Original Purpose:
##Breed History:
- Size:
The Irish Wolfhound is the tallest dog breed recognized by the AKC.
- Height (inches):32 min. - 34 (dogs);30 min. (bitches)
- Weight (pounds):120 min. (dogs);105 min. (bitches)
- Height (inches):32 min. - 34 (dogs);30 min. (bitches)
- Eye color:Pigmentation of eyes, nose and mouth should be dark and his eye should soften his expression. Blue eyes highly undesirable (regarded by some as indicative of a genetic defect, light, staring eyes are a fault.
- Lips:The neck should hold no loose skin or dewlap and the lips while not required to be tight are not loose as in other giant breeds.
- Ear type: Rose ear - uncropped, "small and Greyhound-like in carriage". No surgery is required to produce the typical ear shape or carriage
- Cosmetic Surgeries (to establish 'breed look')?NONE
- Color: The Irish Wolfhound may be grey, brindle, red, black, pure white, fawn or any color that appears in the Deerhound.
- Coat Type: Their coats are coarse and double, with the hair especially long over the brow and under the chin. Sometimes a dog will have a soft 'woolly' coat that although not desired for breeding purposes will still make a wonderful pet. Bathing, regular brushing, and occassionally stripping out the dead hair generally covers his grooming needs. The typical coat does not become water logged in the rain and the dog will generally dry out with out having hte coat mat or clump. The wooley coats will not shed water as easily.
- Conformational faults that may be present in puppies and young dogs offered for sale as pets. These do not detract from the health or well being of the dog. These faults in the Irish Wolfhound are to be applied to potential breeding stock: too light or heavy a head, too highly arched frontal bone; large ears and hanging flat to the face; short neck; full dewlaps; too narrow or too broad a chest; sunken or hollow or quite straight back; bent forelegs; overbent fetlocks; twisted feet; spreading toes; too curly a tail; week hindquarters and a general want of muscle; too short in body. Lips or nose liver-coloured or lacking pigmentation. Anyone looking for a pet should not be upset if their puppy develops one or two of these faults as the breeder has given you this pup because they are trying to improve the breed and will not breed to the faults.
- Temperment:## be honest - not all dogs are perfect for everyone - a statement like 'wonderful' does not help the dog that goes to the wrong home
- Special Requirements:
Physical activity will also play a role in a dog's lifespan. Although content to
lounge on the couch, these dogs need exercise. The more you do to exercise his
heart, the more likely that heart will stay healthy enough to provide for his
huge body. For adult hounds, regular, rigorous exercise is a must! Daily walks
at a brisk pace are good. Try to occassionally provide some free running as
well, say in a fenced field where they can move at their own various paces. I
know of one breeder who takes her dogs on extend-a-leads on her bike. This way
she can slow and increase the pace according to her hound's capabilities and
degree of exertion. Of course if I did this, we'd all end up in a ditch! Even
walking on an extend-a-lead allows the dog more flexibility in his movement. You
don't want them taking off to the end of the lead at a gallop though, because
either you won't be able to hold the lead or you won't want to create such a
jerk on their neck! The exercise needs of a growing puppy are very different
however, so even though they appear big you don't want to drag your puppy out
for long daily walks, and stress their growing bones, before they are at least
six months old. Prior to this, gentle walks with puppy running or playing around
you at his pace are good.
Nutrition is also key to a long healthy life-span. Volumes could and have been written on what proper diet should be and there are also many resources for feeding a natural diet (CANFAN Annual, Volume 20, Issue 2). Dogs can consume from 6 to 8 cups of food a day, so this should be a consideration when deciding if they are the right dog for you. Puppies grow by leaps and bounds but supplements are OUT OF THE QUESTION! Quality feeds have the right balance of vitamins and minerals for the growing puppy and any additions will throw this off with potentially horrible side effects. With the Irish Wolfhound puppy, you don't want to push their growth either, as hip dysplasia 'may' be linked to too rapid growth.
- Typical Competitive Activities for this Breed:Obedience, Lure coursing. Owners also frequently enjoy participating in Celtic Revival Festivals and Midaevil Fairs. More Information on things to do with your Irish Wolfhound
- Breed Pluses:The are the largest breed of dog recognized by the AKC## why do you think people enjoy them
- Breed Minuses:The are the largest breed of dog recognized by the AKC ## why do they end up as recues
- Medical concerns for the Irish Wolfhound are hip dysplasia,
bloat, and bone cancer. Consciencious breeders will have their breeding stock
certified free of dysplasia - OFA- registered. Choosing the right breeder will
reduce the risk of your puppy developing this debilitating condition in later
life but it is not a guarantee as there are other factors involved.
