Irish Wolfhound - description of the breed and character of the dog

The Irish Wolfhound is a true giant among other dogs, which has real power and strength, as well as an affectionate and faithful love for the owner. It is a large greyhound with stiff hair.

Breed appearance

The name already makes it clear to us that the homeland of these dogs is Ireland, and their main activity was to participate in hunting and tracking wolves. Wolfhound belongs to the category of greyhounds, the history of the breed is very ancient. Dirhound, the Scottish Olenegon dog, can be classified in the same category. However, paying attention to the massive appearance of these dogs, you can see how much they differ from standard greyhounds.

There is information that the ancestors of the Irish even in the Celtic period lived on the British Isles, where they directly participated in the persecution of large wild animals - from boars and deer to wolves. Thanks to the hard coat, the wolfhound could calmly be in difficult conditions - in the rain or among thorny bushes.

The breed had many legendary stories in its fate. On their list, for example, is the myth that the first Irish Wolfhound turned a harmful and feisty princess who refused to love a druid. From the puppies of this dog, a line of animals went, possessing a vivid appearance, almost human intelligence and flowing in the veins of noble blood.

Since the seventeenth century, representatives of the breed were actively imported, and these dogs were almost not preserved in Ireland, therefore, in order to save the situation, they issued a strict decree prohibiting the export of these animals. Irish wolfhounds are currently taking part in royal ceremonies while serving in Buckingham.

Appearance

The head of these dogs is elongated, the muzzle is a little island, the ears are not large, they are pulled back. The chest is wide, the back is even and extended, and the long tail at the tip is slightly twisted.

In the area of ​​the head and on the ears, the hair of the wolfhound is softer. Color can be varied: from black or reddish, to gray, brindle or white. The presence of bright spots in the chest, paws or at the end of the tail is permissible if the wolfhound itself has dark hair.

Character Features

The Irish Wolfhound has a balanced disposition, can impress not only with its formidable appearance, but also with sufficient friendliness. Currently, these dogs have ceased to be fighters, security guards or service animals, more fulfilling the role of a loyal comrade and friend for wealthy people.

Dogs are great for young children, they can also coexist peacefully with other domestic animals without attacking smaller and weaker creatures. In this case, of course, you should not leave the child in the company of a pet alone for a long time.

Being a sensitive dog, the wolfhound does not perceive quarrels in the family, can be offended by excessive rudeness in his voice and sometimes gets sick along with his adored master. These dogs do not tolerate limited spaces, they will not be able to live happily in an aviary, where they will be crowded and lonely. Therefore, regardless of its size, the wolfhound is a domestic dog. An ideal habitat would be a house outside the city, where it will be possible to run into the surrounding territory in plenty.And towards evening, lie down at the owner’s feet near the fireplace.

Irish Wolfhound has a developed intellect and excellent ability to train and educate. In order for the dog to adequately develop, it is extremely important for him to receive the necessary amount of attention and tenderness from the owner. Even some strict measures for the sake of punishment must be accompanied by kindness and calm. Usually wolfhounds master basic commands and a number of simple skills. If it is planned to keep the dog at home, it is forbidden to train the guard on guard teams, otherwise dangerous instincts may wake up in it.

As a basic rule in the training and maintenance of the Irish Wolfhound there will be the following recommendation - in no case do not beat your pet. If you yourself are not good at raising a puppy, consult a specialist for help. A professional with experience in dog training can make your wolfhound obedient.

Wolfhounds have a huge need for a host society or other people. If the dog is bored, then he will turn into a naughty animal, begin to harm and arrange leprosy. A puppy, a year old, for example, can create real chaos in a room for one hour.

Representatives of this breed have one feature - their maturation is slow, and the puppy becomes an adult dog quite late. They are allowed to jump after 12 months, and then another year should be spent on training. Of course, they are less fast than the Golden Retriever or Border Collie, but, nevertheless, have sufficient tenacity and diligence. Therefore, on agility, Irish wolfhounds often successfully compete with the most agile breeds, and can take prizes.

Features of care and maintenance

Being in the apartment, the wolfhound is usually inconspicuous, and the only thing he will definitely need is a spacious corner for sleeping, as well as the ability to be out of control while walking with a leash.

Since the Irish wolfhound can be extremely attached to its owner, which can even end with the death of the animal when the owner has been absent for a long time, you should train your pet from puppyhood so that it remains without problems in the society of other households.

