Judges' Education A Discussion of the IW
A Bibliography An Early History of the IW A Pictorial Gallery Single Tracking, Side Gait Judging Irish Wolfhounds Visions of the Breed IWCA Judges Pocket Guide
Breed
Education History of the IW Well-being of the IW Purchasing an IW Puppy To the Prospective Owner "Selecting A Puppy" "What Is A Mentor?" 2 Brochures to Print and much more
The Irish Wolfhound Club of America, Inc. is a member of the American Kennel Club.
To The Prospective Irish
Wolfhound Owner:
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
really the
breed
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 about the
breed, finding a breeder or adopting a rescue, the Rescue Directory and the US
Local Clubs lists are excellent starting points. You may
also contact IWCA Secretary Judy Simon for information
pamphlets and other educational materials. See
IW Information Contacts.
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original purpose is no longer valid, the instincts originally developed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.
official photo, Bill Meyer CH KELLYKERRY PEGGY SUE OF AERIE. HP23867509.
10/15/2006. By CH Pitlochry's Quintus x CH
KellyKerry Reanna of Eagle Breeder & Owner, Glenn
H. Myer
The information on this site is
provided as a public service. Links to this site from other
sites do not imply
endorsement of any products, services, organizations,
companies, information providers or content of the linking site
by the IWCA, Inc. 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.
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.
