Hello,
I am just seeing this subreddit since we got our own Whippet 1 week ago. How did it work out with the crate?
From day 1 we had a dog cage similar to this one and just kept the door open, stuffed it with comfy blankets and toys and he went in it kind of automatically. We mostly only use it at night so he can inform us when he needs to go outside and we noticed it really helps to sit next to it for some time until he calms down/falls asleep
We've always used one with all our whippers. Chasing is what they are born to do, after all :) I'd highly recommend the larger ones like what you get for horses at a farm store. I think they are called lunge whips.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K81SBLT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fab_q6CDFbMPCVRC7