Whippets 101: Lesson 4 - Safety & Control is the Name of the Game!
The Good the Bad & the Ugly: Get the Skinny on Owning a Whippet.
People discover the whippet breed for a variety of reasons… sometimes they know one personally or met one on a walk. Sometimes a whippet was recommended on an internet quiz. Or maybe it was a photo on Instagram.
As much as we love whippets, they are definitely not a good fit for everyone! So before you jump into the search for your next family member, be sure that the breed is right for you - read on for inconvenient truths and answers to many of our most frequently asked questions.
We hope you enjoy the fourth lesson in our Whippets 101 blog post series!
4 | Let’s Talk About Collars, Leashes and Harnesses.
THE SKINNY: HARNESSES ARE NOT A GOOD CHOICE!
More and more frequently, we hear pet owners singing the praises of using a harness on their whippet puppy or adult. Unless your whippet is receiving physiotherapy and recovering from a specific type of injury, there is NO benefit to using a harness.
Despite claims that a harness is more gentle and humane than a collar, they are a terrible idea for several reasons:
Here are the top reasons why we strongly discourage anyone from using a harness.
Whippets aren’t “average-family-dog” shaped, so it’s doubtful you’ll get an adequate fit from an off-the-shelf harness.
It is difficult for a non-professional to know if a harness is correctly fitted; too loose, and a whippet can escape in a flash. Too tight can not only cause abrasions but also orthopedic damage.
Originally, harnesses were for breeds bred for pulling (like a Siberian husky), so they could do their job. Do you enjoy being dragged down the road on a walk? Whippets are very strong for their size and weight!
It is difficult, if not impossible, to control and communicate quickly (non-verbally) to a harness-wearing dog.
No-pull harnesses are proven to cause neck injury and inhibit the range of motion needed for proper fitness and flexibility.
MARTINGALES: THE CORRECT WHIPPET COLLAR
We strongly recommend you purchase and use a proper sighthound collar on your new whippet, such as a wide martingale collar. Martingale collars, also called no-slip or limited-slip collars, are a type of dog collar that provides more control than a typical flat collar and MOST IMPORTANTLY - prevents the dogs from backing or slipping out.
Whippets of all ages are highly skilled at slipping out of non-martingale collars!
They look similar to a flat collar, but about 1/3 of the collar length is a smaller fabric loop with a D-ring attached. When fitted correctly (this is imperative!), martingale hound collars offer comfortable security without harming your dog.
FLEXI LEADS: JUST DON’T!
AVOID. We say again AVOID at all costs retractable leashes (Flexi-leads). We wouldn’t encourage any dog owner to use a retractable leash, but these are especially dangerous for a whippet. The most apparent danger regarding a retractable leash is that it has more free range than a lead with a loop. This lack of control can easily result in a bad situation, like veering off-course unexpectedly into traffic, approaching an unfriendly dog, ingesting a dangerous substance, or walking across broken glass before the owner can react.
Remember earlier when we discussed the importance of being in control? Because there are no defined boundaries established, a retractable leash can encourage a dog to pull. If your high-speed hound darts away unexpectedly, the cord can snap or get tangled. The bulky hard-to-hold handle has a quick release/lock assembly which often malfunctions - this does not help in this situation. The danger of a run-away whippet dragging a loud plastic retractable device is obvious, but a tangled dog can cause severe injury to both of you.
In Conclusion
It is best to teach your whippet to walk politely near your side using the martingale mentioned above paired with a proper 6’ lead. It truly doesn’t take much to get a well-behaved partner without having to resort to trendy gimmicks. :)
