The ownership of a great
Irish Wolfhound is a great big responsibility.
They need lots of
food to grow, lots of space to safely stretch their legs
at will and above all, lots of love and human
companionship to develop the loving temperament
that is
greater than their size and that, heretofore, has always
been their heritage.
Today
the breed as a whole is in great danger from the breeding of IWs not of show
or breeding quality, advertised "with champion pedigrees". To
anyone considering buying an IW, we strongly urge you to learn as much
about the breed as you can, learn how to locate a
responsible breeder, and assess your qualifications as an IW owner - is
this breed really for you? This is as important for those of you who want
"just a pet, not a show dog" as it is for someone looking for a
show-potential puppy. "Pet
quality" Irish Wolfhounds should never be used for breeding. Even litters
from well-bred show quality parents usually contain only a few show-quality
puppies.
If
you are looking to speak with someone in your area of
the U.S. about the breed, finding a breeder or adopting
a rescue, the IW Information
Contacts
List, Rescue Directory,
and the US Regional Clubs
lists
are excellent starting points. You can also contact
IWCA Secretary Judy Simon for information pamphlets
and other educational materials.
The Irish Wolfhound is an
ancient breed of the greyhound family. He was used to hunt wolves and
elk and to accompany Irish nobles to war. Even though this
original purpose is no longer valid, the instincts originally developed
for the chase are still very much a part of the modern hounds, so proper
fencing is important.
The Breeder of Your
Puppy Should Be A Valuable Source of Information..... Besides adequate exercise, your IW will need
professional veterinary care, vaccinations, good quality food and basic
training and socializing. Your breeder should be available to you for
questions and support.
The growth patterns, nutritional needs and treatment for health
problems are not exactly the same for a giant breed as for small
dogs. Reputable and conscientious breeders are committed to
their puppies for life, and should be willing to help you with
advice and support for any problems or questions you may have.
If for some reason you lose touch with
your IW's breeder, or you simply want to find others near you
who share your interest in IWs, the IWCA can
provide you with names of knowledgeable owners in your part of
the country. Educational materials are available through the
club and in book stores. The club magazine, Harp
and Hound, is available with membership in the club
A
Comfortable Companion and Good Citizen.....IWs are eligible to participate in a
wide variety of AKC-sanctioned activities. Conformation showing
is open only to non-neutered dogs and essentially measures how
closely an Irish Wolfhound conforms to the official AKC breed
standard. Neutered dogs can participate in obedience
competitions, lure coursing, tracking and junior showmanship
(for young people between the ages of 10 and 18).
Not
all hounds do well in every one of these events, but if
you can find one that both you and your dog enjoy, it can
provide you with many hours of rewarding companionship and
a deeper appreciation of the special qualities of this
breed. Of course, you'll need to teach your hound manners
and enough obedience commands to make him or her a
comfortable companion and good citizen.
for Club and Breed Information,
contact the IWCA Secretary:
Judy Simon
7155 Co. Rd. 26
Maple Plain, MN 55359
763-479-1638
For Rescue
Assistance and Information:
Jean A. Minnier
316 Pricketts Mill Road
Tabernacle, NJ 08088
609-268-9373
For corrections
or problems with the Website, contact the
IWCA Webmaster
The Irish
Wolfhound Club of America, Inc.
is a Member Club of the
American Kennel Club.
Last Revised: 5/3/08
Links to this site do not imply endorsement of any products,
services, organizations,
companies, information providers or content of the
linking site by the IWCA, Inc.
The information on this
site is provided as a public service. Listings of manufacturers, practitioners,
publications, suppliers, or links to commercial or non-commercial sites do not constitute
an endorsement on the part of the IWCA. There is no implied or express warrant or guarantee of
merchantability or fitness for any particular usage, application or purpose.
Last Revised: 5/3/08
