Norhunter Irish Wolfhounds
New Puppy Info and Health Guarantee sent to each new family to review and sign prior to receiving puppy. Health testing is done on our breeding dogs - health certifications can be provided upon request.
OVERVIEW
The most important thing for you to remember is that Norhunter is here to assist you with any issue concerning your puppy not only in the initial puppy stages but also into adulthood.
Our goal at Norhunter is to maintain our commitment to make this breed more accessible to regular families. Our focus here is not based solely on huge size or in producing show dogs. Although we have produced many very large beautiful pups and although we have several dogs who are doing very well in the show ring, our priority in breeding is to produce Irish Wolfhounds with excellent health and temperament for families to experience the joy of this amazing breed in their home. If you are interested in a show quality puppy we need to know that ahead of time and will need to choose your puppy using a different criteria than that of family pets.
The following information may be useful in helping your new puppy adjust to your home. Feel free to call me at any time at 705-849-5476 if you have any questions or concerns and I would be happy to assist you. If you would just like to call and chat about your pup, I encourage you to stay in touch with photos and updates. If at any time you find yourself unable to keep or care for your Norhunter Irish Wolfhound, for whatever reason, and at any age, your puppy will always be welcome to come back to us.
1. YOUR FIRST DAY HOME
The first day home can be stressful for a new puppy. They are away from their siblings, our family, and from their familiar environment. Expect that your pup may be fearful and that it will take some time before he/she feels comfortable. Be patient and keep things as calm as possible until they settle in. Try to limit visitors, noise and excitement for the first few days.
I have sent some of the puppy’s food so that you can feed his/her familiar food for the first few days and slowly integrate the food you will be feeding.
Hopefully you have made all arrangements necessary for the puppy’s sleeping/play/feeding area so that it is as stress free as possible in the first few days. I strongly encourage you to crate train your puppy or to use an exercise pen to confine your puppy both for housetraining and to keep them safe from harm until they are fully mature.
Your puppy vet folder will show that your puppy has been dewormed, vet checked and has received his first vaccines (unless request was made by owner not to vaccinate puppy in which case the waiver for that has been signed).
Please make arrangements for your puppy to be seen by your veterinarian within 72 hours of being home to ensure yourself that you have received a healthy puppy, and to make arrangements for the additional vaccinations and deworming that your puppy will require over the next two months.
2. PET INSURANCE
Your puppy comes to you with a complimentary 6 week pet insurance package from Pets+Us offered to breeders through the CKC. After the 6 weeks, it is up to each owner to arrange for their own pet insurance.
I STRONGLY ADVISE YOU TO INVEST IN PET INSURANCE!!! It can save a great deal of stress and financial hardship should an illness or injury occur. Large breeds are more prone to injury and with any injury or illness, the larger the dog the more costly it will be. You are in no way obligated to continue pet insurance through this particular company although our clients have reported excellent service provided by them. You may choose to go with another insurance provider for your pet insurance.
3. FEEDING
Each puppy is an individual and will grow at a different rate. The most important thing I can say is that it is NOT a contest to see whose dog grows the biggest and the fastest. Some pups in a litter will be bigger and some will be smaller. It is a dangerous game to keep comparing dogs as no two are exactly alike. Slow and steady is far more beneficial to the future health of your large breed puppy.
For some owners there is a certain amount of ego attached to having a giant breed but I personally place no importance on numbers. I rarely weigh or measure any of my dogs and when I do it is simply for deworming or medication, not to compare to other animals. I have very active hounds who stay on the leaner side. I believe that excess weight on a hound has a negative effect on health and longevity.
Keep in mind that most of your puppy’s growing will be done in the first year. It takes an enormous amount of calories to fuel that intense growth. At the end of the first year, most of your puppy’s height and length will be achieved, however, these dogs continue to gain strength and grow muscle and to broaden in the chest, neck, hips and legs for up to 3 yrs before they are finished. Your lanky one year old will look different in another year of maturity.
I personally free feed all dogs at Norhunter which I feel contributes to healthy digestion, healthy weight and avoiding bloat. Although googling average weights or growth charts of Irish Wolfhounds can be informative, each dog is an individual. The bones are still forming and too much weight gain in the early stages can be stressful. Feeding regular frequent meals as a puppy does certainly make housetraining easier and the following is a guideline to feeding in this manner. I do encourage free feeding once they are over 6 months and successfully house trained.
Up to 3 months feed 4x per day
Up to 6 months feed 3x per day spaced 5-6 hours apart
After 6 months feed 2x per day
Allow the puppy 30 minutes to eat as much as they want to and then remove the food. If the pup is not finishing it all, you can remove ½ cup to a cup. If the pup finishes it all, add ½ cup to 1 cup accordingly
DO NOT SUPPLEMENT YOUR PUPPY WITH ADDED CALCIUM
You may wish to add yogurt or a product called Forti-Flora to your pup’s diet. They add beneficial bacteria to the gut and help the pup to absorb nutrients more efficiently and may help to avoid loose stools.
I recommend using a puppy food for the first 6 months of the initial growing stage, then either switching to an adult food or a food made for large breed puppies with a lower protein.
PROTEIN level of the food you choose should be around 22% which may be hard to find. More expensive food is not necessarily better food. I find most wolfhounds do better on a middle of the road food rather than a really high end food. Too much protein and too much calorie. High protein can contribute to kidney issues.
If your pup is a picky eater and is too thin you may have to enhance the food with some added quality canned food or by adding in some meat, rice, eggs, etc from your kitchen. Some dogs if left free fed just do not eat enough to maintain healthy body weight and need encouragement to eat more of their quality dry food by adding to it.
RAW FEEDING : I personally do not feed a raw diet but I have several families who do and have had great success with it. CAUTION THIS IS NOT SOMETHING TO TAKE ON LIGHTLY! A great deal of research and knowledge is needed to successfully implement a raw diet and failing to adhere to strict guidelines and standards can cause harm to your dog. Please speak with your vet or with professionals who have adequate knowledge in this area before even thinking to start feeding raw.
BLOAT : We have been extremely lucky over the years and have never lost a dog of ours to bloat nor have we had any customer report a case of bloat. You can help to avoid bloat by not allowing your dog any strenuous exercise before or after a meal. There is much debate on both sides regarding raised feeding bowls. Some feel that it helps to avoid bloat, some feel that it helps contribute to bloat. Personally I free feed and use large buckets so the food is slightly raised. I encourage you to research this issue more on your own and make the decision you are most comfortable with.
*An article on gastric torsion has been included in your puppy package.
