Irish Wolfhounds in 
The Want Ads - On and Off Line

unfortunately based on real life IW advertisements and statements

What The Ad Says
(It might sound good, but is the advertiser really a responsible breeder? More research is needed.)

What The Ad Might Really Be Saying....

"Experienced Breeder"

This is my 3rd litter in 14 months out of the same bitch, you bet I'm experienced!*

*Example: AKC reg litter #s HM477463, HM486349, HM511287

"from Champion lines" "Champion Pedigree"

A)  3 or 4 generations back, someone sold a dog or provided stud
     service to the wrong person - their loss, my income.

B)  Show any dog long enough and/or against mediocre competition
      and you'll finish it - people think titles and brightly colored ribbons
      are "the real deal".

My first Irish Wolfhound:  he's 16 months old and raring to go, he's got unlimited registration thanks to his irresponsible breeder; it's easy money!

3 litters out of the same pair and now I'm starting on the offspring.

1, 2 or 3 titled dogs in the last generation of a 30-dog 4-generation pedigree.

What better reason to add a dog to the family than an impulse holiday buy?

What is an "approved home"? 
    1.You arrive cash in hand, or
    2. Your check clears.

Considering I don't go to shows or do any other events and the only other IWs I have seen besides mine belong to the breeder who sold me the breeding stock.

Anywhere to anyone! Premise visit? Interview? Questions?  Nope, not me.  See "To Approved Homes": I'm not about to scare off a sale.

People always think this means "quality" - it's a sure selling point. 

Don't ask how many NON-champions I've produced, or how many ended up in other puppy mills and/or rescue - they're not MY problem!

Not one of the 30 dogs in the pedigree has a conformation or coursing title but I'll just bet they could do it.

No color in the IW is considered "rare", some are just seen more often than others.  But some people don't know any better and this always brings in a sale or two.

Of COURSE I'm friendly, I'm trying to sell you something!  And if you have a problem with your IW or even need to find another home for him, I'll just tell you I can't help you because "I'm no longer breeding" and you're on your own.

That's 'XX' years experience in making money off my dogs. A big number of years doesn't mean knowledge or responsibility, but my puppy buyers don't seem to realize that.

Sure are, the basement is part of my home. Socialization? Not my problem.

On the north 40, never been inside the house, full of worms and wild as banshees - now it's YOUR problem.

The dam is chained to a doghouse out back and my kids are responsible for feeding her and the puppies - that is, when they remember.

Don't like the temperament on the one you got? Must be something you did, my dogs don't have temperament problems. 

I don't show or do any events with my IWs, but they look like the pictures in all the books (that's form) and they've run down and killed two cats (that's function).

a) I've only had Irish Wolfhounds for two years, but I'm sure they will live
     nice, long, healthy lives.

b) No, I don't do health testing - I know they're all healthy.

c) If the one you bought from me dies young, it's your fault. 

d) Really, am I going to advertise "breeding for illness and short lives"??

I'll replace the puppy with another one, there's always a litter coming up - unless I convince you that you're the one that's at fault.  If I take yours back I can sell it again, anyway, take in double the money, or use it for breeding. Of course I don't do any health testing.  Why should I? I don't have any problems - YOU do!

That's his only attribute, but it's a big selling point to the public. Of course, he'd be shorter if he had any angulation at all, but it's the number on the yardstick that counts.

I have a USDA license and sell IWs to pet shops. I've been fined, and then suspended from the AKC  - the reports can be found online, but no one ever bothers to look - good for me, too bad for the dogs. 

A) No one in this country will sell me a dog.

B) "Import" sounds so "IMPORTant" to those puppy buyers! Apparently some overseas breeders aren't concerned about where their dogs end up.

I had a couple dogs done in 1995, so why do it again - it just costs me more money.