Irish wolfhounds

[linkhttp://www.irishwolfhounds.org/]http://www.irishwolfhounds.org/[/link]
 
They were hunting dogs more than protection dogs...from what I recall. They are a large breed and that size will deter most unwelcome visitors I should think. But as far as aggression? Nope...
 
They are sighthounds, and as such require careful management around small quick moving animals, even smaller dogs. They are not an off leash breed but lure coursing is fun...
 
The ones I see at shows seems quite lovely...it's a shame they die so young as a matter of course.
Look for a GOOD breeder or rescue one...

Thank you beagles.  I already have the club websites.  I found out on the websites that there are a couple only about 50 miles from me.  I have been invited to meet them and am really excited about it.  I was hoping for more information, tho to see if they are still used as they were ment to. 
Would like to get a second dog, but am still unsure (one dog is nice when traveling) and not sure what breed I would like to go with.  I find it hard replaceing a dog with the same breed as one will compare it to the 'old dog'
Thanks again, Beagles

One thing to keep in mind if you like to travel, is that IWs take up a LOT of space. If you ever need to ship one via air for any reason, it will be VERY expensive, and an IW takes up the whole back seat of a good-sized vehicle and will be raelly cramped in anything smaller - forget putting any people or much stuff back there. While you can read about their size all day, it's another thing to live with. Labs can clear coffee tables with their tails- an IW can clear end tables. Forget countersurfing- their heads are about at counter height, so it's just a convienent chin rest. And they're as comfort loving as most of the sighthounds, so you'll need to be sharing your sofa. If they leave any room to share, anyway.

Running deer with dogs is illegal in the US, so other than coursing (I don't even know many IW people who do that), IWs aren't really used much as hunting dogs anymore that I'm aware of. But IWs have really been more companions than anything for well over a hundred years, since wolves have been extinct in Ireland for quite a long time. (I believe the last one was killed in the late 18th century (before 1800 is the only date I can find online at the moment) but my google-fu is lacking today and I can't find a date.) The modern IW was re-created using the last few surviving IWs and some Scottish deerhounds by George A Graham in the 19th century.

With St Patricks day coming up, a lot of areas have Irish festivals- if your town or city does, make sure you hit it. There's almost always a 'meet and greet booth featuring at least a few of the Irish breeds (and their respective rescues), at least at all the festivals I've ever been to.


Pwca (who knows some SCA people with IWs)

My dog may or may not be a Wolfhound mix, and I've met a few other Wolfhounds, and I just love them. They have THE BEST personalities and are so mellow and sweet. However, they have very short lifetimes and very high vet costs, so you have to be prepared.

Thanks PWCA,
 I am aware of their size... Here at Double Barrel, we dont do anything small.  Got 2 Percherons that stand at 17+ hands each.  Got a big truck to pull them around, and am working on a big wagon to pull me around []  I think the only thing small here are the chickens and ducks... but there numbers are BIG!
The traveling we do is by vehicle.  Any shipping, i do my self.  (used to prof haul horses) 
So im getting the idea that they are more of a hunting dog rather than a protection dog?  We have wolves and coyotes here, and as of yet, they dont bother my stock, but there is always that one time. 
We dont have St Pats festivals here, but ST Urho.  got lots of fins up here.  Im on the other side of the world from ya []
We used to have a Newfoundland that we were working on being a goose dog before we lost her.  Our frigid waters up here are more favorable to her coat than to the lab, we had.  Definatly didnt want to take the newf into the field for grouse (can you say grooming nightmare!  [:@])
Aven, I did read about the short lifespan, but havent gotten far enough to read about lots of vet visits.  Can you elaborate?  Thanks

So...what you want is a "Livestock Guardian Dog" then? I would recommend an Anatolian, Maremma (sp), or Caucasian Mountain Dog for those purposes. If you want a dog that can be trusted off lead around stock...even small lambs if they run I'd not get a Wolfhound. The Wolfhound is just as likely to go off foraging on it's own or take off after a rabbit...as guard your stock.
 
 
ETA: link
[linkhttp://www.lgd.org/]http://www.lgd.org/[/link]

Maremmas and Great Pyrenees are 2 breeds that have been developed for the purpose of guarding flock/farm animals.  Research breeders carefully.
 
Kate

Isnt that what Im doing Benedict?  I dont know what kind of dog I want... that is why im researching the dogs that have interested me.  Ill i know is that I dont want a lab.  

Hi doublebarrel!

If you're looking for a guardian type of dog, forget about the IW, Borzoi, or the SDH.  They aren't great guardians at all.  They will, however, have alot of fun hunting varmints of all sizes on your spread.  Anything from a small pony to a ground squirrel is fair game.  This means chickens, geese, deer, beavers, or anything else furry or fuzzy (including sheep, goats, cats, other dogs, or anything that even resembles prey from 100 yards away.)  They don't bark much and even though they've got imposing size, you look at their eyes and you see that all they're really doing is watching.

Granted, I'm mostly in the show-IW world, but I've not heard of anyone using these dogs for guarding purposes.  And as sighthounds, they wouldn't be reliable to watch your property-not if there's a leaf blowing over there, a ripple in the pond that could be a fish, a bird fluttering in the bush, a chipmunk making a fuss or anything else moving.