4. WORMING
Your puppy has been wormed several times as per the schedule written in your pet health record. A stool sample should be taken in to your vet within 72 hours of your pet being home. Subsequent stool samples should be taken in whenever your puppy goes for vaccines, checkups etc or if any symptoms present, in order to keep your puppy healthy and to stay on top of the various worm reproductive cycles.
The most common worm in puppies is roundworm, however other internal parasites such as hookworm, whipworm, tapeworm, as well as protozoa such as giardia, toxoplasma and coccidia can and may be present in any puppy at any given time. Although your puppy has been dewormed regularly and fecal samples checked by veterinarian, a puppy may still have a number of parasites present that may be dormant or are in different stages of their lifecycle. A puppy may be dewormed and fecal samples test clear, yet still have parasite in the body that were not shedding or active at the time, making them impossible to detect in either the puppy’s physical appearance or in the puppy’s stool samples.
This is why it is so important to continue with your puppy’s regular fecal tests and deworming schedule after they get home. Your veterinarian will recommend a different maintenance schedule once your puppy is mature.
*An article on worming has been included in your puppy package.
5. FLEAS, TICKS AND HEARTWORM
Each region has their own problems with fleas, ticks and heartworm. Be sure to check with your veterinarian to decide which precautions you should be taking in your area. Some years seem to be worse than others and sometimes cases will increase in certain regions so stay informed. We use Revolution on all of our dogs here.
6. ELBOW BURSAS
When dogs (especially puppies) repeatedly flop down on hard surfaces, they may develop swelling or pockets of fluid on the elbows. These sacks of fluid are cosmetic and generally do not affect the dog. It is the body’s natural way to protect itself from further injury by creating its own “cushion”. In most cases it is recommended to leave them alone and do not drain them. You can massage them to help them go down, but it may take months for them to decrease. A pup may even develop a bursa or “cushion” on its buttocks from sitting down too hard on tile floors or concrete. Same thing – different location. Providing thick soft cushions and beds to lay on will help avoid bursas.
7. OVER HEATING
Irish Wolfhounds do not tolerate heat well and much prefer cooler weather. They do not like to be too warm and exercising in warm weather should be avoided. Although other dogs seem to be managing fine on a walk on a warm day, your wolfhound will not. Be especially mindful of taking your dog camping, hiking, horseback riding or biking as they are exerting a great deal of energy and can easily overheat without you noticing. Your pup may not show obvious signs of distress but can still suffer heat stroke or over heating quite easily.
If your dog is showing any signs of distress after being exposed to heat or to exercising in warm weather, cool the dog down immediately with cold compresses, fans, air conditioning, etc and transport the dog to veterinarian immediately. The situation can quickly become life threatening :
-Rapid Panting
-Bright red tongue
- Red or pale gums
-Thick sticky saliva
-Depression
-Weakness
-Dizziness
-Vomiting
-Shivering
8. EXERCISE
Exercise is highly debated in young growing Irish Wolfhound puppies. Some people say pups should have no contact with larger older dogs, not be allowed to run, not exercise more than a highly monitored few minutes at a time etc. and yet some advocate for free run. I myself am somewhere in the middle on this issue.
A young growing large breed such as the Irish Wolfhound can injure itself very easily. It can be as simple as a sprain, or as serious as a torn *ACL or **FCE. More information about illnesses and or injuries common to large breeds and or Irish Wolfhounds is included in your information package. Caution should be taken with your young puppy. Avoiding strenuous exercise and injuries now will ensure a healthy pain free dog in years to come.
Although hip dysplasia is not necessarily as common in Irish Wolfhounds as in many other large breeds, often an owner or even a veterinarian will misdiagnose hip dysplasia in a young puppy because they’re hips are so loose and they have a very “wonky” gait to them. This looseness and funny gait will almost always resolve itself by age 2 when the hips are more mature and fuse properly.
There should be no forced exercise such as running beside a bicycle, lure coursing, jogging, agility, jumping etc until it is at least 18 months old.
All puppies should learn to behave on the leash and be obedient and this is a good source of exercise for your puppy without over exerting itself which may lead to injury.
Let your puppy exercise at its own pace and they will generally play a while then rest on their own. The play area should be soft ground, safely fenced, and not so big as to allow for full out sprinting.
Puppies should always be supervised when playing with other dogs. If they are left with an older dog who is full of energy, the puppy will not know when to stop and for this reason exercise with other dogs should be limited to 15 minutes and no full out running until they are more mature. Also be aware that your puppy could easily suffer a serious injury if pawed, jumped on, or from tripping or having a tumble while running.
9. ILLNESSES AND OR INJURIES COMMOM TO IRISH WOLFHOUNDS
We give this information not to scare people, but to make you more aware of the diseases and injuries that can and do affect large breeds. Some information is based on large breeds in general and some on the Irish Wolfhound in particular. I encourage you to research the breed and to become more familiar with health issues which affect the breed.
There is a certain percentage of illness and disease that is to be expected in any breeding program. Any breeder that tells you they have had no illness or disease in their line is not being honest with you. We have been extremely fortunate to have had a very low % of any illnesses or disease to date compared to the % that typically affect the Irish Wolfhound population as a whole. We are very proud of our health record and would be happy to share that information with you.
ACL or Anterior Cruciate Ligament and a torn ACL is essentially twisted knee that tears the ligament. This injury is common in larger breeds and as such strenuous exercise and rough housing should be avoided until puppy is mature. Surgery is required to repair.
*I have included an information sheet on torn ACL in your puppy package.
FCE or Fibrocartilaginous Emboli. This afflicts different breeds of dogs at different life stages but has been shown to occur in Irish Wolfhounds more frequently between the ages of 6 and 16 weeks of age. Also known as Puppy Paralysis or Drag Leg Syndrome. 99% of vets agree that it is not genetic but is caused by a trauma or injury to the dog. Essentially fibro cartilagenous tissue from between the discs gets lodged in the bloodstream after a trauma and blocks blood flow and or causes a blockage, or infarction, in the spinal cord. If treated quickly with antibiotics, physiotherapy, acupuncture, chiropractic etc a puppy can recover most of their mobility.
*I have included an information sheet on FCE in your puppy package.
HIP DISPLASIA has been shown to be much more environmental than hereditary, meaning that what the owners do with the pup has more to do with hip dysplasia than the breeding does. Gaining too much weight too fast, over exercising, slippery surfaces, too many stairs etc.
* I have included an information sheet on hip dispasia in your puppy package.
DCM or Dilated Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle characterized by an enlarged heart and is reported to affect from one third of the Irish Wolfhound population with more males affected than females :
“The genetic predisposition of Irish wolfhounds for DCM is well established (Cobb et al 1996, Urfer et al 2007). Irish wolfhounds had a higher death rate from heart disease than any other breed of dog according to a survey of insured pedigree dogs performed in Sweden (Egenvall et al 2006). Although different types of heart disease were not discriminated in this study, it is likely that DCM was the main reason for these figures.
