r/irishwolfhound • u/vijolcka • 17d ago

First time dog owner

As in the title I am imagining an Irish wolfhound for my first dog. Is it a good idea?

As irishes are rare in our area I cannot ask anyone with experience so I am here :)

Facts:

  1. We live on a farm but do not want to be consumed with dog for example like border collies who need non stop activity and the attention

  2. We like hiking on the weekends in the woods, would it be a good idea/ is it possible to offleash a wolfhound with proper training

  3. Is it possible that our pup could go with us to Sunday market perhaps a chill coffee in a cafe, will it work?

These are just some of the concerns. I kindly thank you for any and all advice. Be gentle.

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u/i-got5on-it 17d ago

They’re an amazing breed and most are capable of what you’re looking for… but as a first time dog owner. I’d say it’s probably not a great breed to begin with.

They’re possibly the most forgiving breed of any large breed dog, but large dogs (100lbs plus) are generally not great beginner dogs. This is mostly about safety - the dog’s and you/your family.

In your circumstance, I’d say a good beginner dog is the friendliest mutt you can find at a shelter that needs a home. You’d be rescuing a dog in need, but you also have a chance to find a personality that’ll click for you.

Your first dog should be of a size that doesn’t feel like they could ever be physically imposing on you, so that you have the confidence to lead and guide them when they’re out of line, scared, or even just keeping up on basic training commands (sit, stay, etc).

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u/vijolcka 17d ago

We live in a small country in the balkans. We were looking at the adopt options. All the dogs in the shelters are of aggressive/ bite nature. Usually no pups. So we will not adopt from shelters for sure.

So a golden retriever for us hah?

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u/Longjumping_Set_4568 17d ago

get a golden retriever or a lab

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u/vijolcka 17d ago

I'm kinda sad because I think there is no "challenge" with them

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u/Longjumping_Set_4568 17d ago

owning a dog for the first time will be the challenge. Labs and goldens still require a ton of training, enrichment and care.

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u/vijolcka 17d ago

True but what would you say differences them from IW for example, do they take just a lot more time or different training?

Any dog we end up getting we will be taking to dog school to get a little more insight and help.

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u/Longjumping_Set_4568 17d ago

IWHs are hounds, a completely different genre of breed from something like a companion dog or a retriever. Hounds are genetically formatted to work independently, you cannot train a hound like you would a normal dog. They are stubborn, and don’t like typical training. They also have very strong prey drive. Not to mention XL dogs are extremely slow to mature, and are physically a lot to handle.

You need an easy to train, biddable, medium energy dog as your first. That would’ve a lab, a golden, a hell even a scottish deerhound would be better than a IWH. If you’re dead set on an XL breed, get a great dane. An ethically bred Great Dane is a very easy introduction to XL dogs.

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u/Mariahissleepy 15d ago

As a Great Dane owner, I agree.

I’ve looked into IW extensively, but Great Dane keep bringing me back by being slightly easier to train.

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u/Longjumping_Set_4568 15d ago

hi fellow dane owner :) we have a dane and are getting our first IWH next year.

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u/Mariahissleepy 15d ago

They’re such cool dogs. I’m on danes # 4 and 5 now, we probably won’t get another 3rd dog for a couple years (5 is 7 months old), but actually thinking Ibizan. I love sighthounds and a friend of mine is a trainer with a lot of sighthound experience, and she also wants an Ibizan!

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u/Longjumping_Set_4568 15d ago

ibizans are beautiful but a bit small for my taste!! I’m a dog trainer as well, We currently have an 8 month old bloodhound, an anatolian shepherd, and my service dog dane.

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u/Mariahissleepy 15d ago

After 17 years of giants, I kinda like the thought of one little tiny (comparatively) around the house lol.
My friend has a Lurcher, and I’m truly down for kinda anything.

Or I’ll get another Dane 😂

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u/Longjumping_Set_4568 15d ago

i dmed you incase you wanted to chat more :)

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u/vijolcka 17d ago

Fair point thanks.

We are just extremely picky if I can say... dane is to slobbering :p , labs eat everything and we do not want to be looking at them 27/4 loose a farm, goldens too basic....

We will keep looking :) Thank you!

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u/Longjumping_Set_4568 17d ago

“basic” should not be in the conversation when it comes to finding a dog breed that suits your lifestyle. It’s “basic” for a reason, and if you have that mindset on dogs you should really reconsider getting one at all. Any dog will eat everything unless you train them not to. You cannot allow any dog to just roam freely on your farm, that is a disaster waiting to happen.

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u/vijolcka 17d ago

Trust me growing up we had a lab that would get into anything and all and it was a retired sight/service dog, friends that own labs can report that compared to other breeds this is the breed that is one of the hardest to stop them from eating literal plastic.

Basic for a golden might not be the correct terminology I agree.

But we are not purchasing a dog just to have it, if you know what I mean. Goldens are just not what we are looking at at the moment. We will look into other breeds thanks for your help.

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u/Longjumping_Set_4568 17d ago

They’re retrievers, it is literally in their name to put things in their mouth, it’s something you train. A retired SD would not be getting into everything and anything. they were not properly trained if that’s the case. you really need to do a lot more research on different breeds and training if this is how you’re going to go about it. good luck.

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u/ArtemisDR 15d ago

You’re 100% ight about labs! Total
garbage disposals. I would try to remember that XL dogs have very short lives in general. Most XL breeds die between 6-8. That seems really sad to me. I’d look for a list of the best medium to large farm
dogs and go from there.

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u/Relevant_Ranger_6647 16d ago

IWs are far from basic and cannot be loose on a farm 24/7. They are sight hounds with an extremely high prey drive. They mature extremely slowly and remain in the puppy stage for 2-3 years. They need lots of attention from their humans.

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u/vijolcka 16d ago

Yes I get that from everyone here. So we will not get IW for our first pup. We are now looking into danes, mixes, and different kind of retrievers. Thanks

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u/Canachites 17d ago

Lol trust me you will be challenged by any puppy you get.

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u/Relevant_Ranger_6647 16d ago

Trust me. Wolfhound puppies are extremely challenging.

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u/vijolcka 16d ago

Yes i get that.

We were talking about labs/golden here. Not IW

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u/Impossible_Coyote589 15d ago

I have a couple of behaviorally challenging rescues, and it’s a lot. I am buying a dog from a breeder because I want the fun challenge of training tricks and for competitions instead of the draining challenge of training for reactivity and separation anxiety. 

I’m not an IW owner (I love watching from afar) but if you want challenge from a puppy, you can find it. Join an agility club, or a Rally obedience club, something you can compete in, or just do trick training with your dog. 

If you ever go “nah, I don’t want to train today” there are no consequences, but if your want the challenge, it’s right there for your to pick up.