Customer Reviews

The Magnificent Irish Wolfhound (A Ringpress Dog Book of Distinction)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Super book, great depth of information presented in an easily understood way. Novices and long standing IW fanciers will gain a tremendous scope of knowledge from this book. Lavish photographs and illustrations.

One caution however. This book was published in the USA as "The Irish Wolfhound, Symbol of Celtic Splendor" They are identical save for the title.

Although this oversize book has the wonderful photographs and fascinating informational tidbits of a typical coffee-table volume, it offers more: practical instructions for choosing and raising a puppy and owning a hound. The comprehensive medical discussions are particularly important for managing the rather fragile health of these magnificent companion dogs.

Highly recommended by the breeder from whom we are purchasing a wolfhound, and we second that recommendation for anyone interested in the breed.

I can't say enough good things about this book. We purchased this book to prepare us for the Irish Wolfhound we hoped we would get one day. Thankfully we found a wonderful breeder and we have a new puppy. This book was great for getting us ready to bring her home as well as produce questions to ask the breeder.

Great Book!

I have had wolfhounds for nearly 20 years. In all that time, and with all the books that I've looked at both breed specific and just 'doggy' this is the best for the wolfhound owner. The illustrations are great and there is an enormous amount of material.

The sections on breeding and genetics are very detailed, and bring a huge amount of information to the reader. The distinctions between wolfhound colour variation inheritance versus other dog breeds are very useful and interesting. We have used the book as a guide in our research into breeding and know other breeders that consider this the 'bible'.

The book could do with a decent index. You have to read the whole thing once so you can remember where the bits you want might be. It astonishes me that the index is not there.

The illustrations are beautiful, but they are mostly pictures of attractive dogs instead of specific illustrations of the subject matter in many instances.

The shortcomings do not stop this from being a superb book and the best for wolfhound owners and breeders.

This is the best book for anyone considering an Irish Wolfhound. I wish I purchased this BEFORE getting my wolfhound. Lots of information on choosing, caring, breeding, and showing. I use it as a reference in all situations with my wolfhound.

This is a must-have book for every Irish Wolfhound owner. We ensure that our puppy people have a copy before the puppy goes home. My only complaint is that while the table of contents is extensive, there is no index. Overall though, this is a thorough and well written reference guide to the breed.

Buy this book, and get ready for hours of in-depth, caring, humourous and above all, experienced reading, because this is the book you are looking for. I bought this book because I am new to the breed and I assure you there is absolutely no risk in purchasing a book of this merit. The Magnificent Irish Wolfhound is a very well balanced link between all the primers on the internet and the more serious 'hands on' kind of engagement, which is up to you. If you've already done some internet 'homework' like I did, and are looking for something to lift your knowledge and appreciation to the next level, I recommend this book.

This book should automatically be sold WITH every Irish Wolfhound puppy! It answers almost every question about this breed. The pictures are marvelous and I will always keep this book by my bedside!

This book is a wealth of information. I'm sure that everything you need to know about a Wolfhound is in this book. However, to read the book from cover to cover can be a bit boring as much of the information is beyond the grasp of the average person and not really "need to know". It is not a good reference book as there is no index. So, for example, if you wanted read about bloat, you would not know which of the 336 pages contained this information. Instead, you would have to scan the listing of chapters in the front of the book and figure out which one may contain that data. I would recommend reading this book before purchasing any dog as much applies to most dogs and not just wolfhounds.

I do not own an Irish Wolfhound; at this stage I am still exploring whether this magnificent animal is the right match for me and my lifestyle. Mary McBryde's masterwork of IW ownership was invaluable in deciding that yes, an IW truly is the dog for me. Everything from birth to death, and I mean EVERYTHING, is covered in depth, but this book always remains engaging. The author is upfront about the downsides to IW ownership (expense, short lifespans, household changes), but also shows that the joys these wonderful dogs bring to one's life more than compensate. I also appreciated the honest advice that an IW is not for everyone, and that individuals and families should think carefully. This is true of any dog, but especially giant breeds like the IW, and responsible breeders and owners know this and will share this with prospective owners.

This tome is full of color photos of Irish Wolfhounds at every stage of life: posing in the show ring, lounging on the couch, and just plain being adorable.

All in all this is a lovely addition to any coffee table, as well as an indisputably authoritative guide to Irish Wolfhound ownership...a "must-read!"