Irish Wolfhound Puppies

Your New Puppy

Other good links/pages:

Your New Puppy - The Five Stages of Development

Obedience, The Good, The Bad and the Ugly �

At long last, the day you have all been waiting for, your new puppy will make its grand entrance into your home. Before you bring your companion to its new residence, however, you must plan carefully for its arrival. Keep in mind that the puppy will need time to adjust to life with a different owner. He may seem a bit apprehensive about the strange surroundings in which he finds himself, having spent the first few weeks of life with his dam and littermates, but in a couple of days, with love and patience on your part, the transition will be complete.

Plan to bring your puppy home in the morning so that by nightfall he will have had some time to become acquainted with you and his new environment. Avoid introducing the puppy to the family around holiday time, since all of the extra excitement will only add to the confusion and frighten him. Let the puppy enter your home on a day when the routine is normal. For those people who work during the week, a Saturday morning is an ideal time to bring the puppy to his new home; this way he has the entire weekend to make adjustments before being left alone for a few hours, come Monday morning.

** Remember to Puppy proof your home beforehand, remove anything of value or harm that a puppy might find entertaining, but not good for the puppy! Remember most plants are poisonous to a puppy/dog, and live electric cables will kill!!

Let the puppy explore, under your watchful eye of course (not too much, too soon), and let him come to know his new home without stress and fear. Resist the temptation to handle him too much during these first few days. And, if there are other dogs or animals around the house, make certain all are properly introduced. If you observe fighting among the animals, or some other problem, you may have to separate all parties until they learn to accept one another. Remember that neglecting your other pets while showering the new puppy with extra attention will only cause animosity and jealousy. Make an effort to pay special attention to the other animals as well.

First impressions are important, especially from the puppy's point of view, and these may very well set the pattern of his future relationship with you. You must be consistent in the way you handle your puppy so that he learns what is expected of him. He must come to trust and respect you as his keeper and master. Provide him with proper care and attention, and you will be rewarded with a loyal companion for many years. Considering the needs of your puppy and planning ahead will surely make the change from his former home to his new one easier.

There will be a lot of excitement about your new arrival, and it is quite likely that all your family and friends will want to come and meet the new puppy. Please avoid the temptation to show off your new puppy for at least the first day. Your puppy's life has changed so much from the moment you took him from your breeder. He no longer has his siblings and mother around him, including all the people he has come to know. It will be a scary time for him.

Before you bring your puppy home, make sure you have made an appointment with your vet within 48 hours of getting him home, this is something your breeder will ask that you do. Give your vet the "Health Record" you will receive in your "puppy pack" so he is informed of all the vaccinations and worming that your puppy has already received.

In preparing for your puppy's arrival, perhaps more important than anything else is to find out from the breeder how the puppy was maintained. What brand of food was offered and when and how often was the puppy fed? Attempt to continue whatever routine was started by the person from whom you bought your puppy; then, gradually, you can make those changes that suit you and your lifestyle. You'll need to buy a collar (or harness) and leash, a safe chew item (such as Nylabone or Gumabone), and a few grooming tools as well. A couple of sturdy feeding dishes, one for food and one for water, will be needed; and it will be necessary, beforehand, to set up a feeding station.

Make sure you have the same food that he has been used to on hand, ask for some from your breeder if you are unable to buy the same brand, ensure you get enough to make the change over a very gradual one, hopefully this should not be an issue. Also be prepared for loose stools, due to travel, stress and also the change in water in a new area.

Have his bed and feeding station ready, which must be raised at chair height, (at least 16-18 inches) before you bring him home. A soft bed in a quiet corner of the kitchen is a good place. Introduce him to his special cozy corner so that he knows where to retire when he feels like taking a snooze. Have baby gates ready to keep him safely in one place, this way he can still see you and won�t be behind a closed door. But be warned, he will howl pitifully that first night, and make you feel so bad, that you may end up with your new puppy in your bedroom. I speak from experience, and am obviously a soft touch, but it was just for the first night. Let�s face it; it must be pretty scary for your new baby. Just make sure, its draft free and warm, but not close to direct heat. Cover the bed with a blanket or rug that you can wash regularly.

http://www.dogbedworks.com/

http://www.duluthtrading.com/a/shop/dlist.asp

Balin 10 weeks

He must always have a place to call his own, out from under your feet and any hazardous, where he can sleep comfortably, soft is essential. Make sure he�s not on a hard floor, as puppies do just throw their heads down, so be warned. Also as he grows, you must protect his elbows, otherwise he will develop bursitis, which will result in unsightly and painful swellings, Taking months to cure.