Acute Gastric Dilatation (Bloat) is one of the biggest fears for owners of this breed. Because of their deep chest, there is a high potential for the stomach to torsion - flip over. Feeding twice a day will reduce the volume of food in the stomach and reduces risk, as well low activity for an hour before and after feeding has also been recommended. You can also make sure, if you're going to put your dog in a stressful situation, either a long car ride, a dog show, or especially lure coursing, you do not feed the dog and make sure he has a bowel movement before you go. If bloat is suspected, it means an immediate trip to the vet and the outcome is not always good. Unfortunately, if the gas is not released and it becomes torsion, the resulting damage to the other organs reduces the dog's chances of survival drastically.
Bone cancer is unfortunately a reality with these giant dogs. Some say reducing the size of the breed will reduce the risk, however, they can choose another breed to reduce the risk rather than changing the breed to suit them. As it is, Irish Wolfhounds do not live very long lives, so if at 8 or 9 years old they develop bone cancer, then they have had a long life and the cancer can even be considered a 'natural' cause of death.
- Who should own this breed?## this may be the hardest question of the bunch - except for the next question
- Who should not own this breed?
This breed is not for someone who wants a "forever" dog, although they will live in your heart forever, their visit on this earth is considerably less. I did meet a man with a male and female, both 11 years old and of course I believe my dogs will live to sixteen, but be aware that their time with us is brief.
The Irish Wolfhound is a pack animal and wants nothing more than to be with his family/pack. He is not suited to being tied up in the yard. This would only make him miserable. He needs to be a member of the family and is most comfortable on the couch, or in the doorway of the bedroom at night. Size of yard or property is not as important to this breed as contact with his family. They are not a really barky type of dog and, as long as the owner is committed to his regular exercise needs, can even be quite comfortable in an apartment. The neighbors may disagree though. And, as they say good fences may for good neighbors, if you do want to allow you dog the use of your property, fences are a must. I've watched Seamus sitting and looking into our neighbor's yard through a 3 1/2 foot gate, just pop right over it. Now you see him, now you don't. So you can't just put them in the yard and ignore them. They are very tall and will surprise you with their athletic abilities. They can also be very trusting and someone could easily invite them into their car. This is one of the worst things that can happen to someone's beloved hound as I've heard stories of dogs ending up in puppy mill style breeding facilities - truly a fate worse than death.
Irish Wolfhounds are guard dogs only in the sense that protecting their owners is of paramount importance to them. Aside from their size alone being a deterrent, they have a keen sense of body language and frequently know before we do what someone's intentions are. One evening, at dusk, I was walking up the driveway and noticed my dog, Seamus lift his head in the back yard, so I quickly ducked behind a tree to see what he would do. Knowing something was not quite right, he started woofing until I revealed myself. This was a dog that had heretofore barked maybe twice, being the strong, silent type. As well, he would move his sleeping spot from beside the bed to the doorway when my husband was away on business, and he won Best Guard Dog at a sighthound fun day simply because he kept himself between me and the "scary stranger." These dogs do not need to be agressive or trained to defend. They have a large brain and most have good judgement. However, owners should also be aware of the situations their hounds are placed in. For example, at a recent field trial a family had come up to pat my dog Wilky. He loves nothing better than to be petted and stroked - especially by children. At one point, however, the little girl's father picked her up and I sensed Wilky 'come to attention.' I took a strong hold of his lead - at 190 lbs and 35" at the shoulder, he is a very big boy. The little girl's father then started swinging her around and I felt Wilky tense. At this point I had to move him away. I knew children sometimes scream with joy but didn't think Wilky would interpret it that way and I could have had a bad situation on my hands. I was proud, however, of Wilky's protectiveness of the child.
Irish Wolfhounds adore children and seem to have a kinship with them not seen in adults. However, toddlers should not be left alone with these big dogs mostly because they could be knocked over. Even the tail of an Irish Wolfhound can deliver a wallop if he is very happy.
- Why the author of this article lover the breed.Should you choose
the Irish Wolfhound as your next pet you will be rewarded with the love and
devotion of what I consider to be one of the most wonderful breeds of dog. You
should, however, do your homework and contact a number of breeders before going
out to make your purchase. You will want a puppy that has had the best possible
start in life and that includes a breeder who is actively working to improve the
breed. Prepare a list of breeders and questions for them. I strongly advise
against going to visit the first breeder on the list just because they are close
and have puppies now. Puppies are so easy to fall in love with you may choose to
ignore all the reasons NOT to buy from this breeder. This is how pet stores
thrive! Make all of your calls first. A truly conscientious breeder will be more
interested in who you are and what sort of living/family conditions the puppy
will be going to, than when you can come to pick one up. Don't be surprised if
there is a waiting list - some breeders won't breed unless they have qualified
homes for their pups before hand. You may be told you will have to sign a
non-breeding agreement. Don't be insulted, this is one way breeders try to
prevent 'back-yard' breeders; people who are just trying to make a buck from
their dog and who give no thought to improving the breed. These people usually
end up unable to place their pups and end up losing money.
So slip the chain and I'm off again
You'll find me everywhere. I'm a Rover
