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Owned by Ingrid Linnekugel 079 234 1410
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Home of the Hairy Hound - Preserving the Ancient for all to enjoy The Irish Wolfhound is a noble Hound of great size and commanding appearance - these words are written into the standard and epitomise the breed. They were prized by nobility and were used to hunt wolves and deer in bygone centuries. Walk into any crowd and watch how commanding they can be, they draw a crowd in no time, some people will be in awe and respect your hound with only good things to say while others will not know how to react and you may get the comment, “Is it a dog or a horse? Can your ride it?”. Please be as noble as your hound and shrug off these comments. Wolfhounds grow at an alarming rate, born at around 650 gms they can reach 65-80kg within their first year. So before committing to owning one, you should know if you can fit this beast into your lifestyle. They are goofy, clumsy, lovable fools in their first year. They can be ultra-destructive and love to chew during this first year. We have many pieces of furniture that have been chewed or unstuffed over the years, but once they pass the growing-up phase, you should have an ideal companion for the rest of their lives. Unfortunately, being a giant breed, their lifespan is relatively short with an average of only 7-8 years but some have been known to outlive a decade. Early training and socialisation is key to a happy Hound. You need to learn how to control this hapless Hound early on, before they realise how strong they really are. Headcollars are highly recommended for those not used to handling something of this stature. While Irish Wolfhounds are generally quite sociable, males may become territorial and dominant, if you or he cannot handle the extra testosterone there are options available to deal with this eventuality. Be prepared to spend a lot on food. Please invest in your Hound's future and buy a food suitable for giant breeds - this if for the first year only. After that, as large as your Hound is, he will eat no more than an average large dog, possibly even less. While the breed here in South Africa is generally healthy, all breeding stock should have certified hips and elbows and all puppies must be liver-shunt tested before homing at around 10-12 weeks of age. Don't be afraid to ask for proof of this having been done. Other ailments that curse not only our breed but giants in general are heart problems, bloat/torsion, and osteomyeloma. If you are interested in learning more about the breed or meeting the Hounds please feel free to contact me.
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