Need advice on 11 year old Whippet

Question
I had my dog for 5 years before I had children (3 Twin boys, now 7 and daughter, 2). When I brought the boys home from the hospital, the dog changed his behavior. He starting slinking around, depressed, and he hates the children. He has been depressed now for 7 years. He literally looks miserable. I should have given him to a home without children right away but I felt guilty and felt like I made a "commitment" to him. My children are very active. They do not bother the dog at all, as I think they instinctively knew from day one he did not appreciate their presence. But now as he is getting older, he is getting less tolerant of them and has been a bit nippy. I am not sure what to do with him. He clearly doesn't enjoy a home with children. He really seemed to be happy before they were born. My husband is urging me to give him away where he will be "happier", and my vet has suggested "doggy prozac". Isn't it too late to give him away now? I am sure he would be happier with an older childless person, a quiet household, but I feel like it might be worse for him to go somewhere else this late in his life. What do you think I should do? I am getting very concerned about his behavior.

Answer
Your Whippet has a very 'soft' temperament (not uncommon in the breed, I had one like it for 16 years.)  Your household is far too busy for him and he was clearly never socialized to children.  Your dog is feeling extremely low on the social hierarchy and most likely feels unloved and not part of the pack.  This is unconscionable.  Contact Whippet rescue by looking at the American Whippet Club AKC web site.  At 11, he is quite old for a placement but Whippets can, and do, live to age 19 (and sometimes beyond.)  The American Whippet Club has a rescue coordinator and each state has some involved club member doing rescue.  This is the safest way to rehome this dog.  Posting him for adoption on internet sites will not work.  There are many unscrupulous people taking dogs for illegitimate reasons; a great deal of screening has to be done including checking references, veterinary report and house check.  A contract also must be involved, insuring that the dog won't be dumped.  It's not so easy to place any dog in a new home without knowing what you're doing.  Remember, this dog has done NOTHING to deserve any of this.

As for "doggy prozac", for many years I (with my veterinary associate) experimented with psychotropic medications on dogs.  Prozac, and other SSRIs, sometimes create serious behavioral problems in humans;  the human can report delusions, tremors, etc., the dog cannot.  We stopped using these drugs on dogs in the late 90s because of this.  You simply cannot take the chance that the dog will develop an increased aggression response when there are children around.

Protect your dog from your children and put down some rules.  Children shouldn't be allowed to do anything to any living creature that involves frightening, tormenting, harassing or in any other way inappropriately interacting with them.  This is common sense.  Give the dog a free space and instruct your children that he is OFF LIMITS.  Follow up this instruction with discipline: a time out, losing something they like for a period of time, etc.  Interact with the dog when the children are in bed.  Pet him, play with him, give him a special toy or treat, and let him know that he is an important part of your environment.  Pursue the connection with Whippet rescue (no matter how long it takes) even if you have to go out of state to find a rescue person who will take your dog, assess him, and find him an appropriate home.