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History of the Irish Wolfhound
The Irish Wolfhound is often called the "gentle giant" of the dog world. His proud bearing, quiet dignity and intelligence are just some of the characteristics of the Irish Wolfhound which cause comment. One who is meeting this breed for the first time is amazed by the great size of the dog but those who are privileged enough to have an Irish Wolfhound, will be more likely to tell you of the wonderful temperament, the companionship, the dogs great capacity to love and his almost human qualities. This is definitely a family dog with an incredibly affectionate nature, chosen as a friend.
The
origin of this breed has been lost in antiquity but we know that the Celts had
such huge hounds from illustrations dating back to 1400 BC. Irish mythology, legends
and sagas abound with the exploits of this ancient hound. The dog was the companion
of Kings, at war, on the hunt or just on the hearth. The Romans occasionally sent
gifts of these great Irish hounds in order to win favour from one Consul or another.
History tells of many hounds being sent, upon requests to the royal houses of
both Europe and Scandinavia. 
Before purchasing an Irish Wolfhound there are a number
of things to take into consideration. We recommend that before you buy a dog
you read as much as possible.
Dogs can be viewed at shows or with prior arrangement at home with their breeders.
Do not hesitate to ask questions no matter how trivial they may seem to you.
You can also expect that the breeder will want to ask you a few questions. This
is so that they can determine if your household is ready for such a dog.
Regardless of whether you are looking for an Irish
Wolfhound with show potential or one as a companion and family pet he should
be physically and temperamentally healthy, exhibiting the friendly even disposition
that is essential to his character.
Common Questions:
How long do they live?
Unfortunately, as with any giant breeds the Irish WoIfhound has a short life span. About 8 years is common, although dogs of l2 years are not unheard of.
Are they good with children?
The Irish Wolfhound is very gentle and patient with children and also with elderly people. Of course children must be taught to respect the dog and treat it properly.
Do they require a big back yard?
A small back yard is sufficient as long as it is kept clean and the dog is walked at least once daily. The Irish Wolfhound enjoys lying around most of the day but does enjoy stretching his legs both with a walk on the lead and a run in the park. If running your dog in the park make sure that he is under close supervision at all times. You also need to remember that some Wolfhounds like to dig and the holes will be in proportion to their size, that is, large.
How much do they cost?
The cost of an Irish WoIfhound puppy will vary from breeder to breeder. A pet could cost around $600 - $700 and a puppy registered with a Controlling Body of the Australian National Kennel Council, that is one which can be shown, will cost over $800.
Raising a puppy that grows as fast as an Irish Wolfhound requires special attention to diet and exercise. When they are born they weigh approximately 600 grams, at 8-10 weeks they are about the size of a medium dog (such as a Kelpie). A balanced diet is essential to support this rapid growth rate and until the puppy is at least six months old he will require three to four meals a day. A detailed diet sheet will be supplied by the breeder and explained in full at the time of purchase.
Again, because of the rapid growth rate, exercise must be restricted in puppies until they are nine to twelve months old as must free play with other dogs. The breeder will be able to supply you with a suitable exercise regime when you collect your puppy. You must be especially careful not to let your puppy jump into, onto or out of anything such as lounges or cars.
Raising the Irish Wolfhound puppy is not as simple as buying a dog and putting it in the back yard. They require time and effort to cultivate the loving and endearing family member they will become. If you are not able to commit the time required then perhaps an older wolfhound should be considered.
Health Problems within the Breed
So far no Hereditary Diseases have been Identified
within the breed in Australia. That does not however, mean that Wolfhounds are
trouble free. Obviously they require their vaccination course as puppies and
then their yearly booster, as well as three monthly
worming. Further information on these can be obtained at your local veterinary
clinic.
Other more serious problems and what can be done about them are:
1. Gastric Dilation and VolvuIus (GDV or Bloat)
This is a condition where gas becomes trapped in the dog's stomach and it blows up like a balloon. The stomach can also twist or flip over thus cutting off the blood supply to some of the major abdominal organs. If this occurs apart from a large abdomen your dog may try to vomit unsuccessfully and be in obvious discomfort. It is a life threatening condition and if it occurs the dog must be taken to a vet immediately.
Nobody is sure just how such a condition occurs although it is believed that exercising immediately before or after eating is a contributing factor. Other theories include feeding a dog dry food that has not been previously soaked in water, allowing a dog to drink excessive amounts of water before or after eating, when a dog gulps his food thus swallowing air as well and feeding a dog a large meal. Although it is associated with eating it can occur at times of just exercise and/or drinking.
With no known cause the best we can hope to do is prevent it occurring by eliminating some of the contributing factors. It is recommended that your Wolfhound is fed twice a day and that all dry food is soaked in water before feeding. No exercise should be allowed immediately prior to and for one hour after feeding. Elevating the dogs head when feeding by placing his bowl on a table or stool will also help reduce the amount of air he swallows. It should be stressed these measures may not prevent bloat happening but go a long way in reducing the risk of occurrence.
2. Portosystemic Shunt (PSS)
This condition occurs when the blood travelling to
the liver is diverted. This can occur outside the liver or within it. By by-passing
the liver means that the blood is unable to be cleansed of toxins and the puppy
becomes "poisoned". Portosystemic Shunt is a fatal
condition if not surgically treated. Unfortunately the Irish Wolfhound usually
has the problem occurring within the liver making it virtually inoperable.
There are tests that can be carried out at age six to eight weeks to determine if the puppy has a liver shunt. It is recommended that you discuss this option with the breeder.
3. Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy is a general term for heart problems. It usually means that for some reason the heart muscles have become weakened and do not function properly. There is no test to determine if a dog is going to develop a heart problem only tests to diagnose them once they occur. If a dog does have a heart problem you may find that it is only able to exercise for short periods of time before becoming tired, or that even while resting its breathing is laboured.
Once again we recommend you discuss with the breeder their incidence of cardiomyopathy, so that you may aware of its possible occurrence.
4. Osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma means bone cancer and it is a problem
in breeds that grow very quickly. There is no way to test for this. As an owner
you must look for any signs of lameness, joint, neck or back pain or unusual
hard growths. All of these symptoms can, however, be signs of something less
serious. So while being observant don't always expect the worst.
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