Vollmar (2000, et al 2004) found that 24% of Irish wolfhounds presenting to her practice had DCM on ultrasound examination (most also showed atrial fibrillation - abnormal electric activity of the heart - on ECG) and a further 10% were found, using ECG, to have AF but had a normal ultrasound appearance. Distl et al (2007) found an overall prevalence of DCM in Irish wolfhounds screened using ultrasound examination of 26%. They found that the prevalence in males (34%) was significantly higher than that in females (19%).”
VWD or Von Willebrand’s Disease is a bleeding disorder which affects the clotting of the blood. Certain breeds are more prone to it and although Irish Wolfhounds are not on the list of top 10 breeds to be affected by VWD you may still want to do pre-testing blood work for this prior to any surgery to ensure adequate blood clotting.
We had one case of suspected VWD which thankfully turned out to be 100% lab error and a huge false alarm but better to be safe than sorry and do the lab work to test for this prior to surgeries.
* I have included an article on VWD in your puppy package.
LIVER SHUNT : This is a condition which is discussed frequently in the Irish Wolfhound community. Some breeders test puppies for liver shunt and some do not. The actual percentage of Irish Wolfhound puppies affected by liver shunt is actually fairly low in contrast to other diseases which affect this breed.
Documentation shows the affected population at anywhere from 3.7% to as low as under 1% as can be seen in the additional documents provided in your puppy package. North American figures are not readily available and estimates are made using data collected from other countries.
After our consultation with 4 separate veterinarians and considering the low percentage of the Irish Wolfhound population affected by this disease, and taking into consideration that this is a hereditary disease which our kennel has never had a documented case of, we choose not to automatically test for this however we will certainly liver shunt test at your request.
*I have included an article on liver shunt in your puppy package.
Due to low % of liver shunt rates we do not automatically test each puppy for liver shunt using the bile acid test. If you would like your puppy tested for liver shunt, you can request to have that additional testing done at the time of your puppy’s health exam at an additional cost of $150.00.
Please check box yes or no for liver shunt test at end of info package before returning to us.
10. DISCIPLINE/BEHAVIOUR ISSUES
Although your Irish Wolfhound puppy will literally grow while he/she sleeps, it is important to remember that although they may be large in size at an early age, they are still a PUPPY for a long time. Try not to expect more than they can give you based on their size as mental maturity is vastly different from physical size.
The Irish Wolfhound needs a good deal of socialization. Although they are a large dog, they often lack confidence and appear fearful especially of new surroundings or new people. They are attached to their own family but often quite aloof or stand offish and/or nervous with strangers. This is typical of the breed. Once your puppy is vaccinated I suggest you take him/her out with you often.
A fearful puppy should not be forced to interact or to be social, but should not be coddled either. Petting, consoling, and reassuring often reinforces the unwanted fearful behavior. New people should avoid eye contact and avoid hovering over the dog, leaning into the dog, or reaching over the dog’s head. It’s best to move away or gently push puppy off of you if he/she is hiding or clinging. The more efficient and matter of fact you are, the better they will be. It often helps to hand the leash to someone else as well so that the pup sees that they are ok if you move away.
An undisciplined large breed dog is not a joy to be around! Whatever behaviors you want to see from your full grown adult wolfhound should be the behaviors you allow when it is a puppy ie : you don’t want a full grown wolfhound jumping on people so DO NOT allow it as a puppy. You don’t want a full grown wolfhound to growl at other family members or pets around their food/toys etc so DO NOT allow it as a puppy. If you don’t want your full grown wolfhound on your couch, then DO NOT allow the puppy on your couch.
I strongly recommend taking your puppy to at least one set of obedience classes. This will help you to socialize your puppy as well as to ensure that you are teaching your puppy basic obedience.
I have found in my experience that as this in not at all an aggressive breed, most incidences of aggressive behavior are caused by the owners. That is not an insult to owners but a fact. Often when the owner speaks to myself or to an experienced dog trainer a light bulb comes on where they realize where they were giving the dog the wrong cues or rewarding unwanted behavior without even realizing it. Please deal with issues that arise sooner rather than later.
**If at any time you find yourself having behavioral issues with your wolfhound please feel free to call me to discuss it.
*I have included an information sheet about resource guarding in your puppy package.
11. GROOMING
Regular house pets require different grooming than show dogs. You may choose to strip the coat or leave it natural. I leave my dogs in their natural coat and rarely strip them.
If stripping the coat you can take your dog to a professional groomer, learn how to hand strip the coat yourself, or cheat and use the Furminator which gives a similar effect in a fraction of the time.
Typical Irish Wolfhounds do not require a great deal of grooming but at least once per week they should be brushed out and a check done to ensure all is well with regards to nails, ears, teeth, etc.
I use a pin brush on mine, but not a slicker brush as it is too firm and scratches the dog. I also use a dematiing comb to cut away any tangles or mats that the dog may have. It cuts them as it combs through and does not pull too hard. Occasionally you may need to do a sanitary trim/shave to keep private parts clean as well as shaving the anal area to avoid any feces sticking. I periodically shave the bum area and the underside of the tail to keep it cleaner.
Start handling the pup’s feet early on to avoid nail cutting issues later on. I never fight with a dog about nails, I simply do it, quickly and efficiently. The less fuss the better. Some people prefer to do this when the pup is lying down. As the dog gets bigger I prefer to do it while the dog is standing. Gently hold the food without restraining – the more pressure you put to hold the paw, the more pressure they put to pull it away. I use the large plier type clippers as the guillotine type are not sturdy enough for adult nails.
I have a dedicated place in my home to groom my dogs with a metal ring mounted to the wall. I simply tie the lead to the ring and do any grooming I need to do so that |I have both hands free to work with. I also have one mounted in my bath to tie the dogs for bathing. They are inexpensive and will save you much trouble down the road.
*I have included a handout with photos of the standard equipment used for grooming Irish Wolfhounds at home.
12. ANAESTHETICS AND MEDICATIONS
PLEASE CAUTION YOUR VET ABOUT THE USE OF BARBITURATES IN SURGERY. Sighthounds and Irish Wolfhounds particularly do not handle anaesthetic well and often have a hard time coming out of it, sometimes actually dying. Guelph Veterinary College offers some good information about sighthounds and anaesthetic precautions.
I myself have seen a dog of mine that I cautioned a vet not to use sedative for removing porcupine quills as she was calm and quiet, yet it was used anyway and she crashed soon after it was given. Use local anaesthetic whenever you can and if needed for surgery be sure your vet is aware of the sensitivity of this breed.
