When purchasing any dog, whether it’s as a rescue or a puppy, it’s important to understand the costs that come with it. A dog like an Irish Wolfhound is a big one, and the commitment to this breed, despite it only living for a couple of years, is a responsibility that you don’t want to take lightly.
The average cost for Irish wolfhounds is between $1,400 to $2,500. This, in comparison to other dog breeds, is fairly average, especially considering the giant size they end up becoming. However, their prices can reach around $4,000 depending on the breeder and several other factors
Despite being one of the tallest dogs in the world, they are fairly rare, as not everyone wants the responsibility of having such a large dog.
You may find dogs cheaper than this, but there might be problems with their health, and they may not come from the most reputable breeder either.
Several factors influence the cost of Irish Wolfhounds, and it’s something to be made aware of.
The colour of the dog’s coat is a factor that can influence the cost you pay. There are lots of different colours that an Irish Wolfhound can have.
A rarer colour can crop up, but when it comes to this breed, the popular or more sought-after colours can change depending on the demand for the dog. The rarer colours will cost more.
As a purebred dog, they’re considered to be a prestigious breed and, therefore, more valuable than most. Depending on the breeder, this factor could make the price for your Irish Wolfhound climb quite high.
The dog’s age is very important, with Irish Wolfhound puppies being the preferred choice. You’ll most likely pay more for a puppy than an adult dog. This is because there’s a cost involved with breeding, like giving puppies their shots.
When finding these beautiful hounds, you must be looking for a suitable breeder who is going to provide you with quality hounds and those that have very few health problems. To choose a suitable breeder in South Australia and beyond, here are a few tips to help you.
Regarding kennel clubs, it’s important to watch for the breeders recommended there. It’s much better than simply doing a Google search and seeing what comes up.
Be sure to take a look at the breeder’s reputation. As a breed winner for many dog show awards, you may end up picking a breeder who is known for producing show dogs. A show breeder is always going to produce dogs of the best in quality, temperament and appearance.
When looking to purchase a pup, you should be checking that they get all their relevant vaccinations and health tests that all dogs should get. This is important because you want to make sure the dog is in good health. Make sure they’ve been liver-shunt tested and have had their hearts tested.
When adopting or buying a dog, it’s a lifelong commitment. However, it’s important to check the return policy and to ensure that in the case of something not panning out, you can return the dog to the litter within a certain time. Breeders must have a lifelong commitment to all pups bred by them.
Several maintenance costs are worth mentioning, especially with these dogs being the size they are. Here are some maintenance costs to consider:
Feeding is a big one, especially as they’re giant-sized. As a giant, they’re going to need two cups of food per meal, that’s twice a day in most cases. That means you can end up going through your food supply very quickly. You can expect to spend between $400 to $1000 per year on food, depending on their diet.
With excellent temperaments, you want them to be in your family environment for as long as possible. However, unlike most dogs, these Irish Wolfhounds only live for six to ten years. Vet costs can reach well over $ 1,000 yearly, depending on your pup’s health. However, the average vet cost within a year could sit anywhere from $500 to $2000.
Grooming is another expense unless you do it yourself. With this breed, they need to be hand-stripped, which can be done by a professional groomer. This is costly, and many owners of these hounds will do it themselves.
Definitely! If you’re looking for a unique breed and one that is huge in size and personality, then you’ll love wolfhounds.
Whether you’re looking to use them as a show dog or you want them to be a key part of your family, these dogs are wonderful. Get them as puppies to make up for the limited time they have.
Welcome to Pets Online, a team of pet parents, animal lovers and veterinarians devoted to providing you with everything you need to know about pets.