Saturday, June 10, 2017, was another lovely day for the IWCC Regional Quebec Specialty in Canada. Herr Jurgen Rosner was adjudicating, and it was a pleasure seeing him again, especially since the last time I saw him was 21 years earlier when he judged the 1996 Irish Wolfhound Association of Delaware Valley Specialty! Remarkably, he has aged gracefully and has changed very little.
Ballyhara Kellyanne IWCC Quebec Regional Specilaty 2017
This Quebec Specialty is comfortable and pleasant though exhibitors experienced an issue with parking as a huge sports tournament was being held simultaneously on the military grounds. The Quebec club graciously provides a delicious homemade smorgasbord with soda, wine, and water which is so refreshing to see in this day and age. An overall, friendly atmosphere that keeps exhibitors and spectators coming back.
This year, however, there was a sad sight to behold. More to the point, we were very upset as we saw a small waif of a puppy trying to walk on a lead with his owners. Shocked, we inquired as to the age of the wolfhound pup, and were informed he was nine weeks of age! Upsetting, to say the least, and our disapproval was shared by several people sitting close-by who noticed him as well. The male pup was so small that my husband was convinced he was seven rather than nine weeks old.
Regrettably, the alarming trend of placing puppies at FAR TOO EARLY AN AGE is not new. I addressed this very concerning problem in my December 2015, "Caveat Emptor" Blog Post. It is unethical to sell or place a wolfhound puppy at the age of eight or nine weeks, especially because this is a giant sighthound who is underdeveloped — both mentally and physically -- at such an immature stage. It is paramount that Irish Wolfhound puppies are well socialized and spend quality and quantity of time with their Dam and siblings.
Mentally, the Irish Wolfhound breed is a slowly maturing hound. His overall weight and height at three months can be deceiving. You cannot compare him to other breeds at the same age. I have always informed students that this sighthound breed is unlike popular breeds such as Poodles, Golden Retrievers, Labradors or Shepherds. During growth stages, in a mental maturity comparison, for instance, a six-month-old wolfhound is comparable to a three-month-old Labrador. Even a yearling -- a phrase attributed to a wolfhound aged 12-24 months -- is still more immature than a similarly aged dog of another breed. The contrast has nothing to do with intelligence as an Irish Wolfhound is a clever breed which is always sensitive to his surroundings. Wolfhound puppies should be confident, poised, comfortable, and friendly. Traits that develop from various stimulations deriving from social interactions in the company of his littermates with the dam teaching them acceptable behavior during their twelve weeks of growth and companionship. There is no justifiable excuse for placing any puppy at less than 10-12 weeks of age, and this practice has to stop.
What has become of our wolfhound society if breeders feel justified and are emboldened to sell wolfhound puppies at 8 or 9 weeks of age? This puppy was not obtained from a commercial puppy farm in the American Midwest but from a person who was attending the Quebec specialty! For the record, my policy is that no puppy leaves before a minimum of 12 weeks and frankly, many times not until 16 weeks. Releasing underage wolfhound puppies is motivated by financial and opportunistic purposes. Commonly, this individual needs to move the pups out as quickly as possible because caring for them requires food, money, and work. Sometimes, they need to make room for a new litter, or frankly, they are too lazy and indifferent to support the young hounds adequately. Other times, many of these people are living hand to mouth and have no business raising expensive Irish Wolfhounds. What will be next -- placing them at seven weeks? Who is going to stop them then? My recommendation to these guilty people is to find another giant breed. Get out of Wolfhounds.
Reputable breed fanciers need to stop "tsk, tsking," while wringing their hands. We as a whole are obliged to speak up and express our concerns to these individuals. Many of these people are only masquerading as "breeders;" when they are only mating dogs. What do they know of genetic modes of inheritance? What do they know about anatomy and muscling physiology? What do they know of the breed founders and the Coefficient of Relationship of ancestry? What do they know of genetic diversity?
It is our obligation to explain their wrongdoings and the harm to both the puppy and the breed, especially if they are members of our breed associations. Our actions are not meddlesome -- we are NOT interfering in someone else's affair. On the contrary, it is our duty to moralize, as honorable, caring, responsible breed guardians. Placing underage puppies is NOT someone else's personal business -- it most certainly is not their prerogative to do so because it is harmful to the breed. These animals cannot speak for themselves, and as such, we are their custodians.
Bear in mind; amoral people prosper because their actions are unfettered. Your silence condones their behavior.
They know not of the commitment, the shared obligation we have as conservators for what was once a highly revered ancient sighthound. Their imprudent deeds are an offense, and we all need to unify against this growing malignancy. Ask yourself is this the standard of behavior that we foresee embodying the principles of our breed society?