kinsella

Yep, just take one of his wheels off..... I'm sorry, the devil made me do it.

We are not discussing a dog that is "not perfect". We're discussing a semi crippled, totally dependant dog.

The dog certainly looks happy. But, let's face it, he knows no better. The question that comes to my mind is always "What motivates someone to go to these lengths with a dog with such a poor outlook?" There can never have been a chance that a normal life was a possible outcome. I find this a text book example of Conspicuous Compassion. Take the cameras and attention away and what is left? An animal leading a half life and a human dislocating their shoulder patting themselves on the back for caring so much. Rather distasteful, actually. Like the story in the news section re dogs short a couple of legs, these dogs will never have the chance of an existence with self sufficient basic function.

I'd also consider checking for diabetes which can cause frequent urination.

One of my all time favourites is from Rudyard Kipling - "Brother and sister, I bid you beware Of giving your heart to a dog to tear"

A sloth of Irish Wolfhounds.

Irish Wolfhounds for Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey.

Oh gosh, pf, you're just sooooooo funny. :laugh: Bewwy, bewwy norty. You need a big smack.

3 AI implants from my boy produced 12, 8, then 7. No failures so far.

First up - I am not a breeder, seriously haven't got the guts. But I was offered a dog from Ireland with the intention of adding to our very small gene pool. I brought him in and had only one honest approach to use him at first. The majority of breeders looked at him out of the corner of their eyes and said nothing. Except that I shouldn't let "just anyone" use him, especially the person who approached me openly<g>. He has 5 litters on the ground, 4 here and one in Ireland, yes, I actually sent Irish Wolfhound semen back to Ireland! His breeder has since died and so has the dog but there is a continuation in his puppies. They have half siblings in USA and the Netherlands and all show the same old fashioned IW strength. Linda Gover, my best friend and breeder, taught me that a dog is not an end unto itself but only as good as the future he can provide. She was freely giving of bloodlines and knowledge and I can be no less. I'm thrilled that his puppies are strong examples of the breed and feel a little pride in their achievements. I think exclusivity will be the death knell of pure bred dogs. There is always a risk in life - people may not always be as honest as they could. This doesn't mean you should trust no-one. As for people getting Linda's lines, that's just what she wanted! Otherwise they would only be wonderful pedigrees on paper with no dogs to back it up. I'd rather be mistaken than selfish.

Who cares what it costs? Money well spent. Shoving my finger up my dog's jacksie is not on my "to do" list. Plus, your vet may give a solution to solve the dog's anal gland issues,wrt diet etc. And, yes, it is a smell never forgotten.

I used Cryogenes to export and they made it easy.

Do you ever say your dogs are happy? Because technically that is anthropomorphising given we don't know whether dogs experience "happiness" the way we do. A dog can show it's happiness in "dog" ways eg tail wagging etc. I don't think it is humanising to say your dog is happy when it's running across a field with bright eyes and alert posture - again dog behaviour. I think you can read a dog without converting everything you see to human characteristics. The original question was why do we humanise dogs. The answer for those in the affirmative is that there is something in it for the human. To me it appears to be a level of indulgence aimed at pleasing the human first.

Twas the generic "we", cheeky. And I don't either, mine are dogs, strange but dogs.

I think this is the cause of some dog problems. By treating them as human we are not showing the respect the canine species deserves. Also, dog behaviour can then viewed as wrong instead of natural. JMHO>

Just what you have done. Old Irish wolfhounds tend to get up a bit of a wobble in the rear and mats and rugs make their life a little safer and more comfortable. They need the traction that carpet gives so as tempted as I am to tile the whole house, while ever I have IWs there will always be carpet with persian rugs for padding.

You need a good hard smack for that, Jed. And go and stand in the norty corner. Coffee everywhere that it shouldn't be. As for the stud dog, he'll be bragging about this to his grandkids.

Apart from fish oil and decreasing the amount of food, I make few dietary changes bases on age. And I tend to institute these changes at about three years old. I'd like to know what others do to benefit their oldies.

My breed, Irish Wolfhounds, age very quickly compared to many smaller breeds. As sad as it is to see them grow old, it is also an incredibly sweet period. Wolfhounds tend towards the geriatric delinquent syndrome. They just love being naughty and are so secure in themselves that they know they are not going to get into trouble. Their sense of humour seems to develop in pace with their declining physical abilities and it is just magic. They spend much more time with you as they no longer want to chase rabbits, well as often :D , but now enjoy a slow potter at your side. It is hard to describe just how close they become in their twighlight years but it is very special. I suppose for the first topic in this forum I should have concentrated on health or nutrition but I just had say how wonderful I find the oldies.

The only thing I want to know is why Royal Mail would write to the residents when they're not delivering mail? Bit Twighlight Zone to me... doodoodoodoodoodoo

So he is still living, and probably in good health - he is now 10+. How pleased am I? Another one to make it to double figures. No SM, probably no MVD, no LP, no nothing. Yippee Are you not ashamed of yourself, Jed? How on earth are you ever going to get a decent turnover if the bloody things are making double digits??? Just quietly, well done. :D

I think you are confusing crossbreeding with outcross. Until the last 30 years or so, it was allowable to bring in a different breed to strengthen a purebred dog. After 5 or so generations, the offspring were then deemed purebred. One of the reasons it has stopped is that often more damage was done than improvements made. It also had to be approved BEFORE attempting the outcross. The last I know of (and that doesn't mean much) was the refusal in the US to allow Irish Wolfhounds to be crossed with Deerhounds to try and regain the colours they had lost. It was decided colour was not a sufficient reason to outcross and denied.

Whomever bred that dog should be flogged for not pts at birth. The blind eye should be removed pronto as there is more eye outside the orbit than in, probably secondary glaucoma due to injury. I am also horrified by the popularity this poor animal has. It's not heartwarming that someone is now going to lavish money and affection on a dog with a very poor outlook. An old breeder told me many years ago when discussing the "bleeding heart brigade" that it is just as easy to love a healthy dog, and a lot cheaper, than a misfit or disabled dog. These pitiful animals satisfy a need in the owner to be seen showing conspicuous compassion.

And I'm sorry but I'm so tired of this argument. Just because a puppy buyer doesn't know any better about the right and wrong place to buy their pets (you gotta start somewhere!), doesn't mean their crossbred dog they bought with all the love in the world is going to end up in the pound. Forgive my jaundice but it has been earned. While not every cross bred dog ends up in the pound, neither are all of them bought "with all the love in the world" For a lot of these dogs are reprehensible crosses and by that I mean dogs with conflicting instincts. These pups are then bought by people with very little dog savvy, just good intentions. A recipe for disaster for all concerned.

The saddest thing is how common this is. Rescue material in 6 months - about when the next litter of mongrels hits the ground. They are kindred spirits - knuckle-dragging troglodytes that breed them and kdt that buy them. Pass the tissues, please.