I receive periodic inquiries about the Irish Wolfhound breed, and I am happy to share my knowledge with such people. These queries also include requests for advice regarding health issues and nutrition. On several occasions, new owners have reached out to me to ask questions about specific issues their new puppy was experiencing. Delving into the problems further, I had been taken aback when a novice puppy owner told me that they acquired their Irish Wolfhound pup at eight weeks of age! Frankly, taken aback is an understatement. When a caller informed me of this the first time I was momentarily startled, I paused and asked them to repeat what they had just said. After confirming that I heard their unsettling news correctly, I privately assumed that the pup had to have been acquired from a backyard breeder or a puppy mill.
However, after that first time, there have been several others who also reported obtaining their wolfhound puppy at the same very early age, and from various breeders. I fear this has become a profoundly disturbing trend. My previous emotions have now been replaced with alarm. Yes, I am alarmed, and I am not being melodramatic.
It is unethical to place a wolfhound puppy at the age of eight weeks. This act is unconditionally unacceptable for a giant breed Irish Wolfhound, who is underdeveloped — both mentally and physically -- at such an immature stage. It is paramount that Irish Wolfhound puppies are well socialized and spend quality and quantity of time with their Dam and siblings. For other long-standing, conscientious breed guardians and me, it is inconceivable to place a wolfhound puppy before ten weeks of age. Personally, I DO NOT release any Wolfhound puppy before 12 weeks of age.
Mentally, the Irish Wolfhound breed is a slowly maturing hound. His size is very deceiving and just because he or she weighs upwards of 60-75 pounds at three months does not liken him mentally to other breeds of the same age. I have always informed students that this sighthound breed is unlike popular breeds such as Poodles, Golden Retrievers, Labradors or Shepherds, among many others. During growth stages, on a mental comparative basis, for instance, a six-month-old wolfhound is comparable to a three-month-old Labrador. Yes, that much of a difference. Even a yearling -- a phrase attributed to a wolfhound aged 12-24 months -- is still more immature than a similarly aged dog of another breed. The difference has nothing to do with intelligence. An Irish Wolfhound is an intelligent hound who curiously possesses natural foresight, always sensitive to his surroundings. Wolfhound puppies should be confident, poised, comfortable, and friendly. These traits develop from various stimulations deriving from social interactions in the company of his littermates with the dam by their side during their twelve weeks of development and companionship.
For instance, it has long been common knowledge amongst veteran breed guardians that special care, socialization and additional time is usually always required when raising a singleton litter -- just one Irish Wolfhound puppy. Indeed, I know of some older breeders who had a trying time with a singleton that they kept for breeding purposes. Sadly, many modern fanciers know nothing of the old grand breeders knowledge as they have had no maturation under wizened mentors.
Releasing a wolfhound puppy at eight weeks is indefensible. Those precious four weeks stolen from these poor, eight-week-old wolfhound puppies is unique, priceless and it may very well come back to haunt the Buyer. Moreover, releasing wolfhound puppies at eight-weeks-of-age is done so most likely for financial and opportunistic reasons. Commonly, a breeder needs to get rid of the puppies as soon as possible as they cost time, food and money. Often, these people need to move the pups out to make room for new litters and more puppies that are coming or planned. It may be a modern movement acceptable to some unknowledgeable social media participants making feeble arguments in favor of such and who attempt to defend it, but this practice is wholly unsound, heartless and unsafe.
Irish Wolfhounds are a gentle, beloved disposition, sensitive, soft temperament breed who require -- better yet demand -- boundless human interaction. This begins in the whelping box, and ours is NOT a breed to farm out as soon as they become inconvenient for the breeder to have around. If this practice continues, it will only lead down a slippery slope. But, then again, perhaps some self-proclaimed breeders will turn their backs on the breed and jump ship to another one. Finally, if the above factual information does not convince you, then know that breeders who are members of the Irish Wolfhound Club of America (IWCA) are obliged by such membership to the Standard of Behavior for Breeders.
It stipulates, in this protocol, under General Do's and Don'ts:
Breeders should not release a puppy to its new home prior to 10 weeks of age. Elsewhere in this protocol, breeder's must be prepared to give up three months of her/his life caring for the bitch and puppies. The bitch needs supervision and care while in the whelping and nursing phases, and the puppies need constant care and socialization from birth until they leave for their new homes at 10-12 weeks. Moreover, breeders must be prepared to provide the proper care for both the bitch and the litter and to retain the puppies for as long as is necessary to find proper homes, even if that means retaining the entire litter for their lives.
To read the full Standard of Behavior for Breeders, something I strongly recommend all prospective buyers do, follow this link.
Irish Wolfhound Club of America, Inc. Standard of Behavior for Breeders