Adult hounds MUST be fed at least twice a day, never one large meal to be eaten all at once. This is to minimize the risk of bloat or torsion, a killer condition. If a meal is missed, or goes uneaten, NEVER give a larger meal to compensate. Read up well on the signs of bloat, it could save his life if you are alert to this condition.

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Park/7581/bloat_signs.htm

Kili (10 wks), Balin (26 wks).... meet for the first time, it was love at first sight

Be careful of their weight, they can become fat easily. They are prodigious drinkers, so always make sure they have a very large, fresh bowl of water available at all times. Clean the bowl thoroughly everyday, you don�t want any unwanted infections.

Do not take a puppy under six months for proper walks, even short ones. By all means give it lead training but not by taking it for walks. Once over six months, the puppy may be taken on short walks, starting with a few minutes a day and very gradually increasing to about a mile a day. The pup may also be given some free running other than playing in the garden for a few minutes each day. At nine months, the amount of exercise may be increased to reach two miles a day at a year old, plus some free running. After this age, exercise may be increased to twenty minutes or more free running twice a day by eighteen months, plus two miles walk. However, do not only walk a dog tied to a pram or pushchair and walking at the pace of a toddler or young child because being forced to shorten its steps and walk slowly will damage its skeletal and muscular structure so that it will not be able to stretch out on the move properly when it has finished growing.

However, do not take it that no proper walks means shutting the pup in a pen or cage all the time. Having space for playing and some running about is as important to health as a good diet and plenty of sleep.

An adult hound requires at least 20 minutes free exercise twice daily but some road walking is beneficial as well. No form of exercise should be given for an hour before or two hours after feeding because of the risk of bloat/gastric torsion.

Also, do not exercise your hound in the heat of the day; in warm weather exercise early in the morning and late in the evening when it is cooler. Exercising in heat can cause many problems, including collapse and even death. It is as well to remember that dogs should not be left out with no shade in hot weather and should absolutely never ever be left in a car in warm weather, even if the car is in shade when you leave it. It is not enough to open the windows; a car in sun becomes an oven in minutes and the unfortunate dog left in it literally cooks. This is also something to bear in mind when taking a dog out to drive anywhere in warm weather; the windows of modern cars are so designed that the dog has difficulty in staying out of direct sun.

Aim to groom your adult dog on a daily basis, and with luck your hound will be done two to three times a week. Doing this gives you a chance to notice any small abrasions, ticks and cuts which can be difficult to see in a hound with a good coat. Teeth, ears and toe nails need careful attention. Try and touch your puppy�s paws and nails on a regular basis, as clipping those nails can cause a real problem if you don�t get them used to it early on. Be VERY careful with puppy nails. Also check their ears and teeth regularly to get them used to this too. It will help your vet, and make showing a breeze.

Balin 10 weeks

Please read a good book, and make sure it�s specific to the breed. A puppy kindergarten class is a great idea for early socialization and great fun!!! I can guarantee your puppy will be the best behaved there, unless there is another Wolfhound pup around. A little treasure that everyone will be secretly jealous of.

Socialize that Puppy!!

An adult hound will take a considerable amount of your time every single day to keep him properly exercised and in good condition. As a youngster he must be protected from persistent children who relentlessly want him to play. He must have plenty of sleep and rest whilst growing. Too much exercise can cause major problems as his bones grow. Keep it consistent. Not once round the block one night, and a two mile hike the next. As I said, and can�t stress enough, get a good book on the breed, it will be money well spent, and could save you a fortune in the future. And most importantly keep your hound, healthy, happy and prolong his all too short life.

Training your wolfhound is of utmost importance, it must begin immediately. He must always believe that you are bigger and stronger than he is. But don�t be a bully. A Wolfhound does the things you ask of him because he dearly loves and respects you, and for no other reason. Seek out a good training class, and go from there. Socializing is very important, get all your friends to come round, especially those with young children (once all his injections are done), let him meet the postman. Introduce him to strange things, like fire hydrants, loud noises, metal stairs, elevators, driving in the car.

http://www.irishwolfhoundssociety.co.uk/care.htm

http://www.IWClubofAmerica.org

If he will be using a dog ramp, get him used to it early on. You might be temped to lift him in, BUT of course you won�t be doing that for long. Remember that when you invite him on the couch!!!

Paws for thought!!

"something to remember, when in doubt as to how to treat a puppy, always proceed in the way you would with a young child, you will not go far wrong�

Our Reward

Treat me with respect, teach me your rules, and train me with patience.

Let me know what pleases you, for if you don't my unbridled enthusiasm may place

unnecessary and stressful demands on you.

