The Whippet is a sleek, medium-sized sighthound, essentially a smaller cousin of the Greyhound, bred in England for coursing and racing. Capable of explosive speed approaching 35 miles per hour, the Whippet is built to spot and chase, yet like its larger relative it is one of the gentlest, calmest, most affectionate dogs to live with. Quiet, sensitive, and devoted, the Whippet is a "couch potato" at home and a rocket in the field, a graceful, low-maintenance companion that combines a powerful prey drive with a sweet, easygoing temperament.
That blend of explosive chase instinct and gentle calm is the key to training one. The Whippet is sensitive and reasonably biddable for a sighthound, so it responds well to gentle, reward-based training. But it carries a strong prey drive and remarkable speed, which makes recall around movement unreliable, and it is thin-skinned, lean, and cold-sensitive. Train gently, manage the prey drive with secure space, and respect the breed's sensitivity and physical needs, and you get an exquisite, devoted, easy companion. Push it harshly or trust the prey drive off-leash, and you create stress and real risk.
This guide covers what works with a Whippet, week by week, built around how a gentle, fast, sensitive sighthound actually learns.
What Makes Training a Whippet Different
Four breed traits shape your approach.
1. A strong prey drive and explosive speed. A fleeing animal triggers an instant, committed chase, and the Whippet is extremely fast. Recall around movement is unreliable, off-leash freedom in unfenced areas is genuinely unsafe, and secure fencing is essential.
2. Gentle, sensitive, and calm. Away from the chase, the Whippet is quiet, mellow, and affectionate, happy to lounge for most of the day. It shuts down under harshness, so gentle, reward-based training is essential, and it is more biddable and people-oriented than many sighthounds.
3. Reasonably trainable for a sighthound. The Whippet is keen to please and food-motivated enough that, with gentle methods, it can learn solid manners and even enjoy activities like lure coursing and agility. Recall is the main exception, always limited by the prey drive.
4. Lean, thin-skinned, and cold-sensitive. The Whippet's slender build, thin coat, and minimal body fat mean it feels the cold, bruises easily, and needs soft bedding and often a coat in winter. Use a martingale collar, since the slim head slips flat collars.
Week-by-Week Training Plan for Your Whippet
Below is the framework we use at TailorPup for a Whippet-specific 12-week plan. Run it at home; the order and emphasis are the point.
Weeks 1 and 2 : Foundation and Socialization
Build engagement with high-value, gentle rewards and socialize broadly. Run three to four short sessions a day: name, mark eye contact, reward warmly. Keep everything low-pressure, since this sensitive sighthound forms its view of training early, and begin gentle handling and alone-time work. Our puppy basics guide covers the foundations.
Weeks 3 and 4 : Core Commands
Lure sit and down, mark, reward, and add cues once reliable. The Whippet is more biddable than many sighthounds, so progress can be encouraging, but keep sessions short, gentle, and well-rewarded, and end on a success.
Weeks 5 and 6 : Leash Work
Use a martingale collar and a harness, and stop-and-stand for any pulling, though Whippets are rarely hard pullers. Keep early walks calm, reward checking in, and avoid situations likely to fire the prey drive while the dog builds focus on you.
Weeks 7 and 8 : Recall (Manage Expectations)
Build recall on a long line in low-distraction areas, jackpot every success, and never call the dog for anything it dislikes. Be realistic: a Whippet is not a reliable off-leash dog around running game in the open. Treat the long line and secure fencing as permanent tools, not temporary aids.
Weeks 9 and 10 : Channeling Energy and Comfort
Give the breed safe outlets for short bursts of running in a securely fenced space, which it loves and needs, along with activities like lure coursing. Balance this with plenty of cozy rest, soft bedding, and warmth, since the lean, thin-skinned Whippet feels the cold and loves to lounge.
Weeks 11 and 12 : Generalization
Prove the skills in the real world: calm leash walking past distractions, recall inside fenced areas with mild temptation, and settled, confident behavior. A Whippet that listens at home but not around running game is normal, so these two weeks consolidate gentle, realistic progress.
Common Whippet Training Mistakes
Three mistakes show up repeatedly with this breed.
Mistake 1 : Trusting off-leash recall. This is the dangerous one. The prey drive and speed make an unfenced Whippet a real risk; one can be far away in seconds after game. Treat open spaces as long-line or securely fenced only, and accept that reliable off-leash freedom is not realistic.
Mistake 2 : Using harsh handling. The gentle, sensitive Whippet shuts down under corrections. Keep everything calm and reward-based; it is the only approach that brings out this breed's willing, affectionate nature.
Mistake 3 : Ignoring the breed's physical needs. The lean, thin-skinned, cold-sensitive Whippet needs soft bedding to avoid sores, warmth in winter, and a martingale collar so it cannot slip its lead. The full list is in our Whippet training mistakes guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Whippets easy to train ? More so than many sighthounds, for basic manners, because they are gentle, sensitive, and reasonably biddable. But the prey drive makes recall unreliable off-leash, so that skill always takes patience and realistic expectations.
Can I let my Whippet off-leash ? In a securely fenced area, yes, and the breed loves a good sprint. In open, unfenced spaces, no; the prey drive and speed make recall unreliable and a Whippet can be gone in seconds. A long line and secure fencing are essential.
Are Whippets really calm indoors ? Famously so. They are sprinters, not endurance dogs, so after a good run they are content to lounge for most of the day. The "couch potato" reputation is well earned, making them surprisingly easy housemates.
How much exercise does a Whippet need ? Daily walks plus regular chances for short sprints in a safe, enclosed space. The breed needs to run, but in bursts rather than endurance, and is happy to rest the rest of the time once that need is met.
Is positive reinforcement effective for Whippets ? Yes, ideally. The gentle, sensitive breed responds well to calm, reward-based training and shuts down under harshness, which is both unnecessary and counterproductive.
Do Whippets need special care ? Some. The lean, thin-skinned, low-fat build means they feel the cold, need soft bedding to avoid pressure sores, and often wear a coat in winter. Use a martingale collar, since their slim heads slip flat collars.
Are Whippets good family dogs ? Yes, wonderful ones for calm households. They are gentle, quiet, and affectionate, and good with respectful children, though their prey drive means careful management around small pets and secure containment outdoors.
Why TailorPup Was Built for Whippets
A generic plan ignores what defines this breed: the prey drive and speed, the gentle sensitivity, and the physical needs of a lean sighthound. That mismatch is why standard advice can frustrate Whippet owners or put the dog at risk.
TailorPup builds a 12-week plan around your specific dog: its sighthound nature, its age, and the behaviors you are seeing. For a Whippet that means gentle reward-based methods, a realistic recall approach with long-line and fencing built in, safe outlets for the need to run, and comfort and safety tailored to the breed.
Daily 12-minute sessions plus weekly adjustments based on your dog's progress. Free for 7 days, no card required.
Start your Whippet's plan free at tailorpup.com →
Related: Whippet Training Mistakes · Recall Training · Leash Pulling · Puppy Training Basics