Irish Wolfhound puppy in my local county animal shelter

[RacetrackReject]

I stopped by the local animal shelter this weekend and they have a young Irish Wolfhound for adoption. They said she was an owner surrender and they only want $35 for her adoption fee as she hasn’t been spayed yet. The price will change once the vet can work her in.

I’m still trying to figure out how I can work out getting her, but I’m not sure how IW temperaments are. This girl was very shy and ducked her head and fled anytime you tried to pet her. If I brought her home, I would need her to share a run with my old and deaf GSDX female (spayed). It is a large run, basically it is a horse paddock with a large horse-sized run in shed for cover with dog beds.

I was told that having 2 females together was asking for trouble, even if they are spayed. I don’t normally keep female dogs, so I’m looking for input on that.

Also, I was wondering if there may be any group interested in taking her in. I would pay her bail (and would love to keep her as I’ve always wanted an IW, but I’m more interested in doing the right thing for her and my current large breed dog).

Here is her photo or the best I could get. She kept ducking and turning away, even in the crate.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/217079_10200903503328216_1529247752_n.jpg

[kasjordan]

Go. Get. Her.

[ariel.damon]

She is adorable. My sister always wanted an Irish Wolfhound and is actually currently considering getting a dog, but wanted to rescue… But we are in Massachusetts.

[IdahoRider]

Generally speaking, two females is the least likely formula to work. Which isn’t to say that it never does, because there are a number of people who do it successfully. But, in general, it comes with a great deal of risk.

I would be particularly concerned about your set up because it sounds like the two girls would be spending at least a portion of their time together and unsupervised. The thing with two females is that once they decide they don’t like each other, they really decide not to like each other. The saying is, “Males fight for breeding rights and females fight for breathing rights”. They can do fine with each other (especially with one being a puppy/juvenile), and then you could come home to a dead dog in the run.

The people I know who have done it successfully had a couple of commonalities. 1) they didn’t need for the dogs to get along perfectly in order for the living arrangement to work, they just needed them to tolerate each other in a managed environment, and 2) the dogs were kept separated whenever they weren’t supervised (crate one, for instance).

An Irish Wolfhound in a shelter is unusual, but not totally unheard of. Contact breed rescue. I can all but guarantee that if this is a PB or high percentage mix that breed rescue will step up for the dog. Maybe you can pull from the shelter and hold for transport for them?
Sheilah

[wendy]

with that particular breed I don’t think you need to worry too much about bitch-bitch aggression. Particularly with your age difference- the worst cases you hear of are people with two bitches close to the same age from breeds noted to be a bit on the aggressive side, like terriers. Sometimes, though, a younger bitch will decide to get rid of an older bitch as the younger bitch matures.

I would suggest you try to convince the shelter to let you wait to spay her- the primary cause of death of irish wolfhounds is osteosarcoma, and while it hasn’t been studied in the irish wolfhound per se, spaying before full maturity dramatically increases the risk of the dog developing osteosarcoma. In one large cohort of rottweilers, 1 out of 4 dogs that were spayed before one year of age developed osteosarcoma vs. 1 out of 8 dogs that were spayed after one year of age developed osteosarcoma.

[Houndhill]

Thanks for posting, Racetrackrejeck!

I have alerted national rescue.

That sails, that does not look to me like an Irish Wolfhound.

If she were indeed an IW, I would not hesitate to keep her with your other bitch. iWs are hounds, I generally keep 6-8 bitches together with few problems.

But frquently we are called when the dogs in the shelter are some kind of terrier mix. I must say, that is what this looks like. How much does she weigh?

[RacetrackReject]

[QUOTE=Houndhill;6973363]
Thanks for posting, Racetrackrejeck!

I have alerted national rescue.

That sails, that does not look to me like an Irish Wolfhound.

If she were indeed an IW, I would not hesitate to keep her with your other bitch. iWs are hounds, I generally keep 6-8 bitches together with few problems.

But frquently we are called when the dogs in the shelter are some kind of terrier mix. I must say, that is what this looks like. How much does she weigh?[/QUOTE]

She’s just a pup. I’m not sure how much she weighs. I thought she was some sort of large terrier mix, but when I asked what she was, they said she was an owner surrender and the owner said she was an Irish Wolfhound. I’m fairly sure she is most likely part-bred. I’m 5’8 and leggy and if she would have stood full height instead of crouching, she would have been around my knee height or a bit taller.

Thanks HH!

[Houndhill]

I don’t know how young she is but an adult IW bitch would be more like boob height than knee height!

But, she is very cute, whatever she is!

If you can find out her approximate age and weight, that would help us.

[RacetrackReject]

[QUOTE=Houndhill;6973408]
I don’t know how young she is but an adult IW bitch would be more like boob height than knee height!

But, she is very cute, whatever she is!

If you can find out her approximate age and weight, that would help us.[/QUOTE]

I asked her age and the person said they didn’t know, just that she is a puppy. She has that obvious “I haven’t grown into my feet” look that large breed puppies have. I’ve been trying to get ahold of the shelter, but the phone is busy so I’m thinking they must have it off the hook or something.