Medications should not be administered at home without medical advice and your veterinarian should be aware that typically dosage is not the same but is lower than other breeds of the same weight as Irish Wolfhounds are typically more bone mass rather than tissue mass and overdose can easily occur in this breed.
13. VACCINATIONS
All puppies recieve their first set of core puppy vaccines at their 8 week vet check up. We understand that vaccination is a very personal decision for each family to make and we respect your right to choose. We encourage you to do some research and to discuss the issue with your veterinarian. Some families may wish not to vaccinate or wish to alter the vaccination schedule. If for any reason you decide that you DO NOT want your puppy vaccinated at the 8 week check up please advise us by checking off the yes/no section for vaccination prior to returning your signed information package.
14. NON-BREEDING AGREEMENT
All dogs are sold under a strict non-breeding agreement. You agree when purchasing your puppy that it will not be used for breeding unless otherwise agreed upon by all parties in writing prior to purchase. The non-breeding notice appearing at the end of this information package must be checked off to verify aggrement to the non-breeding conditions prior to purchasing your puppy.
15. HEALTH GUARANTEE
We hope that you will enjoy your puppy for years to come. The health of your puppy is very important to us. We expect that in order to maintain your right to the health guarantee that you will follow the advice of your breeder and your veterinarian with regards to feeding, exercise, vaccinations, veterianary exams/treatment and general care.
A mandatory vet check is required within 72 hours of receiving your puppy in order for your health guarantee to be activated and to ensure that both you and your veterinarian are satisfied that you have received a healthy puppy. A fecal test is required at this mandatory vet check up as well. Failing to attain a documented health check of your puppy within 72 hours may void your guarantee.
Norhunter takes great pride in producing healthy happy puppies, but as with all living creatures there is no crystal ball and some illnesses can and do occur in all breeds. It is unfortunate that the giant breeds are particularly susceptible to some health concerns, many of which we have outlined and provided documentation on so that you will be more informed about specific conditions that affect this breed.
We have outlined some health issues which typically affect Irish Wolfhounds and can provide you with information on breed averages for those health issues. We can also provide you with information on any documented health issues we have seen to date which will demonstrate that our percentage rate of occurrence of any illness is far below that of the Irish Wolfhound national breed averages.
Unless we have had a documented reoccurring issue in the lines that we are aware of and/or unless owners provide us with documented veterinary records of any illness that may have occurred, we have no way of updating our statistics or of foreseeing that an issue may occur in the future. We are always here for you if your pup is experiencing any health issues but it is imperative that owners also work co-opertively with us to provide us with documentation of any illness in order for us to ensure we are maintaining a healthy breeding program.
We offer a one year health guarantee on any congenital (inborn/genetic/hereditary) disorder or disease.
1) In the case of a puppy who has passed away or needs to be euthanized, a replacement puppy will be provided as long as there has been a necropsy conducted, at the owner’s expense, and or documented veterinary diagnosis to show identified congenital defect. A puppy will not be replaced if the cause of death or cause of injury was due to an injury sustained while in the owner's care or to any illness the puppy contracted or injury which has occured which was not a pre-existing or genetic defect in the health of the puppy, or if the cause can not be clearly identified as such. In the case of a puppy replacement where the replacement puppy would need to be flown to the owner, transportation costs would be paid by the owner, however, an alternative decision may be made at our discretion, to financially compensate the owner for the original purchase price of the original puppy less transportation costs.
As long as it is being well cared for and is part of your family we may choose at our discretion, to contribute in a co-operative fashion 50% of all necessary veterinary treatments to correct or treat any congenital defect of the puppy up to the original purchase price paid. Your veterinarian will be required to consult with our veterinarians to discuss the best course of treatment as necessary. If circumstances warrant a replacement puppy, we will replace the puppy with a comparable animal less any previous restitution that had already been paid (ie contribution to vet bills) or reimbursement of balance of purchase price.
This guarantee excludes any illness that is not identified as a genetic defect. It also does not include any further deworming and or vaccinations following the mandatory 72 hour vet check. The guarantee excludes any injury, illness or loss of the dog caused by the owner's negligence or by accident, gastric torsion, over feeding/ improper feeding, over exertion/over exercise, falls, car accidents, ingestion of foreign or poisonous items, etc... and will guarantee only those issues that are a genetic fault pre-existing at birth which become apparent up to one year of age.
Your puppy has been vet checked, regularly dewormed, microchipped, vaccinated unless stated otherwise, and has 6 weeks of complimentary pet insurance coverage. We recommend that pet insurance through the company initially provided or through any other pet insurance company of your choosing be continued due the expenses which may be incurred in treating a large breed such as this for accident, illness or injury.
If at any time your circumstances change in any way that finds you unable to keep your Norhunter Irish Wolfhound, it is MANDATORY THAT YOU CONTACT US FIRST! We will always welcome your wolfhound back into our family regardless of health or age and or assist you in arranging a suitable home in your area. Again, it is MANDATORY that you give us a courtesy call to discuss options BEFORE your dog is re-homed so that we may be of assistance to you. Often we can put you in touch with one of our existing owners in your area who may be looking to add another Norhunter dog to their family.
If your Norhunter wolfhound is surrendered or re-homed to the breeder or to a family chosen by the breeder, a transfer of ownership must be made to ensure the ownership papers of the dog are transferred into the name of the new owner or the breeder by the original owner through the Canadian Kennel Club.
Although spay/neuter of your dog is a personal choice that we leave for you to make in co-operation with your veterinarian, we advise to allow males to mature to at least 18 months of age prior to neuter and females to at least 12 months of age prior to spay.
You have been made aware and confirmed below that all Norhunter Irish Wolfhounds are sold with a strict non-breeding agreement. No Norhunter Irish Wolfhound shall be bred without first receiving written permission from Julie Beamish.
You are signing below to acknowledge that you have read and understand all information provided here with regards to the purchase of your Norhunter Irish Wolfhound puppy and your signature accept and agree all conditions herein.
The following are signed approval and authority to proceed and confirm that I approve the information provided to me as described above, and to confirm that I have read and understand all of the information provided with regards to the purchase of my Norhunter Irish Wolfhound.
I understand/agree I am purchasing my puppy with a non-breeding agreement Yes No
I wish to have my puppy vaccinated at his/her 8 week old vet check up Yes No
I wish to have my puppy liver shunt tested at additional cost of $150.00 Yes No
I acknowledge that Irish Wolfhounds as a breed are predisposed to experience certain maladies and with that in mind and with the rising costs of veterinary care, I have been strongly advised by my breeder to procure adequate pet insurance from the pet insurance carrier of my choice, in addition to whatever coverage may be provided by my breeder.
