The Importance of Free Exercise for Large Sighthounds

Sighthounds love to gallop, to chase and stretch out. They experience unmistakable, sheer glee as they are bending, folding and leaping. You can see it in their expression. So, why is it that so many of these admirable Sighthounds are found living in unsuitable homes, having little or no fenced, secured acreage? As responsible fanciers and hobbyists, fulfilling their needs should be a primary concern when we place our hounds in their new, permanent homes. Our stewardship of these unique breeds obliges us to proceed with utmost care and concern while considering a new home.                                                                                                                          

I am not an elitist who snubs a potential puppy owner, turning up my nose at those whose accommodations are not ideal for our Sighthounds. On the contrary, I encourage them to contact me so that I may educate them about the exceptional needs and characteristics of our breeds. More importantly, though, I am aware that urban population growth has changed significantly over the past 60 years in our nation. We all live in an evolving landscape. "Metropolitan areas are now fueling virtually all of America's population growth," as reported in the Washington Post by Emily Badger. In an interesting article, unwittingly she corroborates what many conscientious breeders have realized, that ideal Sighthound companion homes are harder and harder to find. Small population centers with less than 50,000 people have had infinitesimal growth changes. Rural populations have dwindled. Today, one in three Americans lives within the metro areas of 10 cities — or just a few spots on the nation's map. The relevancy of the census data must not be under-appreciated, as this means that, slowly but surely, there are fewer opportunities for us to find homes for our galloping hounds.  

The reality I face is that significantly more inquiries than in the past hail from people with no land. From the 36 puppy requests I have received in the past six months alone, 32 (90%) were from persons who did not have what I consider sufficient area to accommodate a Sighthound. Furthermore, this percentage includes some individuals who either currently have or previously owned a Sighthound — from another breeder — in their home.

I readily anticipate the question "How much land does she require?" Ideally, a home for a large breed Sighthound should have at least one acre of property secured with breed-appropriate fencing, but from my experience of three-plus decades in dogs, this often seems like an unrealistic requirement. A bare minimum of half an acre of open land, again properly fenced, not including the house, is my condition. I have received some requests from potential puppy buyers who own half an acre of land that included the home as well as an accessory building; one memorable inquiry offered half an acre of land that included the house, an in-ground swimming pool with a cabana and what appeared to be a Bocce ball court. All that was left was a postage-sized space for the hound to defecate in, without any area to run and play.

I politely refuse to place my large Sighthound puppies in these environments, notwithstanding the usual promises of the on-lead daily exercise that the hound would receive. You must be familiar with this type of dialog. A potential owner asserts that, although there is no acreage for free running, they regularly walk so-and-so many miles and they also live near a park where the hound can be off-lead. Almost all of us understand that Sighthounds are not candidates for off-lead running on public grounds. Simply, this is a hazardous situation due to their prey drive — a good subject for another article I plan on writing.

As for good intentions and best-laid plans, how many times has life thrown us curve balls? Life has a habit of bringing unexpected, unwanted changes or accidents. If a hound’s principal caregiver is injured or becomes ill, ultimately the hound is handicapped as well. The Sighthound will no longer have lengthy walking excursions to release energy and obtain needed exercise. Likewise, if an owner’s work responsibilities increase, this almost invariably impacts the time spent with the hound on a leash. Regrettably, because the properly fenced acreage was initially sacrificed, the hound does not have an area for self-exercise and running. So, ultimately, he suffers.   

Self-exercise for a Sighthound is not only the freedom to stretch out his legs, to leap, twist and turn, all of which releases energy. It also is key to a Sighthound's development, both physical and mental. Strong, hard muscles are vital to proper maturation and longevity, as well as to protecting the body from unwarranted injuries. Secured exercise provides valuable mental stimulation: simply, it is good for a Sighthound's psyche or soul, mind, and spirit. His personality and character can develop to their full potential, which is especially crucial in the powerful, giant Sighthound breeds where it is especially important that they must be even-tempered and well adjusted.

Some may feel that placing companion-quality Sighthounds in a loving home where they receive individualized attention is far better than allowing these hounds to languish in a kennel environment. To a great extent, I agree, but the compromises that some breeders make are worrisome. The trade-offs are unfair and incompatible for galloping hunters bred for running, especially when we hear that Wolfhound puppies are placed in townhomes, not as temporary but as permanent quarters. Where is the line drawn for responsible breeders to reject a potential home?

Others may belittle this discussion by stating that one cannot keep every puppy, and who am I to decide what is enough space for a Sighthound to live on comfortably? Some may claim that leashed exercise is sufficient for our hounds and that many of the hounds exercised only on leash are in better physical condition than a hound with acreage. Now and again, this statement could prove true. Having been a longtime Wolfhound fancier, I know from first-hand experience that, on occasion, some Wolfhounds will not use the available space for running but just sit at the gate. Despite having one hundred fenced acres, there they were, lying on the opposite side of the fence gate waiting for me. On the other hand, Sighthounds living on considerably less acreage may happily explore and bound about their areas.

Today's average homeowner does not have acres of property, in fact, much, much less. For those fortunate to have some but still acceptable amount of property, it can be transformed to accommodate a galloping hound, as long as the homeowner is willing to do so. Indeed, the initial fencing investment is costly, but our sighthound breeds can be expensive. Expenses are a certainty all prospective puppy owners must be prepared for, though, in the end; these hounds are well worth the investment.

Returning to the subject of alternative leashed exercise, I frequently pose this logical question. Which athlete would have the better overall cardiovascular condition? A person who runs or walks daily? Granted, walking is far superior to no workout and also offers benefits. I always recommend puppy owners frequently walk with and socialize their hounds, regardless if they have one or ten acres of fenced land. However, what about the muscle-toning obtained while the Sighthound enjoys fenced but free exercise that is not achieved by just leash-walking? While placing a Sighthound, maybe future fitness is not a priority for some breeders, despite the health benefits. If care, love, and clean accommodations are all that a breeder requires from their puppy owners, they are, in my opinion, doing a disservice to our Sighthounds.    

If we cannot respect these breed's noble heritage, why then do we bother having them? There is a myriad of other Group breeds who require only small areas and some exercise who are entirely satisfied residing on the couch. In fact, AKC generates several suggested dog breed lists that correspond to homeowners lifestyles. You can see the links to these from my website page, Irish Wolfhound Breed Character. Several times in these past years, after I called attention to inadequate property conditions and discussed such concerns with a few rational, prospective owners who had fallen in love with the Irish Wolfhound breed, they did, in fact, resist the urge of instant gratification. These people understood my objections; they respected my advice and my decision, recognizing that it would be simply unfair for them to have a giant, galloping hound. As a long-standing breed custodian, a rational resignation like this is one of the best things that I could wish for my wonderful sighthound breed, the Irish Wolfhound.