Need-to-know info before obtaining an Irish Wolfhound

Are you financially prepared for and do you have disposable income to support a giant hound that may require very expensive medical care, in addition to their annual wellness and heart checks?

Be advised that many veteran breeders request or require that puppy buyers obtain and maintain lifetime Pet Health Insurance on the IW. Please read Typical Expenses and also Health Concerns below for more information.

Do you have land, a minimum of one acre, secured by a minimum of 5-feet high strong fencing that can comfortably accommodate a giant, galloping, sighthound and his exercise requirements, plus protect him from harm? Please see Breed Required Fencing below for more information.

If you have the land, but not the correct fencing, are you willing to build or change out your existing fencing for the appropriate fencing? Please see Breed Required Fencing below for more information.

Are you ready to live with a giant breed that can shed quite a bit and has a very long tail, usually sweeping any objects from low-lying tables, such as coffee tables?

By the way, yes, we vacuum daily and, yes, frequently, Wolfhounds have messy mouths, especially around water bowls in which a great amount lands on the floor. Please read Breed Character below for more information on these points.

• Are you ready for a counter-surfer? You'll have to make some lifestyle changes, keeping your loaves of bread up and well out of reach, perhaps on top or in the refrigerator. This is just the beginning...!

• Sure, you will train your giant IW, whose muzzle can rest on the kitchen counter, to leave the roast chicken alone. But, I am here to tell you that this is a Hound, not a tractible breed that loves to please their owners. The minute you are distracted, whoosh! That chicken is stolen.

• Yes, Wolfhounds alert at and bark at strangers, but they are NOT guard dogs. Even more, they can and will howl. Yes, they howl like a wolf, which can happen if they are alone or in groups. If you are in a noise-sensitive neighborhood, then you most likely will have a problem in the future.

Wolfhounds LOVE to dig. They are born diggers. It can be extremely frustrating, too, even if they are in their own dog yard, as their holes are massive.

Most potential puppy Buyers always claim that it’s fine with them, but when I say massive holes, I mean massive. Deep enough that we had an 8-year-old female who got stuck in a hole. We had to pull her out by her shoulders. Deep, I mean deep and quick too! It gets old fast.

Please spare me the declarations that you will accompany your hound outside at all times to prevent digging in your landscaped acreage. If that is the case, then get another breed because IWs require freedom of exercise off lead in their home’s secure fenced acreage so they can roam, gallop, twist, turn, and investigate every nook and cranny. All of which takes time!

Is your lifestyle favorable to a giant hound that is devoted to your company? Meaning, if you work long hours, then this breed is not ideal for you. A Wolfhound is not a "couch potato" who can sit idle for long, lonely stretches. These hounds are athletes who love to run and stretch and adore your company. They are not built for constant confinement, such as in a crate or apartment living. Please read Breed Character and Acreage & Fencing Requirements below for more information.

Although wolfhounds adore children, if you have several young, rambunctious children in a busy household, this most likely is not the ideal breed for your lifestyle. Wolfhounds are sensitive, soft-tempered giants who can be quickly stressed by loud, boisterous environments. Please read my Breed Character page below for more information.

Do you have access to Board Certified Veterinary care for your Wolfhound? Excellent medical care often can be a life-saver for your hound. In truth, many small community veterinary hospitals with broad-based clinical practices do not have 'state-of-the-art' diagnosis equipment, including digital radiography and high-resolution, harmonic Doppler imaging ultrasounds. These are, at the very least, vital tools for complicated diagnoses. Read more on my Health page below.

Even though the Irish Wolfhound is a gentle hound who cherishes his or her humans, this giant breed can unintentionally and accidentally injure someone who is physically unfit, has a bad knee or back, has a frail structure, or is elderly. Read more on my Irish Wolfhound Personality webpage.

Wolfhounds frequently and fondly hip-check people, particularly when they are excited, and if you are in an unstable stance or do not possess overall excellent balance, then you will fall or go flying -- no matter your age. Wolfhounds are also 'leaners' -- they usually lean on you, pushing with their weight while you pet them, and you can easily topple over.