Past Wolfhounds

I had always thought that some day, when I was a real grown up and had gone to live full-time in Ireland, I would have a cottage and several of these wonderful dogs around me. And then one day I just couldn't wait any longer. So I joined the Irish Wolfhound List online, a daily posting of comments by owners, breeders and enthusiasts for this breed.

I read and asked questions and was very fortunate in having the list moderator live close by, so I could visit him and his Braveheart hounds. When Alan Cowen died the world of Irish Wolfhounds lost a great man. He was my dear mentor and always had time to educate and counsel me, and was my guide to a breeder of quality dogs so that when Nemo was born my dream was fulfilled.

He was a little silly looking then.

In fact I thought he looked like a dog crossed with some sort of goat. But I met the parents, stupendous enormous alert adults commanding respect and giving me a LOOK, as if to discern if I was worthy for their son.

And despite his charm and affectionate nature, he never really manifested War Dog. He was capable of defense, but never offensive. He was happiest curled at my feet as I drew or worked on the computer, glad to be near me, an utterly trustworthy and steadfast companion animal that is the symbol of the ancient Celtic nation..... what could possibly be better!?!

More than one!
OK, so we know the word for when there are a gaggle of geese, a murder of crows, a pride of lions. But what is it when you have two or more Irish Wolfhounds in one place?
I couldn't resist coining it:
an EXTRAVAGANCE of Irish Wolfhounds.

So here she is, this is Nemo's lovely young wife Orla. In this photo he is 3 years old and she is 3 months. Child bride, lovely red wheaten color, a tawny lioness against his oak-bark dark gray brindle.
He's already exhausted!

And he tries to be the good husband, but like any redhead, she gets her own way!

They say that Irish Wolfhounds grow UP for a year and a half (getting their height VERY quickly), then OUT for a year and a half (getting their bulk and adult weight), and then on their third birthday they get their BRAIN.
Nemo was very lucky indeed. He got a wife for his birthday!

They got along well. Dream date! This is Orla at 6 months... someone told me they are the fastest growing land mammal, and if they aren't they're close to it.

And here they are with Orla almost a year old, now she's bigger than Nemo,and they are giving the camera their best gleam-eyed Baskerville glare. but you can see they were quite happy together, in their role as tattoo parlor greeters and bouncers.

As many Irish Wolfhounds do, Nemo developed osteosarcoma when he was 7 years old.
We removed his afflicted front leg and he went on happily as a tripod dog for another year, eventually passing from an unrelated issue. He was happy to hop along at the Scottish Highland Games, squiring Miss Orla in her mythological aspect as The Orlacorn!

She always did remind everyone of Falcor the Luck Dragon, she just never quite seemed like a real dog. At several of the West Coast Irish Wolfhound AKC Specialties she was measured and was the tallest female.

Now they are both gone, but never forgotten. And as for me, no other dog breed will ever do. For me, it will always be Irish Wolfhounds.

Meet the Current Hounds . . .