Hi. I decided to get a dog and found a cute female 18 mo. old Whippet mix, she knows her basic commands, is really sweet but she's getting to me. She is very sneaky and if you turn your back she will be in the kitchen standing at the stove or counters checking to see if there is something she can eat. If anyone has a Whippet would you let me know if this is a common problem and how you handled it?

Thanks,
Terri

I had Afghan Hounds for years and they, along with your Whippet mix, are sighthounds. I believe it is inherent in the sighthound breeds that they are all very clever and sneaky little thieves. One of my dogs would raid the garbage can and then I would bait it with steak and hot sauce. This would keep her out of it for about six months. Another one stole a whole freshly baked loaf of bread, ate it and was constipated enough to be taken to the vet. You will have to keep things on the counter well out of her reach. Some of my Afghans never did these things but the majority of them did. You might try taping some balloons on the edge of the counter and place something that smells wonderful to her behind them in hopes she will pop one or two of them and not like the noise. You will be very fortunate if you can turn her loose outside and she doesn't run off as that is what they are bred to do, that is run. I am not trying to discourage you as they are also loving and endearing pets. They just need their owner to be one step ahead of them.

Terri, I don't have a whippet but I have a Lil Soot who does that exact thing. I keep threatening to get an e collar, but until then, we just keep the baby gate to the kitchen closed.

You can also try putting something up on the counter that is noisy but will not hurt her, like coke cans with gravel in them, taped securely and situated in such a way that if she takes something enticing off the counters the cans will fall onto the floor and make a loud noise. It will scare her but not hurt her.

Course, that doesn't work with all dogs. Some will not like the sound so not repeat the behaviour, while others will find it fun.

You all will likely skin me for my response, but when all things fail, I have had two stubborn dogs that insisted on eating things off the counter or opening pantry door etc and both times I used mouse traps. It won't hurt her and it's not nearly as cruel as her getting ill from getting into something she shouldn't.

I wish you well Terri. My dogs don't even wait for me to turn my back. Come to think of it I'm not even trained to not take food off the counter.

Dogs are trainable. Hope yours starts behaving. Time and patience will do the trick.

Cats are 100 times worse. They find ways of getting around any barriers, noises, etc. One of my adoptees actually jumped on the table during my wedding reception (hubby #2) and ate the corner off our cake. So funny.

Another actually dragged an entire uncut 15 lb. turkey from the dining room table into the bathroom. Imagine following that greasy trail over hardwood and rugs and tile.

Tried to train one with the squirt gun trick. He loved to eat and pound on my indoor plants so we tried it. First time it worked, second time he started to run and then looked at us. Third time he just stayed there killing the plant while we soaked him. I think he liked it. Ugh.

So many fun times trying to train animals and husbands.

Sorta, that reminds me of the time my ferret, Tina, stole a frozen roast. She dragged it out of the sink, across the counter, up through a window that goes from the kitchen to the family room and then hid it under the couch.

I used to own a 3 legged Siamese cat named Bosie, and he did a similar trick one time with a turkey which had been laid out on the kitchen worktop to defrost. He didn't get very far with it before we collared him. I think he was as surprised at himself as we were!

I had a doberman years ago..That was the BEST sneak of all....

Hubby would make a sandwich leave it on the table then had to go to the bathroom..Come out..It was gone..Plus Rocky was laying nicely in the living room on the rug...So

Who took the sandwich?

So Hubby made another, and decided to go upstairs..But he peak down the stairs, and there was Rocky..Snuck, Grabbed the sandwich, and took off for the living room, and was laying down nicely

What a Character he was...I have to say we just could never leave any food unattended at all...We never could break him of that habit..

Oh gee. These are some funny stories and I hope Miss Daisy doesn't replicate any of them. I'm afraid if I don't get a handle on her behavior she is going to have to go back to the SafeHouse, my husband isn't going to tolerate it. (I'm fostering her with option to adopt) My daughter believes that we can change her behavior but I have my doubts. Also, when she spots a squirrel it takes all I have to hold onto her. I read that these dogs are even good for "Old Folks". However, I don't know any old folks, including myself, that can sprint 37 miles an hour if she gets away. lol
Thanks for all the input!
Terri

It's our pets' little 'quirks' that makes us love them more. I just figure that I'd be bored if one of my fur kids wasn't up to something. I can't even tell you the number of antique breakables they have accidently killed. Now I look at life differently. Things are just things, pets are US.

Our cats once teamed up to steal an entire chicken which was thawing in the sink. They pulled it out of the sink, pushed it off onto the floor, and then coordinated the pull out of the kitchen, down the hall, and under the bed. If I had not seen it, I'd have never believed it.

But that behavior can be changed--sounds like she needs lots of exercise and some training. It will take patience though

My late Husband and I were never able to stop our two Great Dane Brothers from running off with food

The solution was that they got their own quarters - with "access" to our quarters - but the slightest opportunity and they were back in and at it.

Stealing !!!!

Thought nothing of wolfing down pies straight out of the oven - hot as you like

And the eldest would regularly make a beeline for the pressure cooker and try to get the lid off it .... whilst it was still cooking ....

Because he knew his dinner was inside it

LOL........You gals have some funny stories. Are you'all sure you aren't making them up? I think everyone should submit their stories and a book should be written about the pets and their antics, it's a hoot! Miss Daisy hasn't done anything like this.....Yet!
Earlier I was blowing bubbles (gum) and she was so afraid, she would have absolutely nothing to do with me. She's a strange duck, oh I mean dog.
I did hear from the SafeHouse tonight asking if I was leaning one way or another. Truly, I don't know!
Thanks for the stories, their great.
Terri