We always wanted a dog, and for years we debated and argued about which breed we would one day have. We knew it would be a large breed, and thought we might like more than one dog (although it is on record that at one point Anne said, "If we decide on one of those great big wolfhounds, then we're only having one - watch my lips!!!"). A visit to Crufts in 1994 was the final step in the decision making process, and although we tried to resist and opt for a more practical breed, we soon realised that nothing but an Irish wolfhound would do.
The Irish wolfhound is one of the oldest breeds of dog, bred for over 2,000 years to hunt wolves. There are many legends told about the breed, and in ancient times ownership was restricted to kings, nobles and poets, with wolfhounds often being presented as ceremonial tributes to foreign rulers.
Similar in appearance to a greyhound but much larger and rough coated, an average male stands 34" tall, towers over most men when up on his back legs and weighs 11-12 stone. Physically, he combines the speed and stamina to hunt his prey with the power to bring it down. As a modern-day companion, he is typically confident and friendly, and should never be aggressive or timid. Sadly, not all are typical.
Around the house, he will soon train you to his ways. He's a great opportunist, and will teach you not to leave food on the worktop and to pick up your plate and take it with you if the phone rings during lunch; children learn to put away their toys or lose them. Fixtures and furnishings soon acquire a stylish, weathered look, very in keeping if you like rustic décor!
Not surprisingly, he needs space, but perhaps not as much as you might think. He'll settle easily into an average house, provided he has his own area with a comfortable bed. As a youngster, he needs a garden in which to play and stretch his legs, which he will enhance over the years by the addition of a few strategically placed, well designed craters. The garden must, of course, be securely fenced, but keeping a wolfhound in is much easier than some smaller, more wriggly breeds.
He's intelligent, but this is not the same as being obedient. He's clever enough to know what he wants and how to get it, and to manipulate you so subtly you won't even know it's happening. He can be trained, and should certainly be taught basic road-craft and good manners, but it's almost impossible for him to achieve the instant responses and precise movements required for obedience competition. Typically, when told to sit, he thinks about it. Then, if he considers it to be a reasonable request in the circumstances, he may decide to comply. If so, he will sit . . . but not necessarily where you want him to.
In spite of his size, he makes excellent family pet, often showing an instinctive gentleness around children. He is very much a 'people' dog, not a dog for anyone who works full time as he loves to be involved in whatever you're doing in the house or garden. He adores having visitors and meeting people when out on his walks.
Bred to hunt by sight, he has a tendency to home in on anyone he sees, so a good recall command is essential, but like most hounds, he has an independent mind and is quite capable of making his own decisions and over-riding yours! He will happily co-exist with other animals if brought up with them, but being a born hunter will make a clear distinction between his honorary pack members and 'foreigners'.
"We're only having one!!"
McGinty, our first wolfhound,
with his good friend, Rupert.
Chewbacca puts a crater to good use.
Raising wolfhound puppies isn't easy. Great care is needed not to over-exercise and to feed a correct diet. The puppy's growth rate is phenomenal, from a few ounces at birth to 10st in the first year, at a rate of 5-6lb and 1-2" a week, so the potential for damage by incorrect feeding and injury from over-exercising is great. A good quality, balanced diet is needed, walks are introduced slowly and gradually and play with older dogs is forbidden, even if the dog is of another breed and similar in size. No running wild, no jumping over walls, no racing up or down stairs, no mad frolics with children - nothing that can jar or bruise or injure those rapidly growing long bones and the delicate cartilage within his joints.
We've lived with wolfhounds for eleven years now, and the six representatives of the breed we have been privileged to share our home with have filled our lives with joy and love. For us, there is no other breed, but there are a few downsides: first, if you own a wolfhound, you must accept full responsibility for all his actions, bearing in mind that in today's anti-dog climate the larger the dog the greater the blame; second, be prepared to sit on the floor every evening as wolfhounds and sofas have a scientifically proven magnetic attraction for each other; and third, you should be aware that once you've had an Irish wolfhound, no other dog will do - they are addictive, and it's a rare person that can stop at one.
The adult eats in proportion to his size. He's not normally a 'foodie' dog, and won't look to share your food unless you permit it - if you do, you'll have a dinner companion for life. To reduce the risk of bloat (see below) he should be fed three small meals a day. Ideally, he needs two good walks a day, with an opportunity for off-lead mooching and free galloping. As well as physical exercise, walks provide essential mental and social stimulation and should be fun - for him and you.
How much grooming your wolfhound needs depends on how you want him to look. Although show dogs may not look groomed, that rough-and-ready hairstyle is actually the result of several hours' work stripping and shaping the coat. An un-groomed wolfhound really looks un-groomed, but even if you opt for the shaggy hearthrug style, he will still need a weekly brush. Unless he's a show dog, a bath twice a year is enough (more if he likes rolling in slurry) but for this you'll need wellies - and a sense of humour.
The breed is prone to a number of ailments, and the words porto-systemic shunt, gastric dilation/volvulus, dilated cardiomyopathy and osteosarcoma strike terror into the hearts of wolfhound people. Briefly, PSS (liver shunt) affects puppies, usually killing them before their first birthday; GDV (bloat) occurs when the stomach fills with air and rotates, and kills adult wolfhounds; DCM (heart disease) and osteosarcoma (bone cancer) commonly occur in adult wolfhounds and frequently kill. These are some of the most common causes of death, and partly why the life-span of a wolfhound is so short. He lives his life at a rapid rate - to equate to human years his age is multiplied by 10, not 7. Up to a year old, he's a child, at one year old he's an adolescent, at two he's young and fit, at three he's mature, at four he may even be sensible, at five he thinks he knows it all, at six he's slowing down, at seven he's like an old man, at eight he is an old man; at nine he's getting doddery and at ten he receives a telegram from the Queen (well, he should!)
Three month old Hogan waits in vain for
Branigan to wake up and play.
Branigan demonstrates the gentle art of off-lead mooching.
Clancy tested our commitment
to the breed when she died
at just three years old.
Darcy fills our lives with joy and love . . . while we sit on the floor!