As recommended we will purchase pet insurance beyond the six week trial provided Yes No
Name :
Date :
Signature :
New Puppy Info and Health Guarantee sent to each new family to review and sign prior to receiving puppy. Health testing is done on our breeding dogs - health certifications can be provided upon request.
OVERVIEW
The most important thing for you to remember is that Norhunter is here to assist you with any issue concerning your puppy not only in the initial puppy stages but also into adulthood.
Our goal at Norhunter is to maintain our commitment to make this breed more accessible to regular families. Our focus here is not based solely on huge size or in producing show dogs. Although we have produced many very large beautiful pups and although we have several dogs who are doing very well in the show ring, our priority in breeding is to produce Irish Wolfhounds with excellent health and temperament for families to experience the joy of this amazing breed in their home. If you are interested in a show quality puppy we need to know that ahead of time and will need to choose your puppy using a different criteria than that of family pets.
The following information may be useful in helping your new puppy adjust to your home. Feel free to call me at any time at 705-849-5476 if you have any questions or concerns and I would be happy to assist you. If you would just like to call and chat about your pup, I encourage you to stay in touch with photos and updates. If at any time you find yourself unable to keep or care for your Norhunter Irish Wolfhound, for whatever reason, and at any age, your puppy will always be welcome to come back to us.
1. YOUR FIRST DAY HOME
The first day home can be stressful for a new puppy. They are away from their siblings, our family, and from their familiar environment. Expect that your pup may be fearful and that it will take some time before he/she feels comfortable. Be patient and keep things as calm as possible until they settle in. Try to limit visitors, noise and excitement for the first few days.
I have sent some of the puppy’s food so that you can feed his/her familiar food for the first few days and slowly integrate the food you will be feeding.
Hopefully you have made all arrangements necessary for the puppy’s sleeping/play/feeding area so that it is as stress free as possible in the first few days. I strongly encourage you to crate train your puppy or to use an exercise pen to confine your puppy both for housetraining and to keep them safe from harm until they are fully mature.
Your puppy vet folder will show that your puppy has been dewormed, vet checked and has received his first vaccines (unless request was made by owner not to vaccinate puppy in which case the waiver for that has been signed).
Please make arrangements for your puppy to be seen by your veterinarian within 72 hours of being home to ensure yourself that you have received a healthy puppy, and to make arrangements for the additional vaccinations and deworming that your puppy will require over the next two months.
2. PET INSURANCE
Your puppy comes to you with a complimentary 6 week pet insurance package from Pets+Us offered to breeders through the CKC. After the 6 weeks, it is up to each owner to arrange for their own pet insurance.
I STRONGLY ADVISE YOU TO INVEST IN PET INSURANCE!!! It can save a great deal of stress and financial hardship should an illness or injury occur. Large breeds are more prone to injury and with any injury or illness, the larger the dog the more costly it will be. You are in no way obligated to continue pet insurance through this particular company although our clients have reported excellent service provided by them. You may choose to go with another insurance provider for your pet insurance.
3. FEEDING
Each puppy is an individual and will grow at a different rate. The most important thing I can say is that it is NOT a contest to see whose dog grows the biggest and the fastest. Some pups in a litter will be bigger and some will be smaller. It is a dangerous game to keep comparing dogs as no two are exactly alike. Slow and steady is far more beneficial to the future health of your large breed puppy.
For some owners there is a certain amount of ego attached to having a giant breed but I personally place no importance on numbers. I rarely weigh or measure any of my dogs and when I do it is simply for deworming or medication, not to compare to other animals. I have very active hounds who stay on the leaner side. I believe that excess weight on a hound has a negative effect on health and longevity.
Keep in mind that most of your puppy’s growing will be done in the first year. It takes an enormous amount of calories to fuel that intense growth. At the end of the first year, most of your puppy’s height and length will be achieved, however, these dogs continue to gain strength and grow muscle and to broaden in the chest, neck, hips and legs for up to 3 yrs before they are finished. Your lanky one year old will look different in another year of maturity.
I personally free feed all dogs at Norhunter which I feel contributes to healthy digestion, healthy weight and avoiding bloat. Although googling average weights or growth charts of Irish Wolfhounds can be informative, each dog is an individual. The bones are still forming and too much weight gain in the early stages can be stressful. Feeding regular frequent meals as a puppy does certainly make housetraining easier and the following is a guideline to feeding in this manner. I do encourage free feeding once they are over 6 months and successfully house trained.
Up to 3 months feed 4x per day
Up to 6 months feed 3x per day spaced 5-6 hours apart
After 6 months feed 2x per day
Allow the puppy 30 minutes to eat as much as they want to and then remove the food. If the pup is not finishing it all, you can remove ½ cup to a cup. If the pup finishes it all, add ½ cup to 1 cup accordingly
DO NOT SUPPLEMENT YOUR PUPPY WITH ADDED CALCIUM
You may wish to add yogurt or a product called Forti-Flora to your pup’s diet. They add beneficial bacteria to the gut and help the pup to absorb nutrients more efficiently and may help to avoid loose stools.
I recommend using a puppy food for the first 6 months of the initial growing stage, then either switching to an adult food or a food made for large breed puppies with a lower protein.
PROTEIN level of the food you choose should be around 22% which may be hard to find. More expensive food is not necessarily better food. I find most wolfhounds do better on a middle of the road food rather than a really high end food. Too much protein and too much calorie. High protein can contribute to kidney issues.
If your pup is a picky eater and is too thin you may have to enhance the food with some added quality canned food or by adding in some meat, rice, eggs, etc from your kitchen. Some dogs if left free fed just do not eat enough to maintain healthy body weight and need encouragement to eat more of their quality dry food by adding to it.
RAW FEEDING : I personally do not feed a raw diet but I have several families who do and have had great success with it. CAUTION THIS IS NOT SOMETHING TO TAKE ON LIGHTLY! A great deal of research and knowledge is needed to successfully implement a raw diet and failing to adhere to strict guidelines and standards can cause harm to your dog. Please speak with your vet or with professionals who have adequate knowledge in this area before even thinking to start feeding raw.
BLOAT : We have been extremely lucky over the years and have never lost a dog of ours to bloat nor have we had any customer report a case of bloat. You can help to avoid bloat by not allowing your dog any strenuous exercise before or after a meal. There is much debate on both sides regarding raised feeding bowls. Some feel that it helps to avoid bloat, some feel that it helps contribute to bloat. Personally I free feed and use large buckets so the food is slightly raised. I encourage you to research this issue more on your own and make the decision you are most comfortable with.
*An article on gastric torsion has been included in your puppy package.
4. WORMING
Your puppy has been wormed several times as per the schedule written in your pet health record. A stool sample should be taken in to your vet within 72 hours of your pet being home. Subsequent stool samples should be taken in whenever your puppy goes for vaccines, checkups etc or if any symptoms present, in order to keep your puppy healthy and to stay on top of the various worm reproductive cycles.
