Page 2 | Irish Wolfhounds- anyone

MyOwnToes · 2024-09-30T11:17:38+00:00

My husband is keen to get an Irish wolfhound, probably as a pup. We are experienced dog owners but have not had a large breed before. Does anyone have any experience? We have a large house and garden (3 acres) plus one large car and one small one. I’m trying to get my head round what such a large breed would mean from a practical perspective. I know training etc will become even more important with such a large dog, also exercise reqs. Food. Anything else?

schloss · 30/09/2024 20:08

SirSniffsAlot · 30/09/2024 19:41

I think it's a good reason.

Different people have different needs and different priorities so it's not like everyone MUST consider what size dog they can lift. But it's important to me, comes in useful a few times a year when it would be dangerous to him or very inconvenient to me if I couldn't lift him and is a key reason why the next dog must be smaller - because I'll be older and no longer able to handle my current dog's 25kg weight.

I think size is a reason to be considered but only in so much as considered. My breed can reach over 40kg and are deep chested so GDV or bloat is something to constantly be aware of. I (keeping fingers crossed) only had 1 dog have it in many years, by myself and managed to get the dog in the car, to the vets and all was well.

Sometimes if we think too much about what could happen, we would never do anything. As I say consider it.

As far as GDV and/or bloat is concerned with a wolfhound or any other breed is to know the symptoms and understand not all cases have classic symptoms. As my vet says they would rather me visit and say, something just isn't right and it be a false alarm, than take a wait and see approach and leave it too late.

The same applies for Pyo.

Arran2024 · 30/09/2024 20:10

I know two locally. One is laid back, the other is a nightmare with other dogs, which is hard with a dog that size.

I have 2 bernese mountain dogs. Biggest issue is the pet insurance and vet bills, which are colossal.

Killingoffmyflowersonebyone · 30/09/2024 20:11

PyreneanAubrie · 30/09/2024 20:00

One of our girls did have torsion at age 8 - maybe you actually saw me post about this before...? We knew the signs, rang our vet and lifted her into the car. She had surgery and ended up living to 12.

Another of ours had epilepsy, suffered a seizure in the garden and our vet came out to attend to him.

I'm not trying to say these things never happen, of course they do but I don't understand why you would use this as a reason why nobody should ever choose to have a giant dog breed.

Would you say the same to everyone who has a horse? "no, don't get a pony for your child, it might die from torsion or break a leg in the paddock"? No. of course you wouldn't.

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Choose a giant breed if you can carry it - which you, apparently, can given you carried yours to the car. But most people can't. That's a fact. Most people can barely lift 20KG let alone 50/60kg+. So it is irresponsible getting a dog breed you cannot lift. If OP can, great. If she can't and if her DH can't, then they have no business getting the dog - because if you can't lift it, then you certainly cannot control it.

Horses are entirely different. They live in a paddock for one thing...not a house. That's like comparing apples and oranges 😂

Leonberger · 30/09/2024 20:48

Killingoffmyflowersonebyone · 30/09/2024 20:11

Choose a giant breed if you can carry it - which you, apparently, can given you carried yours to the car. But most people can't. That's a fact. Most people can barely lift 20KG let alone 50/60kg+. So it is irresponsible getting a dog breed you cannot lift. If OP can, great. If she can't and if her DH can't, then they have no business getting the dog - because if you can't lift it, then you certainly cannot control it.

Horses are entirely different. They live in a paddock for one thing...not a house. That's like comparing apples and oranges 😂

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I can’t lift my husband either. Maybe I shouldn't walk with him incase something happens to him…

PyreneanAubrie · 30/09/2024 20:50

Killingoffmyflowersonebyone · 30/09/2024 20:11

Choose a giant breed if you can carry it - which you, apparently, can given you carried yours to the car. But most people can't. That's a fact. Most people can barely lift 20KG let alone 50/60kg+. So it is irresponsible getting a dog breed you cannot lift. If OP can, great. If she can't and if her DH can't, then they have no business getting the dog - because if you can't lift it, then you certainly cannot control it.

Horses are entirely different. They live in a paddock for one thing...not a house. That's like comparing apples and oranges 😂

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We were able to lift our dog into the car outside our house, yes, but I alone, as a 51kg female of 60, clearly would not be able to carry my dog without help. That goes without saying. My 6 month female PMD is 35kg and no, I can't carry her.

But really, in that case, surely it is totally irrelevant as to whether my dog was an Irish Wolfhound or a Labrador; I still wouldn't be able to pick it up and carry it.

So, by your logic; nobody would have any dog bigger than a Golden Retriever because the average person can't pick it up and carry it and no small woman should have any dog bigger than, say, a Cocker Spaniel...

So in fact, you believe that half the dogs in the UK should be rehomed because their owner can't lift them up. Is that what you're saying?

Right. Okay. Fine.