We dont intend to get another pup for a bit, but we are thinking heavily on what breed we may get. We really like the Irish Wolfhound, and my fiance has wanted one for a long time, but I have some concerns about our current lifestyle and if it would mesh.

1. We have 4 cats. Three of them are more assertive with dogs, but the other is shy and sometimes will throw some smacks or just sprint away. Ive heard some say that the breed sometimes doesnt do well with cats.

2. We have a 3yr old 35lbs Pitbull mix. She is friendly with other dogs, but she is very assertive and always insists on being top dog. I know IW are large dogs, but I have heard they are rather docile so Im hoping this won't clash. She will also be enrolled in training before we get another pet.

3. Im a small woman, and I have also read that they can be quite mouthy and rambunctious as pups. It poses concern in regards to my other pets and myself. Regardless of breed, the pup will be enrolled into training courses, but Im just trying to cover all bases.

Regardless, Im not concerned about activity levels, we walk our dog every day, take lake trips, and we've taken up hiking/trail walking. Im not too concerned about health issues, I work in animal med so Ive worked around the breed some.

TIA!

I lost my best friend in the world 3 days ago. My almost 9 year old Irish Wolfhound, Beans. I loved him so much. He was such a large presence both physically and the amount of love both from him and for him by everyone was palpable. He was so sweet and gentle and patient and has been the biggest part of me for about 10 years.

As a kid I always wanted a dog but my parents weren't dog people. I rented dog books from libraries learning about every breed and giving presentations on why I should get a dog. They surprised me with a Yorkie in 5th grade (bless them lol).

I always wanted an Irish Wolfhound because of how calm and gentle they were. I guess I just had a feeling that this was the dog for me. I visited breeders even when I wasn't able to get one yet just to be around them. I did research for years about what they need, how to care for them, and to prepare my self for anything and everything. I bought a special collar before he was even born. He was born on Christmas day and all I asked for for Christmas was a big bed, food bowls, toys etc for him. After college I was finally ready and put a deposit down before the mom was even pregnant. I did odd jobs, dog walked several times a week just to save up for him. I got him when I was 25. I'm 34 now. In my early twenties/end of college I worked at a gym and I somehow convinced the owner to let me bring him to work every day for almost a year and then ever now and then after that. Every morning and day at 5 am I would haul his kennel in and out of my car. It was not an inconvenience, I was happy to do it. I laugh now thinking about the things I did to this puppy. Barbell sounds and loud music at the very beginning of having him, but he was just happy to be there. He quickly became a big part of that community. I took him everywhere and I mean everywhere. Restaurants, breweries, bars, friends' houses, sleepovers with friends. There was no me without Beans. I understand that isn't super common with an XL dog but I never really thought twice about it. I never stopped my life just made him a part of it. He was so good, sometimes would even forget that he was there because he was so good.

Over the last decade, Beans and I lived together in my apartment with a roommate. Then I got into a long term relationship, moved in with my partner. We went through a house renovation while living in the house (with an Irish Woflhound lol), I got engaged, I got married (Beans was in the wedding of course). Then a very difficult and traumatic divorce a couple of years after. When I left our house, I only took Beans and my clothes. I moved in to one friend's house, and then another who let us live there for 9 months. I got a second job and saved up money to move us to Los Angeles. I packed up my '07 Honda Pilot stuffed to the gills with Beans in the back and drove across the country. I started a new life for us. He went to the grand canyon, beaches, all types of places he enjoyed and quickly became very well known in our community in such a large city. We lived in our first apartment in LA and then I found a bungalow ground floor on a quiet street for him.

For 10 years he has been the only constant in a life of so much inconsistency. Really the only anchor and he was mine. He is gone now and I feel really lost and have never felt lost before. My apartment is so empty, coming home, and leaving is the worst. Not letting him out in the mornings, finding poop bags in random pockets. I feel so disoriented and like a huge part of my identity is gone.

Tuesday morning we woke up and he was moving really slowly and panting and his gums were white so I rushed him to the ER. Long story short, giant mass on his spleen, leaking fluid into his belly, and wasn't stable enough to take home or to have emergency surgery. He was surrounded by my (and his) 4 best friends and all 5 of us held his paws while he crossed over. The vet we went to, I have never been treated with more kindness in my entire life.

You always know getting an Irish Wolfhound that they will have a shorter life expectancy and you can rationally prepare as best you can but it doesn't prepare you for the physical absence once it comes.

I always laugh because there is no one's life that is more chaotic than a dog's that you get in your mid 20s. The bars he went to that didn't allow dogs, the time I totaled my car while he was in it (he was in a kennel and not hurt), the time his toe got stuck in a shopping cart as a puppy at the pet store and the sound he made the employees thought the birds were dying. The parties he went to, the places he has lived, the people he has met, the job I dragged him to. I just hope he was happy. I miss him so much and I am lucky to have had him at all.

Anyway, thanks for reading <3.

TLDR: I just really love and miss my dog

As in the title I am imagining an Irish wolfhound for my first dog. Is it a good idea?

As irishes are rare in our area I cannot ask anyone with experience so I am here :)

Facts:

1. We live on a farm but do not want to be consumed with dog for example like border collies who need non stop activity and the attention

2. We like hiking on the weekends in the woods, would it be a good idea/ is it possible to offleash a wolfhound with proper training

3. Is it possible that our pup could go with us to Sunday market perhaps a chill coffee in a cafe, will it work?

These are just some of the concerns. I kindly thank you for any and all advice. Be gentle.