The most common worm in puppies is roundworm, however other internal parasites such as hookworm, whipworm, tapeworm, as well as protozoa such as giardia, toxoplasma and coccidia can and may be present in any puppy at any given time. Although your puppy has been dewormed regularly and fecal samples checked by veterinarian, a puppy may still have a number of parasites present that may be dormant or are in different stages of their lifecycle. A puppy may be dewormed and fecal samples test clear, yet still have parasite in the body that were not shedding or active at the time, making them impossible to detect in either the puppy’s physical appearance or in the puppy’s stool samples.
This is why it is so important to continue with your puppy’s regular fecal tests and deworming schedule after they get home. Your veterinarian will recommend a different maintenance schedule once your puppy is mature.
*An article on worming has been included in your puppy package.
5. FLEAS, TICKS AND HEARTWORM
Each region has their own problems with fleas, ticks and heartworm. Be sure to check with your veterinarian to decide which precautions you should be taking in your area. Some years seem to be worse than others and sometimes cases will increase in certain regions so stay informed. We use Revolution on all of our dogs here.
6. ELBOW BURSAS
When dogs (especially puppies) repeatedly flop down on hard surfaces, they may develop swelling or pockets of fluid on the elbows. These sacks of fluid are cosmetic and generally do not affect the dog. It is the body’s natural way to protect itself from further injury by creating its own “cushion”. In most cases it is recommended to leave them alone and do not drain them. You can massage them to help them go down, but it may take months for them to decrease. A pup may even develop a bursa or “cushion” on its buttocks from sitting down too hard on tile floors or concrete. Same thing – different location. Providing thick soft cushions and beds to lay on will help avoid bursas.
7. OVER HEATING
Irish Wolfhounds do not tolerate heat well and much prefer cooler weather. They do not like to be too warm and exercising in warm weather should be avoided. Although other dogs seem to be managing fine on a walk on a warm day, your wolfhound will not. Be especially mindful of taking your dog camping, hiking, horseback riding or biking as they are exerting a great deal of energy and can easily overheat without you noticing. Your pup may not show obvious signs of distress but can still suffer heat stroke or over heating quite easily.
If your dog is showing any signs of distress after being exposed to heat or to exercising in warm weather, cool the dog down immediately with cold compresses, fans, air conditioning, etc and transport the dog to veterinarian immediately. The situation can quickly become life threatening :
-Rapid Panting
-Bright red tongue
- Red or pale gums
-Thick sticky saliva
-Depression
-Weakness
-Dizziness
-Vomiting
-Shivering
8. EXERCISE
Exercise is highly debated in young growing Irish Wolfhound puppies. Some people say pups should have no contact with larger older dogs, not be allowed to run, not exercise more than a highly monitored few minutes at a time etc. and yet some advocate for free run. I myself am somewhere in the middle on this issue.
A young growing large breed such as the Irish Wolfhound can injure itself very easily. It can be as simple as a sprain, or as serious as a torn *ACL or **FCE. More information about illnesses and or injuries common to large breeds and or Irish Wolfhounds is included in your information package. Caution should be taken with your young puppy. Avoiding strenuous exercise and injuries now will ensure a healthy pain free dog in years to come.
Although hip dysplasia is not necessarily as common in Irish Wolfhounds as in many other large breeds, often an owner or even a veterinarian will misdiagnose hip dysplasia in a young puppy because they’re hips are so loose and they have a very “wonky” gait to them. This looseness and funny gait will almost always resolve itself by age 2 when the hips are more mature and fuse properly.
There should be no forced exercise such as running beside a bicycle, lure coursing, jogging, agility, jumping etc until it is at least 18 months old.
All puppies should learn to behave on the leash and be obedient and this is a good source of exercise for your puppy without over exerting itself which may lead to injury.
Let your puppy exercise at its own pace and they will generally play a while then rest on their own. The play area should be soft ground, safely fenced, and not so big as to allow for full out sprinting.
Puppies should always be supervised when playing with other dogs. If they are left with an older dog who is full of energy, the puppy will not know when to stop and for this reason exercise with other dogs should be limited to 15 minutes and no full out running until they are more mature. Also be aware that your puppy could easily suffer a serious injury if pawed, jumped on, or from tripping or having a tumble while running.
9. ILLNESSES AND OR INJURIES COMMOM TO IRISH WOLFHOUNDS
We give this information not to scare people, but to make you more aware of the diseases and injuries that can and do affect large breeds. Some information is based on large breeds in general and some on the Irish Wolfhound in particular. I encourage you to research the breed and to become more familiar with health issues which affect the breed.
There is a certain percentage of illness and disease that is to be expected in any breeding program. Any breeder that tells you they have had no illness or disease in their line is not being honest with you. We have been extremely fortunate to have had a very low % of any illnesses or disease to date compared to the % that typically affect the Irish Wolfhound population as a whole. We are very proud of our health record and would be happy to share that information with you.
ACL or Anterior Cruciate Ligament and a torn ACL is essentially twisted knee that tears the ligament. This injury is common in larger breeds and as such strenuous exercise and rough housing should be avoided until puppy is mature. Surgery is required to repair.
*I have included an information sheet on torn ACL in your puppy package.
FCE or Fibrocartilaginous Emboli. This afflicts different breeds of dogs at different life stages but has been shown to occur in Irish Wolfhounds more frequently between the ages of 6 and 16 weeks of age. Also known as Puppy Paralysis or Drag Leg Syndrome. 99% of vets agree that it is not genetic but is caused by a trauma or injury to the dog. Essentially fibro cartilagenous tissue from between the discs gets lodged in the bloodstream after a trauma and blocks blood flow and or causes a blockage, or infarction, in the spinal cord. If treated quickly with antibiotics, physiotherapy, acupuncture, chiropractic etc a puppy can recover most of their mobility.
*I have included an information sheet on FCE in your puppy package.
HIP DISPLASIA has been shown to be much more environmental than hereditary, meaning that what the owners do with the pup has more to do with hip dysplasia than the breeding does. Gaining too much weight too fast, over exercising, slippery surfaces, too many stairs etc.
* I have included an information sheet on hip dispasia in your puppy package.
DCM or Dilated Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle characterized by an enlarged heart and is reported to affect from one third of the Irish Wolfhound population with more males affected than females :
“The genetic predisposition of Irish wolfhounds for DCM is well established (Cobb et al 1996, Urfer et al 2007). Irish wolfhounds had a higher death rate from heart disease than any other breed of dog according to a survey of insured pedigree dogs performed in Sweden (Egenvall et al 2006). Although different types of heart disease were not discriminated in this study, it is likely that DCM was the main reason for these figures.