Update: My call just went through to voicemail, so I left a message.

[Hulk]

I have had one, and at the time her house mates were a 12lb toy poodle female, and a doberman female. She was the best dog, one of the best I have had. Temperment was off the scales wonderful. I never had a single problem with that crew. If I was closer, I would be tempted. glad you spotted her and put the word out, they are great dogs. If you make the leap and get her, best wishes and luck to you!

[stolen_virtue]

I have a 13 year old Irish Wolfhound mix that we adopted from the local shelter. She has been the best, sweetest dog we have ever had. I have her on HA daily now because she is very old for a large dog. She is very mellow and sweet. She is about to my mid-thigh, females are smaller than males.

I would love to take the puppy but we have 2 dogs and 2 cats and Mr. Stolen is still not too happy about the 2 cats. This breed is a family dog, loves children and are very protective. I would get an Irish Wolfhound again, if it was a rescue. Anyone can PM me with questions if they want. Love love the breed.

[NRB]

looks more schnauzer (standard or giant) cross with GSD than IW. But hey it’s one not so great picture. My standard schnauzers are knee high, at 6mo, fwiw. Cross that with a taller dog…

[RaeHughes]

Two bitches work fine together! I was told that story too - and my two BC bitches get on fine together for almost 2 years now! They sleep curled up together on one or other of the two beds that I provide for them - or on the bed with the 3rd bitch commonly know as Rae :). They sometimes have to share a kennel when all four dogs have to be in. I will note that my older BC is an alpha bitch and the two males did wait - for, oh 5 minutes - to see how she would get on with the puppy when my younger one arrived. Yes, they were trained to live together - but more how to behave in a pack than anything. And my older girl will defend the younger one from other dogs if she thinks it necessary… but she does that for both the lads as well so that is just a pack-boss thing.

[NRB]

I personally would not have 2 terrier bitches together…Heck I would’;t have 2 or more intact male terriers together… but I know pros that do maintain household peace and calm with multiple bitches and intact males…

[stolen_virtue]

That picture looks like an Irish Wolfhound, looks like a younger version of my girl.

[Houndhill]

No, it looks and sounds like a cute terrier mix to me.

[LauraKY]

Here’s a rescue:
http://www.ntiwc.org/rescue.php

Irish Wolfhound Club list of rescues:
http://www.iwclubofamerica.org/rescue.htm

And a breeder:
http://www.ntiwc.org/rescue.php

Maybe one of them can give you some help. As an aside, I know of no reputable rescue that will allow you to keep a dog intact.

[Griffyn]

Go get her! Seriously interested. I can guarantee her a home in WI.

[CVPeg]

Agree IWs are the best. (Mine is making me type this right now.;))

I’ve owned 3 Lab bitches together and all got along fine. However, we once left my oldest Labbie with my friend who owned her mother, while we were gone awhile. They never got along, and were a constant worry - both the alpha females in their own homes.

Agree this rescue looks like a mix to me, and it’s tough to tell from this picture, but plenty of IW. I am a long legged 5’6" and my IW female’s back comes up to about my belly button.

My girl is so laid back - she hated the long-haired chihuahuas at my last barn and wouldn’t leave the car. :lol: She is not at all agressive, and frankly doesn’t eat any more food than my Labbies did, although she does have a sensitive stomach and can only eat certain foods.

But she’s a great presence to strangers, will sound an alarm only when necessary, and loves the cat. (You should see her trying to get the cat to play outside!:lol:)

Her favorite thing in the world is a good, long walk and run in the woods and fields. They need more training than, say, a Lab, as being sighthounds, they will not always key in on you, but on movement. You need to assert your role, and be responsible with a leash, knowing there’s a chance if they see something move in the distance they may go for a run.

But yes, they are wonderful dogs. I’d be surprised if this one stayed long at the rescue. Got our dog off CL, and there was a long list of those who wanted to adopt her. Because we worked from home, we won! Speaking of which, time for that long walk!!

[RacetrackReject]

[QUOTE=LauraKY;6973829]
Here’s a rescue:
http://www.ntiwc.org/rescue.php

Irish Wolfhound Club list of rescues:
http://www.iwclubofamerica.org/rescue.htm

And a breeder:
http://www.ntiwc.org/rescue.php

Maybe one of them can give you some help. As an aside, I know of no reputable rescue that will allow you to keep a dog intact.[/QUOTE]

Wow, assumptions here. This is not a rescue. This is animal control, as in, they hold X days and euth typically. They are trying to place this dog because of what breed she is (per the owner who turned her in). The dog would not be allowed to be kept intact. She is a puppy, she was just surrendered, and has not been spayed yet. She will have to be spayed if/when someone bails her out.

I just got off the phone with animal control and they still have her. The animal control officer doesn’t really know a whole lot. She says “Iris” is under 50 lbs, but no real idea on age. She said she thought around a year, but from having seen this dog in person, I would say she looked much younger than 12 months.

The AC officer said to give out her cell phone number to anyone who was interested and had questions. I could try to go at lunch time and get more photos of the pup if anyone wants.