If you've got visitors coming over frequently for stock sales, or for whatever reason, perhaps an Ovchartka or other flock guarding breeds would be good-as long as they are well socialized with that person.  But that socialization is not an indicator that the visitor can come on your property when you're not there! 

I didn't see what your location is, are you in a warmer climate or a cooler one?  If you're in a cooler one you might consider a Tibetan Mastiff-they're quite the guardian and companion.  Polish lowland sheepdog is another good breed to look into, as is the Kuvasz, or Komondor.  In a warmer climate maybe an Anatolian, Great Pyr.

There are so many good dogs out there that would be good for your purposes.

In your research for IWs, look into genetic traits-there are high incidents of HD, bone cancer, they are prone to bloat or gastric torsion-the list is actually huge.  A dog as big as the IW or SDH has alot of problems associated with that size-joint problems and such. 

Not sure if I've been a help or a hindrance, but that's my two cents.

Isnt that what Im doing Benedict?  I dont know what kind of dog I want... that is why im researching the dogs that have interested me.  Ill i know is that I dont want a lab.  

What Benedict said was to "Research breeders carefully."  The breeder is just as important as the breed itself.  A good breeder will do health screening/testing check hips and test for genetic defects before even breeding their dogs.  Now in the US there are so many irresponsible breeders what you have to know who you are getting your pup from so be very careful who you talk to and ask the breeder as many questions as you can.  A good breeder will be more than willing to answer your questions.

The IW does have its share of health problems but they are wonderful dogs.  They are not as common as other large dogs and do have a short life span.  For farm life I would say they would not do as well as other breeds that are more adapted to that type of living.   They are sight hounds, comparable to greyhounds, so they need that extra attention.  If you want a good protection dog a mastiff is great.  

An IW may work for you and it may not, my suggestion is to read as many books about this breed as you can.  Before I decided on my breed I bought over 5 different breed specific books just to make sure I know what I'm getting.  I also contacted several breeders and found a few who where so helpful.  Dogs shows are also a place to look for information and see the dogs yourself.  Talk to the people there that show IW, dog people are great.

Thanks, Xebby. []
 
Kate

I see I read Benedicts post incorrectly... sorry[&o]  I think I read if several times... must clean glasses. 
I think I need to decide on the breed... or at least narrow it down.  What you have all posted is stuff that you dont normally see on the websites.  You know.. you go or watch the dog shows on tv, and they tell of what the dog is 'supposed to' be used for... not what its to be used for now.  for a long time... Rotties were said to have come from germany.... funny tho.. how the romans used them, and that was way before germany!  []
Not many websites will say 'the dog is gonna get cancer'.... or 'expect lots of trips to the vet' but rather... expect a lifespan of 8 to 10 years.  This is why I was hunting for folks that know about the breed.  I see now by what xebby and xerxes have said.... a wolfhound would very much entertain itself here with the birds, horses, deer, bear, squirrels, chipmunks, beaver, otter, other dog, leaves, wild birds, etc that habitate here or pass thru.  Definately dont think that a IW would work out well here. 
Im not sure that I want a LGD either.  I was considering getting into agility and obedience with the old lab, but she was the hunting dog too.  the newfie... again.. thinking obedience, and working on the goose thing.  both were CGCs and reg therapy dogs.  So you see... im looking at a multi use dog.  we do have a lab... but that is 'his' dog.  I do the obedience work and he does the retrieving work (as we arent any good at the other)
i live way up north in the cold and ... errr... snow of ne MN.   so just about any breed will do, im thinking.
I think that the IW has been ruled out.  we dont have a nice fenced yard... but lots of room to run.  Probably not the best for this breed.
Thanks

Rotties were said to have come from germany.... funny tho.. how the romans used them, and that was way before germany! 

The "War Dogs" that the Romans used were foundation stock for the Neapolitan Mastiffs and Cane Corsos of today.  They weren't Rottweilers, though they were big black, barrel chested dogs. 

Rotties are cattle dogs and guarding dogs, developed in Germany within the last 200 years or so.

Just wanted to add that the IW of today is not totally the IW that was used to kill wolves in Ireland.  The breed was almost extinct and re constructed my a Scottish Deerhound breeder:
In the 1800s, a Scottish deerhound breeder named Captain George Augustus Graham became interested in the old Irish wolfdog. He began to collect as many of the "true" Irish hounds as he could find, and bred them with Deerhound, Borzoi, Tibetan Mastiff and Great Dane crosses in an attempt to resurrect the disappearing breed. In 1885, he founded the "Irish Wolfhound Club" to further protect this beloved breed at which time the Standard was created and accepted by the Kennel Club and Irish wolfhounds began appearing in registered shows. However there was much controversy surrounding the purity of the bloodlines of the dogs that the Irish Wolfhound club was promoting as "true" Irish hounds, with many dog enthusiasts believing that the strain currently produced and touted as Irish Wolfhounds were too diluted from the original "wolfe dogges" of ancient times.
http://www.iwcc.ca/handbook/history.shtml


I do have to agree with others here, they are not alwayas good with small aminals, and often other dogs, they have never been bred or used as guardian dogs, the breed today was bred mostly as a companion though, and are even rarely used for lurecourseing, saddly.  They are my very favorite breed, and my dream dog, I will one day own one.