Customer Reviews

Irish Wolfhounds (Barron's Complete Pet Owner's Manuals)

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

 

 

I bought this book over 2 years ago before I bought my Irish Wolfhound. I wanted to really research the breed and know what I was getting into. For the most part, this book was very helpful painting a clear picture.

Irish Wolfhound's are the tallest breed of dog and they have a relatively and heartbreakingly short lifespan. This book gives you some steps in taking care of your dog from puppy into adulthood, to ensure you have your Wolfhound for as long as possible.

Table of Contents:

Introducing the Wolfhound
Finding the Right Irish Wolfhound
Bringing your Wolfhound Home
Caring for and Feeding your Irish Wolfhound
Your Irish Wolfhound's Health
Living with a Giant Hound
Activities for your Wolfhound
Information
Index

There is some important and valuable information in this book. There are also some pretty idiotic statements. One of those statements that is absolutely not true is the book tells you to not elevate your dog's food because it causes bloat, it tells you to let them eat off the floor. My dog's breeder was actually part of the bloat study and the opposite was found true. Plus, if you think about it, my Wolfhound is about 38-40 inches at the shoulder, can imagine how uncomfortable and difficult it would be for a giant breed dog to eat off the floor?

The most important thing this book tells you is to find a reputable breeder. My dog is now two years old and I am still in contact with the breeder. She is a wealth of knowledge and information that a book can not begin to capture.

Because these are such giant dogs, they have special needs and considerations. All in all this book does a good job of pointing out some of the pros and cons of the breed and is a good stepping stone to helping you make that decision. If you decide to bring one of these gentle giants into your home, it also is a fairly good guide to a healthy and happy pet and family.

I read and rely on this book for very general information. But in the end found the most important and reliable information came from my breeder.

Cherise Everhard, Feb. 2008

This book was so easy to read and understand. Every possible area of owning,feeding,training,medical,etc. is there and explained completely. This book will be a wonderful guide for the first timer interested in this wonderful breed. You will have a step by step guide on a lifetime of fun and enjoyment . Your Irish Wolfhound will thank you for learning about every angle to their behavior and demeanor....their wants and needs. The numerious pictures give a wonderful view of how a Wolfhound actually looks from puppyhood to adult. One can see the variety of colors this breed comes in. The "tips" of information are fantastic!!!!!!!! The chapter on finding reputable Breeders is a wonderful guide and great place to start. This book would be a wonderful gift for any occasion!!

I actually encountered an Irish Wolfhound once. It was in the Stockholm metro, of all places. The dog was higher than me as I was sitting down. I was surprised by its calm demeanours, but felt relieved when it left. Naturally, I considered the owner to be a crackpot - Irish Wolfhounds, as we all know, were bred to hunt wolfs (hence the name). I assumed that such a dog would be mad, bad and dangerous to know! I felt something similar towards its owner.

I was therefore surprised when reading "Irish Wolfhounds". It turns out that this huge dog - one of the largest - is almost completely harmless and even something of a "couch potato". It's good with children, other dogs and strangers. It also eats much less than many normally-sized dogs.

Still, the Wolfhound isn't for everyone. It does have a strong prey drive which can be triggered by rabbits, other people's pets and even horses (or wolves, presumably). If the prey drive is triggered, the dog spins out of control! Therefore, Irish Wolfhounds should only be kept in *very* well-fenced areas. The fence has to go underground, too, otherwise the dog might dig a whole and disappear anyway. Another obvious problem is the Wolfhound's sheer size: a four-month old puppy is larger than the adults of most other dog breeds! Due to its size, this hound is privy to a lot of health problems, and only lives for about 6 years.

"Irish Wolfhounds" is an excellent introduction to this king-size dog, and many of the colour photos are actually quite entertaining. I mean, a puppy the size of an Alsatian? Another puppy the size of a human child? Another photo shows an Irish Wolfhound tied to a Celtic cross. Eating while having a bad mannered Wolfhound around the table can apparently be a problem. Most photos simply show how absurdly *huge* this creature actually is.

Irish Wolfhounds, obviously, aren't for everyone. If you live in a countryside manor and can afford very sturdy, king-size fences, you're in. Otherwise, please get a poodle! :D

A nice practical guide on raising Irish Wolfhounds.
The smaller size makes it easy to leaf through at your leisure.
Not an exhaustive guide by any means but covers all the basics.
Lovely pictures and tips are sprinkled throughout.
We bought this to read while waiting for our puupy.

I am still trying to convince my parents to get one.
They got a St. Charles Cavalier Spaniel puppy instead...horrible little rodent-like dog. Real dogs are far better.