Hello all, I've been browsing this forum for a couple of days as I'm hoping to take on a puppy this year, and it occurred to me you may be able to help me with a question I have about my mother's dog.

It is a whippet rehomed by my mother at nine months. The first family had small children and had not realised the work involved with having a dog so were giving him to another home as they were overwhelmed. From what we know, he had spent long periods in a crate during this time.

Ever since my mother brought him home he's suffered from terrible separation anxiety. He is not destructive but seems to suffer greatly emotionally. I once tied him up mid walk so I could quickly pop into a shop for a drink and the moment I took one step away from him he started howling as if he was dying. Its a really gut wrenching sound. I was only gone 30 seconds but when I came back he was ecstatic.

Since then, he has got gradually more relaxed with being alone so long as he is in a familiar place, but other issues have crept up. He has become very attached to my mother's partner but on the days her partner works, the dog refuses to eat. This is getting quite regular now so he's frequently missing meals. He has also started refusing to walk unless both my mother and her partner are there - if either of them are missing he will lie down and refuse to go out. We think this particular problem may have worsened since he was unfortunately attacked by another dog.

Overall the dog is in good health and the vet says he's simply an anxious individual, but I do feel sorry for him because he seems to pine so much and he gets so anxious with any change to his surroundings. He gets similarly upset when I leave after a visit apparently, and it can last for days. We hoped he would gradually gain confidence when he saw that we always come back and he can count on us, but it's been years now and he still seems to suffer. Does anyone have any advice on how we can help him to relax and enjoy his meals when he's pining?

Poor little chap luckily it's.sounds like he is in a good caring home

I can't offer any real help but hopefully some of our members with experience in this kind of thing will be able to suggest ways to go there are couple of members here who are excellent behaviourists
. It maybe that u need a good behaviourist for 121 work  as vets unless also trained in behaviour which most arnt don't really know what to advise

I would not wait. You need expert help. Go to www.abtcouncil.org.uk and look for a clinical animal behaviourist or vet behaviourist. It is possible your dog will need medication to support a behaviour modification programme. He will also need thorough and careful assessment to ascertain the type of anxiety/distress he is experiencing.

This may seem OTT but you do not want this to get worse. Some behaviourists specialise in separation and anxiety disorders. You have the best chance of success by going to someone that really knows what they are doing and is across the latest research. Even good or less qualified behaviourists and trainers may not have the depth of knowledge and experience to offer sound advice and that could cost you long term.

Depending on where you live, you can also try the small animal behaviour clinic at Lincoln University (separation specialists) or the small animal behaviour clinic at the RCV Potters Bar.

Sorry, I meant to add that even pre covid SA work is often done online as multiple sessions are required so you can probably  work with specialists who  are further away.

Good luck

I'm wondering whether you can approach a Whippet breeder specifically because Whippets, like my main hound-breed, can be a sensitive hound and all too often, unless a trainer knows this breed and what makes them tick, they may make matters worse.   For what it's worth, my Whippet howls when I leave.   These days, although he doesn't come into the store with me, I take my husband with me when I go shopping, and as Teazel is on her own now since we lost Frankie, she comes with us.   She howls when I leave the car (it's indeed a very heart-breaking sound) although my husband soon takes her for a stroll round the carpark up there.  She used to do the same if I had to take Frankie to the vet, without her.  So far we've not left her at home alone, but I have no doubt she'd do exactly what your poor lad is doing - and Teazel came to us as a 9-week old puppy so she didn't have a bad start in life.  

She can also be skittish when out, ever since we took her back to see her breeder when she was just a puppy still, and she let her brother out to chase her around her acreage, scaring Teazel stiff.   For a long time after that she freaked when she as much as saw another dog approaching on her walks - we had her on a Canny Collar, for quite a few months although she doesn't need it now.   I still know she's had an 'event' during a walk when my husband brings her home and she's panting/stressed.