There is not an animal on the planet that can offer you the same unconditional devotion

that I can, if you show me the path to your heart.

Through my puppyhood I may test you, but only because I am a puppy. Persist, for

I will remember your structure as I grow into doghood.

Do not take advantage of me.

Though I have many needs, I cannot speak.

Be my leader, my keeper, my friend, and my voice.

Your efforts will be our reward.

(Sarah Hodgson)

Puppies and mature dogs will drink from your toilet bowl, please refrain from using bathroom bleach tablets, etc. and always try and keep the lid down, or better still, always close the door behind you.

He must learn the words �NO� and �DROP IT�. Never expect too much from your hound, he is a hunter, not a working dog. You need him to come when called, stop when told, sit down on command and walk well on a lead. As I said, they are hunters, so remember his instinct is highly developed, if it moves chase it. So never trust your hound around live stock. Never give them the opportunity, if you hound chases and kills stock, it can only be your fault.

The �STOP � DROP� command is well worth trying to achieve (difficulty level - high). When training, make it sound like the world is about to drop on your head, and throw yourself on the ground, make him realize this is serious stuff without terrifying him. It could save his life one day if his favorite ball rolls out into a road. Don�t expect this to work if he�s chasing a fleeing creature. Of course your neighbors may think you�re as crazy as mine think I am, but it�s a risk worth taking. If you hound is not leashed, maybe he�s laying watching you in the front yard washing the car, or your doing some gardening, please always remember, (and I don�t care how well you think you have him trained, quite often they train you), anything that runs will be chased, squirrels, the neighbors cat/dog, a squealing child (they adore the sounds of happy children, and are drawn to them). All these things will appeal to your hound. Be aware!! He will not notice that car racing down the road; he will only have eyes for that squirrel.

Balin 12 weeks

Make it a rule to NEVER have your dog unleashed within miles of any danger. Some people say, never have your hound unleashed, which is a good rule to adhere to. I am blessed in having hundreds of acres close by, away from any danger, so seek out these safe places if you must unleash your dog. Doggie parks are a great way to exercise your dog and socialize at the same time. However, always check out the local dog park for several weeks before taking your hound, to ensure that only well socialized and friendly dogs visit the park. http://www.ecoanimal.com/dogfun/

NEVER physically chastise your hound, he will loose confidence in you and may never forgive you. A disapproving tone of voice is usually adequate, but if he is particularly bad, wicked or awful, (oh that can�t be) seize the loose skin each side of his neck, shake it and bawl him out face to face, your displeasure at his behavior is registered! Also, I have found that very occasionally, whilst out on our long walks, Balin feels he really isn�t ready to go home and momentarily goes deaf (this could happen to you).

NEVER chase your hound that would be such a fun game. But of course it�s not, and should be avoided. I have remedied this for myself by simply driving off, obviously away from danger as if to leave him there (keep him in view at all times). NOW you will see just how fast your hound can run!! And makes him realize he is more tired than he first thought, and will quite happily go home.

You MUST have a large, FENCED yard. Do not consider the electric underground type of fencing. It is quite likely your adult hound would run straight through it in hot pursuit of a deer or squirrel. And most important, they do not stop unwanted, and unsocialized dogs from invading your yard, and possibly hurting or even killing your pride and joy!!!

Check out a vet ahead of time. Make sure they are familiar with the breed. Be aware that from time to time he will need veterinary attention, which can be expensive, and obviously yearly injections are necessary. Generally speaking wolfhounds are not a sick and ailing breed, but the sick or injured hound does not make a good patient, and they are dreadful cry babies. Be careful of that long tail which can be easily damaged within the home on sharp corners. The slightest scratch must never go untreated. They are slow to heal and can easily become infected which can lead to amputation of part or even the whole tail. Read up on all the health problems associated with the Wolfhound, these can be avoided with careful, sensible management. But be aware that they can be costly.

Paws for Thought

For those of you thinking of buying a Rohan puppy and live locally, there is no need to put your hound in kennels when going on vacation, we will happily baby sit them if and when possible. Just supply us with your hound(s), food and a preferred diet/exercise sheet and feeding times and we will happily oblige. We WANT to help!!!

Use the best brand of dried food on the market suitable for these large dogs. You are what you eat. Advice like this will be given to you at the time of purchase of your hound.

Kili 10 weeks

Something I sometimes forget. Once your monster pup is fully grown, you won�t see him the way others do. Always be aware of his enormous size, they can give strangers a huge fright, especially when they are off leash. Of course they have no need to fret, but only you will know that.

And be warned, once you have shared your life with one wolfhound, it is almost inevitable that you will have two and will never want to be without one, or two, or three again��

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