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Irish Wolfhound Puppy Preliminaries Your puppy is a puppy for at least a year. He may look adult because of his size, but he’s very much a puppy inside. He can be allowed to romp all he wants, but regulated exercises such as long runs on leash and certain types of play will have to wait. He should be allowed to nap whenever he wants, and should not be disturbed when he is napping. It’s a rule of thumb that a puppy should not have the run of the house until he is at least 2 years old. Some puppies chew more than others. A few are terrors! All dogs need to chew and exercise their jaw muscles. Be sure he has plenty of safe things to chew, and be sure to supervise. After he is 4 months old, he can be entered in a Puppy Kindergarten class. Training sessions between classes should be short and fun for the puppy. Dog obedience is essential both for establishing that you’re the Boss and for socialization. We have weaned and then reared your Irish Wolfhound puppy on a species appropriate raw food diet. This diet is to be continued throughout the hound’s lifetime. Puppies should be fed four times a day, with times between feedings as regular as possible. Later, they will need 3, then 2, and eventually only 1 feeding a day. They should always have access to fresh water. Most dogs are happy to use a Lixit. A “Water Hole” or other non-spill water dish will make traveling a lot easier, as well as being tidy for daily in-home use. There are a few things your dog should never be allowed to eat. Some are poisonous to dogs such as grapes or raisins, chocolate,* and certain plants. (http://www.uexplore.com/health/poisonplants.htm has a listing of plants poisonous to dogs. www.akc.org has a poisons section that lists both poisonous and safe plants, and some remedies). Grapes and raisins (as few as 6 or 7!) can result in kidney failure and death. Your puppy will need to have his ears cleaned and his nails clipped regularly, as does any dog. You can do this yourself or have them done by a groomer. When you first get your puppy, his skin is tender puppy skin and he should be brushed with a medium brush. You should regularly hold and examine his paws, ears, mouth, etc. so that he will be accustomed to this later when he is large and strong. Later, when his skin is stronger, you can advance to hard-bristled brushes and eventually to metal. You will find it well worth your while to have your puppy kennel-trained. You can start with a puppy-sized one, but he will outgrow this all too quickly. Leave the kennel out with the door open and soft bedding inside. He will probably investigate and soon choose to take naps in it. You can use the kennel as a night time bed, and as a safe place for him to go when he needs rest. Later, if you need to transport your dog safely, You'll be glad you did this. You wouldn't want to battle a reluctant 100 to 175 pound dog to go into a kennel! Dogs love to travel with you. Be sure they are as safe as possible in your vehicle. A sturdy kennel is the best way to secure your dog and help prevent injury and/or escape in event of an accident. Early kennel training is essential for this. Do not let your dog put his head out the window – he could lose an eye, or if the window is too far open, he could jump out of a moving vehicle into traffic. Don’t forget to take along a non-spill water bowl and plenty of water. Irish Wolfhounds love people, and it is abusive to force separation by not allowing your dog to live indoors with you. A doggie door can help a lot. Every Irish Wolfhound is a natural-born “house-hound.” He is a cherished family member; he should have his own bed if he doesn't share yours!
*
Chocolate Toxicity
Toxic
theobromine dose: 100-150 mg/kg |
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