Vollmar (2000, et al 2004) found that 24% of Irish wolfhounds presenting to her practice had DCM on ultrasound examination (most also showed atrial fibrillation - abnormal electric activity of the heart - on ECG) and a further 10% were found, using ECG, to have AF but had a normal ultrasound appearance. Distl et al (2007) found an overall prevalence of DCM in Irish wolfhounds screened using ultrasound examination of 26%. They found that the prevalence in males (34%) was significantly higher than that in females (19%).”
VWD or Von Willebrand’s Disease is a bleeding disorder which affects the clotting of the blood. Certain breeds are more prone to it and although Irish Wolfhounds are not on the list of top 10 breeds to be affected by VWD you may still want to do pre-testing blood work for this prior to any surgery to ensure adequate blood clotting.
We had one case of suspected VWD which thankfully turned out to be 100% lab error and a huge false alarm but better to be safe than sorry and do the lab work to test for this prior to surgeries.
* I have included an article on VWD in your puppy package.
LIVER SHUNT : This is a condition which is discussed frequently in the Irish Wolfhound community. Some breeders test puppies for liver shunt and some do not. The actual percentage of Irish Wolfhound puppies affected by liver shunt is actually fairly low in contrast to other diseases which affect this breed.
Documentation shows the affected population at anywhere from 3.7% to as low as under 1% as can be seen in the additional documents provided in your puppy package. North American figures are not readily available and estimates are made using data collected from other countries.
After our consultation with 4 separate veterinarians and considering the low percentage of the Irish Wolfhound population affected by this disease, and taking into consideration that this is a hereditary disease which our kennel has never had a documented case of, we choose not to automatically test for this however we will certainly liver shunt test at your request.
*I have included an article on liver shunt in your puppy package.
Due to low % of liver shunt rates we do not automatically test each puppy for liver shunt using the bile acid test. If you would like your puppy tested for liver shunt, you can request to have that additional testing done at the time of your puppy’s health exam at an additional cost of $150.00.
Please check box yes or no for liver shunt test at end of info package before returning to us.
10. DISCIPLINE/BEHAVIOUR ISSUES
Although your Irish Wolfhound puppy will literally grow while he/she sleeps, it is important to remember that although they may be large in size at an early age, they are still a PUPPY for a long time. Try not to expect more than they can give you based on their size as mental maturity is vastly different from physical size.
The Irish Wolfhound needs a good deal of socialization. Although they are a large dog, they often lack confidence and appear fearful especially of new surroundings or new people. They are attached to their own family but often quite aloof or stand offish and/or nervous with strangers. This is typical of the breed. Once your puppy is vaccinated I suggest you take him/her out with you often.
A fearful puppy should not be forced to interact or to be social, but should not be coddled either. Petting, consoling, and reassuring often reinforces the unwanted fearful behavior. New people should avoid eye contact and avoid hovering over the dog, leaning into the dog, or reaching over the dog’s head. It’s best to move away or gently push puppy off of you if he/she is hiding or clinging. The more efficient and matter of fact you are, the better they will be. It often helps to hand the leash to someone else as well so that the pup sees that they are ok if you move away.
An undisciplined large breed dog is not a joy to be around! Whatever behaviors you want to see from your full grown adult wolfhound should be the behaviors you allow when it is a puppy ie : you don’t want a full grown wolfhound jumping on people so DO NOT allow it as a puppy. You don’t want a full grown wolfhound to growl at other family members or pets around their food/toys etc so DO NOT allow it as a puppy. If you don’t want your full grown wolfhound on your couch, then DO NOT allow the puppy on your couch.
I strongly recommend taking your puppy to at least one set of obedience classes. This will help you to socialize your puppy as well as to ensure that you are teaching your puppy basic obedience.
I have found in my experience that as this in not at all an aggressive breed, most incidences of aggressive behavior are caused by the owners. That is not an insult to owners but a fact. Often when the owner speaks to myself or to an experienced dog trainer a light bulb comes on where they realize where they were giving the dog the wrong cues or rewarding unwanted behavior without even realizing it. Please deal with issues that arise sooner rather than later.
**If at any time you find yourself having behavioral issues with your wolfhound please feel free to call me to discuss it.
*I have included an information sheet about resource guarding in your puppy package.
11. GROOMING
Regular house pets require different grooming than show dogs. You may choose to strip the coat or leave it natural. I leave my dogs in their natural coat and rarely strip them.
If stripping the coat you can take your dog to a professional groomer, learn how to hand strip the coat yourself, or cheat and use the Furminator which gives a similar effect in a fraction of the time.
Typical Irish Wolfhounds do not require a great deal of grooming but at least once per week they should be brushed out and a check done to ensure all is well with regards to nails, ears, teeth, etc.
I use a pin brush on mine, but not a slicker brush as it is too firm and scratches the dog. I also use a dematiing comb to cut away any tangles or mats that the dog may have. It cuts them as it combs through and does not pull too hard. Occasionally you may need to do a sanitary trim/shave to keep private parts clean as well as shaving the anal area to avoid any feces sticking. I periodically shave the bum area and the underside of the tail to keep it cleaner.
Start handling the pup’s feet early on to avoid nail cutting issues later on. I never fight with a dog about nails, I simply do it, quickly and efficiently. The less fuss the better. Some people prefer to do this when the pup is lying down. As the dog gets bigger I prefer to do it while the dog is standing. Gently hold the food without restraining – the more pressure you put to hold the paw, the more pressure they put to pull it away. I use the large plier type clippers as the guillotine type are not sturdy enough for adult nails.
I have a dedicated place in my home to groom my dogs with a metal ring mounted to the wall. I simply tie the lead to the ring and do any grooming I need to do so that |I have both hands free to work with. I also have one mounted in my bath to tie the dogs for bathing. They are inexpensive and will save you much trouble down the road.
*I have included a handout with photos of the standard equipment used for grooming Irish Wolfhounds at home.
12. ANAESTHETICS AND MEDICATIONS
PLEASE CAUTION YOUR VET ABOUT THE USE OF BARBITURATES IN SURGERY. Sighthounds and Irish Wolfhounds particularly do not handle anaesthetic well and often have a hard time coming out of it, sometimes actually dying. Guelph Veterinary College offers some good information about sighthounds and anaesthetic precautions.
I myself have seen a dog of mine that I cautioned a vet not to use sedative for removing porcupine quills as she was calm and quiet, yet it was used anyway and she crashed soon after it was given. Use local anaesthetic whenever you can and if needed for surgery be sure your vet is aware of the sensitivity of this breed.
