|
Irish wolfhounds
  
There
are a lot of fun things you can do with
your
Irish
wolfhound.
Here
are a few of them.
Canine
Good
Citizen
(CGC)
Keera's
CGC
award day
The
Canine
Good
Citizen
award should be the first and easiest American
Kennel
Club
(AKC)
award for your dog. You
and your dog can work together for this award. It
shows that your dog is obedient and is friendly to people and
to other dogs.
Here is a
selection from the CGC
page on the AKC
website:
Started in 1989,
CGC
is a certification program that is designed to reward dogs who
have good manners at home and in the community. The
Canine
Good
Citizen
program is a two-part program that stresses responsible pet
ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs. All
dogs who pass the 10-step CGC
test may receive a certificate from the American
Kennel
Club.
Many
dog owners choose
Canine Good
Citizen
training as the first step in training their dogs. The
Canine
Good
Citizen
program
lays the foundation for other AKC activities such as
obedience, agility, tracking, and performance events.
Coursing
Coursing
photographs by http://ShotOnSite.us
Soilse running after
plastic bags
The
Irish
Wolfhound
is a sight hound. This
means that an irish
wolfhound
runs after things it sees. This
chase instinct is used in a sport that requires the dog to
chase a lure, plastic bags drawn over a geometric course or in a
straight line.
The
hounds are released to the cry of
Tally
Ho!
The
beauty of a hound running at full gallop is a very special
thing to see, and all hounds love to run. Events
bring together various sight hounds and their owners. They
often include a potluck or purchased lunch.
Obedience
Rally first leg and high score
Obedience
classes will help your hound to be a valued member of your family
and your community. Your
first obedience class should be a "puppy kindergarten" group class,
followed by a "novice" or beginner's group class. Group
classes will give your dog not only obedience but also the
socialization necessary for your dog to be a good citizen in public
as well as in your home.
Obedience
training is essential in forming a correct relationship with your
dog. After
your "novice" class, you should be able to take your dog for a walk
without him pulling you, and he should be able to happily meet new
people while remaining seated. After
a "novice" class, your dog will likely be able to qualify for a Canine
Good
Citizen title and sometimes Rally (http://www.akc.org/events/rally/index.cfm).
From the AKC website, "Rally is a companion
sport to Obedience. Both require teamwork between dog and handler along
with similar performance skills. Rally provides an excellent
introduction to AKC Companion Events for new dogs and handlers, and can
provide a challenging opportunity for competitors in other events to
strengthen their skills."
More
obedience training may lead to a Companion Dog (CD) or higher title.
Agility
PriScylla
on the A-Frame
Agility
is an active sport that many dogs enjoy. It
is stimulating both physically and mentally for the dog and owner. In
addition to being just plain fun, Agility teaches coordination and
balance to your dog. After
the beginning stages, agility is done off-leash and develops an
especially strong working relationship between dog and owner.
Pet Expo,
Special Olympics, School Visits, and More
PriScylla
and Branigan
waiting
at the Irish Fair
Once
your dog is socialized and trained, he can participate in
activities
such as the Pet
Expo
and the Irish
Fair.
These
are places where breeds of dogs are invited to attend in order
to acquaint the public with different breeds, and to let people
interact with dogs in a supervised surrounding. Our
dogs have also participated in "Irish
Day" at
school
and special
olympics.
Therapy
Dog (TDI)
A Therapy Dog is allowed to visit such
places as hospitals and rest homes. Therapy dogs and their
owners are scheduled and make regular visits to institutions
that welcome them.
Testing
for obedience and temperament is given before a dog is a
qualified Therapy
Dog.
Once
certified by Therapy
Dogs
International,
these dogs provide comfort and companionship, promote
healing, and improve the quality of life of the people they visit. It
is one of the most rewarding activities you can do with your
dog.
Therapy Dogs
International's website is
http://www.tdi-dog.org/
Tracking
Tracking
is utilizing your dog's powerful nose to follow a trail and
find something for you. Training
can be a lot of fun for your dog because he gets to eat the
training equipment - hot dogs or other treats. After
they are trained, these dogs are sometimes used to find missing
persons. Specialized
training can result in
search
and Rescue
or other advanced activities.
Fun
Stuff:
Parades, Beach, and More
.jpg) |
PriScylla dressed for a
St. Patrick's
Day parade |
Irish
Wolfhounds
are especially welcome at public places and activities because of
their gentle disposition with people. There
are St.
Patrick's
Day
parades in many communities, as well as the Big Dog
and other parades where Irish
Wolfhounds
are welcome.
Our
dogs have participated in St.
Patrick's
Day
parades, Seal
Beach
Christmas
parade,
Big
dog
Parade,
visited at
Huntington
Dog
Beach,
and Bark
Parks. They
accompany us to many public places such as the local Farmers'
Market,
pet stores, and restaurants with outdoor seating.
The
list of fun things for you to do with your well-behaved dog is
practically endless!
Entertainment:
Occasionally
something extra special comes up for Irish
Wolfhounds.
Our
dogs have appeared in t.v. commercials, and Branigan
has secured the part of "Bran"
in a promo for an Irish
specialty film, The Legend
of Finn
McCool. Be
sure to check this page soon for links to some results from this
filming.
 |
 |
| The set for a t.v. commercial |
Branigan
sitting by "Finn
McCool"
In the movie promo produced by Brian
McCole
with Dylan
Wittrock as Finn
McCool. |
Puppy
Preliminaries
The Double
Suspension Gallop
home
|
