Torteval Irish Wolfhounds

Think carefully before you have an Irish wolfhound - they are not as other dogs. They are the king amongst dogs, and will rule your life completely. Everything will change: your life, your house and your car will be totally rearranged. Gone are the days of holidays - only specialist kennels can accomm- odate them satisfactorily. They can spell disaster for bijou ornaments and Dresden china, and no longer can bowls of fruit or other delicacies be left on worktops - they need to be placed at picture-rail height, and even then nothing is sacred to a hound hell-bent on self-service.

Wolfhounds are kindly, tolerant dogs, gentle by nature, but do not be misled by the 'gentle giant' image - young hounds can be boisterous, with great personality. Wolfhounds just do not realise how big they are, and that welcoming tail can catch both child and adult a tidy wallop and bruise exten- sively. Great care must be exercised, particularly with young children - it is too easy for a small child to be knocked over, albeit unintentionally, and badly hurt.

Wolfhounds are 'people' dogs. They need to be with you, not shut up from 9 to 5 whilst you are at work. As well as people, they enjoy the company of other dogs. The mournful howls of a lonely hound will disturb the entire neighbourhood, not just next door, and you will be most unpopular. A bored, lonely wolfhound is likely to find an outlet for his energy as best he can - and your house and furniture will be the likely targets of his attention.

They are not guard dogs - they are hunters born and bred. Their great size may deter the uninitiated, but to keep an Irish wolfhound locked in a builder's yard overnight is ludicrous - he will probably welcome an intruder to liven up an otherwise dull evening.

Adult hounds must be fed at least twice a day, never one large meal to be eaten all at once. This is to minimize the risk of bloat or torsion, a killer condition, when the heavy, full stomach turns over on itself and blocks at both ends, blowing up like an enormous balloon and causing death from shock and heart failure. They should always be kept quiet for an hour before and after food, with violent activity forbidden. If a meal is missed do not give a larger meal to compensate. Wolfhounds can become fat easily, so be careful of their weight. An ageing hound is better fed small meals more often.

They are prodigious drinkers, and need a bucket of fresh water available at all times, cleaned thoroughly each day, as contaminated water can cause infections. Both food and water are given at comfortable head/chest height, at least 18" off the ground so that they go down with gravity rather than against it, and to prevent splaying of the feet and elbows to reach down.

Aim at daily grooming and, with luck, your hound will be done 3-4 times a week. Regular grooming gives you the chance to notice any small abrasions or cuts which can be difficult to see in a hound with a good coat. Teeth, ears and nails need careful attention. Fleas, ticks or other unwelcome visitors can appear in the most meticulous establishment.

Show dogs are tidied up with finger and thumb only, to look smart, elegant and retain their graceful lines. Your companion hound will feel and look better with similar attention. A regular rub-down with a piece of towelling soaked in a bucket of warm water to which a few fragrance-free baby wipes have been added will keep him smelling sweet and clean, and remove dirt and oil from his coat. No one should enter your house and smell dog.

Mature hounds take a considerable amount of time every single day to exercise properly and keep in condition. As youngsters they must be protected from small persistent children who want to play with them relentlessly. They need plenty of rest and sleep whilst growing and exercise must be built up gradually and consistently. Once round the block every day and a ten mile hike on Sunday morning is not the answer.

Prepare the new puppy's bed before you leave home to pick him up: a soft, single bed mattress on a pallet in a quiet corner of the kitchen, away from direct heat and draughts. Cover the mattress with a blanket or rug which can be washed frequently. He must always have a place he can call his own, out from under your feet and the hazards of boiling saucepans, where he can sleep comfortably. Soft is imperative - as he grows in size and weight his elbows must be protected to reduce the risk of developing bursas (unsightly swellings or 'housemaids' knee' of the elbow).

Training your wolfhound is of utmost importance, and must begin the moment he comes into your home. He must be brain-washed into thinking you are bigger and stronger than him. Fourteen stone hurled at the unsuspecting can flatten the largest human. Training requires a light check chain or head collar - the Halti is now being used with great success. The sight of his lead should always fill him with pleasure. He must never be allowed to pull on his lead.

The word he must learn is 'no'. Never expect too much from your wolfhound. They are hunters, not working dogs. You will need him to come to you when called, stop when told, sit on command and walk quietly on a lead. Never trust your hound with stock - the hunting instinct is very highly developed: if it moves, it is to be chased! If a wolfhound chases and kills stock it is your fault, not his, and he must never be allowed the opportunity.

Never physically chastise your wolfhound or he will lose confidence in you and never forgive you. Your disapproving tone of voice is usually sufficient, but if he has been particularly bad, seize the loose skin each side of his neck, shake it vigorously and bawl him out face to face - your displeasure at his behaviour is registered!

From time to time he will need veterinary attention, which can be expensive. Yearly vaccinations are essential. To insure or not is a matter to be decided by the individual, but worth considering as most policies cover third party risks and well as veterinary fees. Generally speaking, wolfhounds are not a sick and ailing breed, but the sick or injured hound does not make a good patient - 'there is a lot of me to hurt' and they can be dreadful babies.

That long tail is a constant source of worry - easily damaged within the home on sharp corners of cookers and radiators, and can add to your d�cor with bloody brush marks all over the wallpaper. The slightest scratch must never go untreated as it can be slow to heal, become infected and result in amputation of all or part of the tail.

Many health problems are associated with the hound's great size and growth rate, but can be avoided with careful, sensible management. No running wild, no chasing to keep up with older dogs, no jumping over walls, no racing up or down stairs, no mad frolics with children or other puppies. In fact, nothing that can jar or bruise or injure those rapidly growing long bones and the delicate cartilage within his joints.

Beware . . . once you have shared your life with one wolfhound, it is almost inevitable that you will have two, and will never want to be without a wolfhound again.