As for eating up, occasionally she misses her breakfast.  This since we lost Frankie.   I'm not too worried about that as she could do with dropping a bit of weight.   But as said, this is another indication that this can be a sensitive breed.   Not all because one of my neighbour's Whippets was quite the opposite!

Thank you, I know my mam is in a local whippet group that meets to play chase games, so I'll advise her to ask someone there. Bit of a relief to hear other whippets are similar! We always had border collies, this is the first whippet, so sometimes it's difficult to know what's breed related and what's not. Seems like border collies are almost the opposite of whippets in some ways! We've traded aloof, explorative dogs for a clingy nervous one! He's lovely though, so affectionate.

As for behaviourists, it's a good idea but finances are tight right now and I don't think my mam can afford it. We'll see if other owners have experienced similar and get some tips first.

Just to be clear, not all Whippets are like your dog....Been involved with the breed for many decades!

Just a thought .does he enjoy going to the whippet group for chase games ?
Watch him carefully because if he is worried at all it may be worth giving this a miss for now.
Sometimes with nervous dogs it's better to not go out for a while including walks  and work on mental exercises indoors and build confidence .
If he is that wired he may be better learning to feel safe and secure In doors then baby steps to the outside
Its not a quick fix but can help . Don't push him to do thjngs he doesn't like accept it's not just now please and he is telling you he is unsure
Nikita is one of.the behaviourist on here and maybe able to suggest things if you message her

I don't live with him, but from what I've heard he loves whippet club. He really likes other dogs altogether, in fact, he's definitely very much into play - especially with other whippets - although there are a couple of breeds he's scared of (gsds and huskies). He seems to be specifically anxious about losing his parents somehow. He just wants them to always be together. He doesn't like it if the family unit is broken up even for a day, we can't quite figure out why. My mother's partner does do shift work so I suppose it's not entirely predictable when he will leave but we've never had this issue with a previous dog.

Now I think about it, he has seemed much worse since he was attacked - and he really was very badly attacked, his whole side was ripped open by a husky (he was scared of them before this anyway) - so perhaps it's about protection knowing both his parents are there. It doesn't seem to have put him off approaching dogs though!

Sounds like not unreasonably that the attack has increased his anxiety
I am holding Nikita will be here soon and see your post as she usually has some very sound ideas being experienced in behaviour

I will probably be shot down in flames but I can’t help but think that this whippet really needs the company of another whippet.

I just wanted to jump in and say that I have many of these problems with my toy poodle, and she has never been attacked.

I think they did consider this at some point but they weren't sure how well he'd cope. Worth having a look into though!

> I can’t help but think that this whippet really needs the company of another whippet.

I'd have to agree.   Although my 'knowledge' of the breed is only based on the one I have for the most part hounds do like the company of another - or is this just scent hounds?

freelacerukuk's post is excellent, and just what I was going to say.

Another whippet might help, but given that this dog is showing separation issues from a specific human, it may well not make any difference at all.  I'd be working on that first before looking at getting another dog.

This group is very helpful for spearation anxiety training if you're on facebook (if not then Julie's book is excellent too, or Marlena DeMartini-Price's book):

https://www.facebook.com/groups/separationanxietydogsupport/

For the more general anxiety, I would definitely seek help, and consider medication if progress is slow or not happening.

In my experience whippets and particularly a male whippet will bond to one person above all others. This is partly what makes them ‘ an ideal companion’.
Other members of the household will be politely  tolerated but will always be second best.

My family have had whippets for 57 years & that is just not true of the breed as a whole...

I’ve only had whippets for 35 years and lived with 29 of them- 8 right now - so I’m just putting my experience out there. It’s not a competition

I didn't say it was a competition! I will agree to disagree then!

I would only add that if your whippet was so badly attacked by another dog he may also be traumatised and this will impact on everything else.
I do understand that money is an issue but the longterm costs of his anxieties could also be considerable. I would view getting assessment, diagnosis and treatment as an investment in the dog and his owner’s future together.

Thanks everybody, I've passed on all your advice to my mother who will look into it further