge of urgent emails every year where people's dogs have behaved unusually or something unexpected has happened.

The holidays can be wonderful, but for many sighthounds they’re also loud, busy, unpredictable and full of temptations. With a bit of planning ahead, you can make the whole season much calmer for both of you.

Scavenging: The Christmas Sport Whippets Were Born For

Whippets are known for being master thieves, just when you think you have found that perfect hiding place for some tasty snacks out of reach, they have contorted their bodies to reach it. Christmas is practically a scavenger’s Olympics. Chocolates on coffee tables, turkey skin left on the side “just for a moment”, a bin overflowing with festive leftovers — it’s all right at nose height.

The easiest way to avoid disasters is to accept that whippets are opportunistic, not naughty. If something smells amazing and is easy to access, they’ll take it. They’re not plotting; they’re just being sighthounds, especially if we have not done alot of working on it in the past.

So instead of battling instincts, shift the environment. Keep food higher than usual. Move temptations before your whippet discovers them. And don’t feel guilty about giving them a comfy room or gated area while you’re serving dinner. It’s not banishment, it’s setting them up to stay safe, successful, and out of the emergency vet’s waiting room.

Enrichment: The Key to a Settled Sighthound

One thing people often forget is how easily overstimulated whippets can become. They’re not built for hours of constant buzz. Even wrapping paper tearing open can send some of them into a spiral of excitement they can’t come back down from with everything else that can be going on as well. New people, new sounds, new places.

This is where gentle, calming enrichment becomes your best friend.

A slow, sniffy walk on Christmas morning does far more for your whippet’s nervous system than lobbing that ball back and forth. A lickimat, a stuffed Kong, a cardboard “forage box” with a few treats tucked inside these are the things that help them decompress, use their brain, and settle into the day without bubbling over.

When they’ve had time to work, sniff, lick or chew, the contrast in their ability to cope with guests, noise and general chaos is huge. It gives them that all important outlet to calm and relax.

Advocating for Your Whippet (Especially Around Other People and Dogs)

Here’s the truth: whippets often look socially confident, but many of them are actually quite sensitive and conflict-avoidant. Christmas tends to bring out the well-meaning relatives who assume all dogs want cuddles… or kids who move too fast… or visiting dogs who barrel in with zero personal space awareness.

Your whippet might not complain. They may freeze, tolerate, or retreat quietly — that’s their version of saying “I’m struggling”.

This is where you come in.

You absolutely can step in and say, “He needs a bit of space,” or “Please don’t feed him,” or “We’re giving the dogs a break from each other for a while.” You’re the person who understands your dog’s signals, and Christmas is the moment they really need you to use your voice on their behalf. If in doubt blame the dog trainer " the dog trainer said he needs his own space regularly"

Sighthounds burn out quicker than people expect. Short, predictable breaks in a familiar, quiet room can be the difference between a dog who copes beautifully and a dog who becomes overwhelmed.

Creating Calmness (Even When the Day Isn’t Calm)

Keeping routines roughly the same helps more than people realise feeding times, walk times, quiet naps in their favourite spot. It creates security and predictability. Where possible try and keep some things routine over this period; so that when you get back to work not too much has changed too.

Before the house fills with noise, make space for activities that help your whippet settle: a sniffy wander, a relaxing chew, a bit of enrichment. These moments put their nervous system in the right place before the excitement kicks off helping them handle the different situations that may pop up.

And most importantly, give them a retreat. A cosy space where no one follows them, pokes them, or “just wants a cuddle.” Whippets love comfort, and a safe, predictable sanctuary can transform how they handle the day.

Calmness also grows when you quietly reward the behaviours you like, laying on a mat calmly, leaving food, keeping feet on the floor around new visitors.

A Christmas Your Whippet Can Actually Enjoy

Always make sure the activities you are doing with your whippet, they will actually enjoy. If they're anxious around other dogs or visitors, maybe they'd prefer to be at home with a tasty kong for a few hours than be harassed by your friends new puppy at their house! Dogs tend to not understand the concept of christmas and "being left out"; always advocate for your dogs.