Medications should not be administered at home without medical advice and your veterinarian should be aware that typically dosage is not the same but is lower than other breeds of the same weight as Irish Wolfhounds are typically more bone mass rather than tissue mass and overdose can easily occur in this breed.
13. VACCINATIONS
All puppies recieve their first set of core puppy vaccines at their 8 week vet check up. We understand that vaccination is a very personal decision for each family to make and we respect your right to choose. We encourage you to do some research and to discuss the issue with your veterinarian. Some families may wish not to vaccinate or wish to alter the vaccination schedule. If for any reason you decide that you DO NOT want your puppy vaccinated at the 8 week check up please advise us by checking off the yes/no section for vaccination prior to returning your signed information package.
14. NON-BREEDING AGREEMENT
All dogs are sold under a strict non-breeding agreement. You agree when purchasing your puppy that it will not be used for breeding unless otherwise agreed upon by all parties in writing prior to purchase. The non-breeding notice appearing at the end of this information package must be checked off to verify aggrement to the non-breeding conditions prior to purchasing your puppy.
15. HEALTH GUARANTEE
We hope that you will enjoy your puppy for years to come. The health of your puppy is very important to us. We expect that in order to maintain your right to the health guarantee that you will follow the advice of your breeder and your veterinarian with regards to feeding, exercise, vaccinations, veterianary exams/treatment and general care.
A mandatory vet check is required within 72 hours of receiving your puppy in order for your health guarantee to be activated and to ensure that both you and your veterinarian are satisfied that you have received a healthy puppy. A fecal test is required at this mandatory vet check up as well. Failing to attain a documented health check of your puppy within 72 hours may void your guarantee.
Norhunter takes great pride in producing healthy happy puppies, but as with all living creatures there is no crystal ball and some illnesses can and do occur in all breeds. It is unfortunate that the giant breeds are particularly susceptible to some health concerns, many of which we have outlined and provided documentation on so that you will be more informed about specific conditions that affect this breed.
We have outlined some health issues which typically affect Irish Wolfhounds and can provide you with information on breed averages for those health issues. We can also provide you with information on any documented health issues we have seen to date which will demonstrate that our percentage rate of occurrence of any illness is far below that of the Irish Wolfhound national breed averages.
Unless we have had a documented reoccurring issue in the lines that we are aware of and/or unless owners provide us with documented veterinary records of any illness that may have occurred, we have no way of updating our statistics or of foreseeing that an issue may occur in the future. We are always here for you if your pup is experiencing any health issues but it is imperative that owners also work co-opertively with us to provide us with documentation of any illness in order for us to ensure we are maintaining a healthy breeding program.
We offer a one year health guarantee on any congenital (inborn/genetic/hereditary) disorder or disease.
1) In the case of a puppy who has passed away or needs to be euthanized, a replacement puppy will be provided as long as there has been a necropsy conducted, at the owner’s expense, and or documented veterinary diagnosis to show identified congenital defect. A puppy will not be replaced if the cause of death or cause of injury was due to an injury sustained while in the owner's care or to any illness the puppy contracted or injury which has occured which was not a pre-existing or genetic defect in the health of the puppy, or if the cause can not be clearly identified as such. In the case of a puppy replacement where the replacement puppy would need to be flown to the owner, transportation costs would be paid by the owner, however, an alternative decision may be made at our discretion, to financially compensate the owner for the original purchase price of the original puppy less transportation costs.
As long as it is being well cared for and is part of your family we may choose at our discretion, to contribute in a co-operative fashion 50% of all necessary veterinary treatments to correct or treat any congenital defect of the puppy up to the original purchase price paid. Your veterinarian will be required to consult with our veterinarians to discuss the best course of treatment as necessary. If circumstances warrant a replacement puppy, we will replace the puppy with a comparable animal less any previous restitution that had already been paid (ie contribution to vet bills) or reimbursement of balance of purchase price.
This guarantee excludes any illness that is not identified as a genetic defect. It also does not include any further deworming and or vaccinations following the mandatory 72 hour vet check. The guarantee excludes any injury, illness or loss of the dog caused by the owner's negligence or by accident, gastric torsion, over feeding/ improper feeding, over exertion/over exercise, falls, car accidents, ingestion of foreign or poisonous items, etc... and will guarantee only those issues that are a genetic fault pre-existing at birth which become apparent up to one year of age.
Your puppy has been vet checked, regularly dewormed, microchipped, vaccinated unless stated otherwise, and has 6 weeks of complimentary pet insurance coverage. We recommend that pet insurance through the company initially provided or through any other pet insurance company of your choosing be continued due the expenses which may be incurred in treating a large breed such as this for accident, illness or injury.
If at any time your circumstances change in any way that finds you unable to keep your Norhunter Irish Wolfhound, it is MANDATORY THAT YOU CONTACT US FIRST! We will always welcome your wolfhound back into our family regardless of health or age and or assist you in arranging a suitable home in your area. Again, it is MANDATORY that you give us a courtesy call to discuss options BEFORE your dog is re-homed so that we may be of assistance to you. Often we can put you in touch with one of our existing owners in your area who may be looking to add another Norhunter dog to their family.
If your Norhunter wolfhound is surrendered or re-homed to the breeder or to a family chosen by the breeder, a transfer of ownership must be made to ensure the ownership papers of the dog are transferred into the name of the new owner or the breeder by the original owner through the Canadian Kennel Club.
Although spay/neuter of your dog is a personal choice that we leave for you to make in co-operation with your veterinarian, we advise to allow males to mature to at least 18 months of age prior to neuter and females to at least 12 months of age prior to spay.
You have been made aware and confirmed below that all Norhunter Irish Wolfhounds are sold with a strict non-breeding agreement. No Norhunter Irish Wolfhound shall be bred without first receiving written permission from Julie Beamish.
You are signing below to acknowledge that you have read and understand all information provided here with regards to the purchase of your Norhunter Irish Wolfhound puppy and your signature accept and agree all conditions herein.
The following are signed approval and authority to proceed and confirm that I approve the information provided to me as described above, and to confirm that I have read and understand all of the information provided with regards to the purchase of my Norhunter Irish Wolfhound.
I understand/agree I am purchasing my puppy with a non-breeding agreement Yes No
I wish to have my puppy vaccinated at his/her 8 week old vet check up Yes No
I wish to have my puppy liver shunt tested at additional cost of $150.00 Yes No
I acknowledge that Irish Wolfhounds as a breed are predisposed to experience certain maladies and with that in mind and with the rising costs of veterinary care, I have been strongly advised by my breeder to procure adequate pet insurance from the pet insurance carrier of my choice, in addition to whatever coverage may be provided by my breeder.
As recommended we will purchase pet insurance beyond the six week trial provided Yes No
Name :
Date :
Signature :
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