Torteval Irish Wolfhounds

Although he is inclined over-react and occasionally spook at new or unsettling events, he has shown many times that he is able to overcome his nerves with a little gentle support from us. His only insurmountable fear appears to be fireworks - fortunately, living as we do in a rural area, this is only a problem for a few days a year.

Like Branigan, Hogan acknowledges Darcy's supremacy within the pack and treats her with the utmost respct. In fact, so respectful is he of her that most of the time he manages to avoid having any contact with her at all.

Branigan and Hogan forged a firm friendship from Hogan's earliest days, and until McKenna's arrival were something of a double-act, with Hogan playing the straight man to Branigan's comedian. In spite of Hogan being some four inches taller and 25lb heavier than Branigan, not to mention able-bodied and fired up with testosterone (Bran is lame and castrated), Hogan's character is naturally the more gentle and submissive, and he is utterly relaxed about Bran's outranking him in the pack.

In fact, Hogan is so quiet and self-effacing that even McKenna, female and knee-high to a grassshopper to him, bosses him around. This does nothing to diminish his limitless adoration of her, and as far as Hogi is concerned she can do no wrong. The bond between them was instant and lasting. To watch them play and romp together, and to see Hogan control his superior power and strength in the face of sometimes great provocation, is to truly understand why wolfhounds are known as 'gentle giants'.

Hogan's natural speed in life, both physically and mentally is, sloooww. He even manages to gallop slowly, and although his laid-back, sleepy, manana approach to life is very endearing, it does him no favours in the show ring. And no picture of him would be complete without mentioning one incontrovertible fact - the boy is not the brightest button in the box. His great size and gentle, loving nature hide a brain as sharp and quick as . . . goosedown!

Being her first litter, it took some persuasion to get Jo to agree to part with him, but she did us the honour of allowing us to have her favourite boy from the litter, and as he was the first to leave it was an emotional moment for Jo.

Within 48 hours of his arrival he had managed to weave himself seamlessly into the fabric of the family. Never demanding or pushy, he soon developed the knack of getting what he wants by simply asking politely - Jo always said he was the gentleman of the litter.