Care:

1. Caring for a pet's coat is quite simple, this process does not cause any particular trouble. It is necessary to periodically use a comb, and sometimes expose the dog to water procedures - no more than once a season. It is advisable to use a comb made of metal and a brush with natural bristles. Combing not only helps maintain the coat in proper cleanliness, but also in the process the pet will increase blood circulation, dead hair is eliminated, and the wolfhound himself enjoys massage.
2. First, a comb of metal is used, the hair is combed in the direction from the head to the body, and then to the tail. After that, the paws are combed out. Then a brush is used - first, movements against the growth of wool are made, and then in the direction. Also at the end of the procedure, you can use a slightly damp towel to remove dust accumulated in the wool. For the sake of aesthetics, usually the owners of the dogs use a trimmer to make the head, neck and ears more attractive and elegant in appearance.
3. For the Irish Wolfhound, a dry cleaning method that uses dry shampoo is perfect. The tool is rubbed into the coat, and then a comb is used for combing.
4. Also, once a month, you should cut the claws of the pet. To do this, use a claw cutter designed for large breeds. Given the large length of the claws, the procedure must be performed in several stages.Be sure to regularly pay attention to the condition of your pet's claws - by nature they can be excessively curved, and if they grow too strong, the wolfhound will experience inconvenience and even pain while walking.
5. For toothbrushing, it is recommended to use dog paste. You can apply the product to your pet’s teeth using an ordinary toothbrush or a special finger nozzle. To eliminate plaque on the teeth, the pet is offered chewing bones. Healthy teeth look nice, their color is pink, but there is no bleeding or plaque.
6. For a healthy condition of the ears, it is necessary to inspect them periodically, use moist disks made of cotton wool to remove dust and sulfur fragments from the auricle. If there is a bad smell from the ears, excess sulfur is visible, or your pet is shaking its head frantically, you should immediately consult a doctor.
7. After each walk, you need to rinse the paws and inspect the pads to prevent damage. The hair that grows between the fingers must be removed. In winter, you can use vegetable oil to lubricate the paw pads. This will help to prevent cracking.
8. It is also equally important to monitor your pet’s eye condition. It is advisable to use chamomile broth or warm water once a week to wash them. Healthy eyes do not have redness, lacrimation, or souring. If such symptoms have been noted, you must take your dog to the veterinarian.

The pet should be accustomed to these grooming procedures even from puppyhood, and then the adult will calmly relate to them. After each hygienic procedure, it is necessary to encourage the pet by treating it with some kind of dog dessert.

Nutrition

For these large canine representatives, it is important to receive timely and balanced nutrition, which must be of high quality. Again, it is worthwhile to ensure that the animal does not eat excess food and does not eat high-calorie foods. For an adult dog, 700 grams of dry food per day is enough. Sometimes, to pamper a pet, you can offer him fruit. After feeding, it is important to use a damp cloth in order to remove food fragments from the wolfhound's beard.

At a young age, it is necessary to pay special attention to the proper feeding of a puppy. It is necessary to thoroughly approach the choice of a vitamin-mineral complex in order to avoid further troubles with the health and well-being of the pet. And this, again, will require specific investments and expert advice.

The health of this breed

Typically, representatives of this amazing breed do not live long - about 9-11 years. Dogs are also prone to a number of unpleasant diseases. Most often, there are hereditary diseases associated with the joints of the legs or excessive weight: osteosarcoma, knee dislocation, hip dysplasia.

In addition, the Irish Wolfhound often suffers from bloating, cataracts, hypothyroidism, and disturbances in the functioning of the heart muscle.

Separately, fleas or ticks threaten the health of the pet. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically treat the skin and hair of the wolfhound from parasites. After each forest walk, you need to check if your pet has such parasites. When examining, special attention must be paid to the abdomen, neck, paws, ears.

Fleas can cause itching, dermatitis in the dog, they transmit infections or turn into allergies, and can lead to anemia. A common ixodid tick is a carrier of pyroplasmosis, a disease that can result in the death of a dog. These ticks are more active and dangerous usually from early spring to autumn.

If you have found such a tick on your pet, do not panic. If possible, you should go with the dog to the veterinarian as soon as possible, where the tick will be eliminated, the dog will be examined and then they will take an analysis for pyroplasmosis.

At home, you can personally eliminate the tick:

1. Apply a couple drops of vegetable oil to the area where the tick is located.
2. Using tweezers or a tick-twister, the tick head should be grasped as close to the skin as possible and gently twist the parasite from the dog’s skin in a circular motion.
3. The remaining wound should be examined - perhaps the head of the parasite remained there. Then the bite site is treated with an antiseptic.

Over the next days, it is necessary to pay full attention to the well-being of the pet. If the dog behaves actively, his appetite does not disappear, and the temperature is absent, then everything is fine.

But, if there is a loss of appetite, fever, lethargy, yellowness of eyeball proteins and brownish color of urine, then this is an occasion to urgently contact specialists.

The following can be used as prophylactic agents against fleas and ticks:

1. Drops (it is necessary to apply once a month to the withers, and then do not expose the pet to water procedures for up to 10 days).
2. Tablets (for oral administration, can provide protection for up to 3 months).
3. Collar (able to protect the pet for up to six months, if worn constantly).
4. Spray (before each walk it is necessary to process the wolfhound's coat, place of sleep and his clothes).

Puppies cost

It is hard enough to acquire puppies of this breed, as they are rare. And even the most budgetary individuals who do not have documentation can cost about 650 dollars. If the puppy is elite, and its parents are show dogs, then the cost sometimes reaches $ 3,400 or more.

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