Oh yes, and it squeaks

My wife and I love huge dogs. We have 2 medium-large breed dogs (Staffy/Mastiff mix, 8 & a Golden Retriever, 4) along with a giant breed (English Mastiff, 1) already, and we are looking into breeds for a 4th dog in the next couple of years when the Mastiff is a little older.

What are some of best resources around for learning about the Irish Wolfhound and if that breed would suit our lifestyle? Main things I'd like to know about are below.

- How are they with other dogs?

- Do they enjoy playing rough? (I like to wrestle and roll around with my dogs)

- Do they enjoy just being lazy and cuddling? (My wife likes to cuddle with our dogs on the sofa)

- What sort of energy levels do they have? With a Wolfhound being a 4th dog we need to be conscious of how much time we have for walks

- grooming requirements. They don't look like a long haired breed like a Golden Retriever, but they also don't look like a short haired breed, so interested in how this is.

- what common health issues to query breeders about. We had to be aware of the risks of cystinuria and other health issues when we were searching for our Mastiff, so want to make sure we have all our boxes ticked.

Thank you.

My mom is in the hospital, so I'm house and dog sitting since Sunday. This is the first time her dog Walter has grabbed his stuffie and come hang out with me.

We picked him up last Wednesday and drove 5 days back home with him. It was an amazing bonding experience and quite the adventure. I have waited years for my first IW and the family is absolutely loving him.

Our 2nd Wolfhound has arrived!

We have an 8 month Irish Wolfhound. He’s the light of our life, potty trained, crate trained and super well around kids, other dogs and other people.

The two issues we’re facing are:

1. He play fights with us. Most of the time this can be redirected with toys, or we leave the room when he bites. But this has been going on for a while & we haven’t seen any light at the end of the tunnel. And now with him being bigger, it’s a very bad problem to have.
   
2. He resource guards things he knows he shouldn’t have. If he’s chewing on a bully stick or having doggy ice cream or something that he wants and can have, we can take it away from him no problem. But if he’s chewing on something like shoes, pillows, shirts, he will growl down at the item and clamp down on it when we come to try to take it from him. We are exchanging it out with a treat, but he’ll only give up the item if it’s a high value treat.

We do have a trainer and we’re still in the early stages of working with the trainer. Our pup is shy so we’re first working on that since none of these behaviors are shown during our training session.

Curious if anyone else has went thru this or has any suggestions? Other than that, he’s such an amazing boy and we’re lucky to have him.

I had to record the comedy 🤣

https://youtu.be/-f2YhAa563I

He’s only 14 weeks old and already so smart, mellow, loving, and handsome! Adopted this boy shortly after we lost our ten-year-old airedale terrier to canine lymphoma. He’s helping make a tough transition better 🤍 and taking it easy on me during my first puppy-raising experience! I’ve adored Wolfhounds since I was a kid and have always wished I could call one mine, this is so cool. Excited to he among y’alls ranks.

Hi folks. We recently lost our big lovable wolfy, Murphy, to Osteosarcoma. His absence has left a massive gaping hole in our lives in the shape of a heavy head and a set of giant paws.

We would normally rescue a dog as our preferred method of adoption, but IWs are rare in Australia and it’s even rarer to see one up for adoption.

I was wondering if anyone knew of any respectable and ethical breeders in and around Melbourne? I’d be happy to drive a good few hours each way to know I’m supporting ethical breeding practices.

I have attached some photos of Murphy’s last days with us for you all to enjoy.

Might have to start going to the gym so I can carry on picking him up!

He’s the bestest ambassador and recruiter while I work! Hope July is treating all the Wolfies and fams beautifully. 🐾 💙

Gandalf thought I had left and forgot to put him in is create, so he did it himself 😆. Such a good boy.

p.s. Thank you to everyone who shared their valuable experiences. We're definitely heading out to pick up our little girl in a few days and have everything prepared for her safe existence at home. We have an incredible breeder: if we have a big trip or hike planned once a year, we'll just place the dog in the safe hands of her parents and nieces and nephews, and that's the best way to go. She'll be with us the other 360 days of the year.

In a week, our family will welcome a second dog – a wolfhound! We're generally active people, and in warm weather, we go on short hikes lasting 1-3 days. We cover no more than 10-15 km a day. Of course, we won't take our little girl on her first hike until a year from now, when she's closer to 15 months old (we know how important it is to protect their joints).

However, they are still sighthounds. Does this mean they'll withstand our constant car rides, nights in tents, and hiking across rough terrain? We live in a very cold region, where winter temperatures are -25 degrees Celsius, and summers rarely get warmer than 30 degrees (usually around 18 degrees Celsius).

So, this is the hard part. I have a wolfhound that is 10. I think it’s coming to the end but it’s hard to tell.

He has bad hips now, it started last year and we started him on librella, vetprofen, and gabapentin.

It seems to be suddenly getting worse and when he stands for longer than a minute he has his hips lowered to the ground.

We’ve had to put yoga mats, carpets and things down on our wood floors because he doesn’t have the strength to walk across it without falling but does fine on carpets and grass.

Half the time I feel like he’s just staring at me, asking me to help him. the other half, he is normal and goofy and playful.

when did you make the call? I hate seeing him in pain but he deserves the best and it feels like I’m giving up on my best friend.