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Choose an Irish Wolfhound breeder by verifying breed-specific health results, visiting the puppies where they are being raised, reviewing the paperwork, and seeing how carefully the breeder evaluates your home. Start with the relevant kennel club or Irish Wolfhound breed club in your country, but treat a referral or membership as a place to begin—not as proof that a particular breeder is right for you.
Start with your country’s kennel club or breed club
Ask the relevant kennel club or Irish Wolfhound breed club for advice and breeder-finding resources. The Irish Kennel Club specifically recommends contacting the relevant breed-club secretary or officers for guidance about the breed’s suitability. In the United States, the Irish Wolfhound Club of America (IWCA), the breed’s AKC parent club, offers breeder-directory and puppy-finding resources.
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A club referral can help you find breeders who are engaged with the breed, but it does not replace your own checks. Registration names, paperwork, legal requirements, and puppy-age guidance differ by country, so confirm local expectations with the club or registry you plan to use.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsVerify health testing and ask to see the results
Ask what health screening was done, which dogs or puppies were tested, when the tests took place, and who performed them. Request the actual certificates or reports rather than relying on a verbal assurance that the litter is “health tested.” Make sure you understand the test method and what the result does—and does not—tell you.
Heart testing for the parents
The UK Irish Wolfhound Club’s buyer checklist calls for clear heart-testing certificates for the parents. The Irish Wolfhound Society describes its code as requiring a three-part heart test before breeding. Ask the breeder to show the reports for both parents and explain which tests are included. These are specific club recommendations; confirm current local guidance with your relevant breed club.
Portosystemic shunt screening for the puppy
The UK club’s checklist asks buyers to see a clear liver-shunt result for the puppy, and the Irish Wolfhound Society says puppies should be screened for portosystemic shunt. Ask for this puppy’s result and for an explanation of the test and its source. Do not treat a general statement about the parents’ health as a substitute for the puppy’s own result.
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Ask about health in the breeder’s lines
Ask what health problems have occurred in the breeder’s dogs or lines and how that history informs breeding decisions. A thoughtful breeder should be willing to discuss known issues candidly. Consider the answer alongside the records and the breeder’s approach to testing; no single answer can establish that a dog or line is free of every health risk.
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Arrange a reasonable visit to the place where the puppies are being raised. The Irish Kennel Club advises buyers to inspect the rearing environment and see the mother; the Irish Wolfhound Society likewise says to visit the premises and see the puppies with their mother rather than relying on photographs. Observe how the puppies and dam behave, whether the area is clean, and whether the breeder can answer questions about the puppies’ daily care.
If the breeder says the mother cannot be shown, ask why and pause to seek advice from the relevant breed club before proceeding. A stud dog may live elsewhere, so not seeing the sire at the home is not automatically a warning sign. However, a refusal to provide health evidence or allow a reasonable visit is a sound reason to stop and get further guidance.
Look for calm, informative interactions—not pressure
The Irish Wolfhound Society advises buyers not to make an impulsive decision, not to rely on photographs, and not to accept pressure to buy. A breeder should allow time for questions and consideration. The Irish Kennel Club identifies being unable to see where a puppy was raised as an alarm bell. Treat these as practical warning signs, not as proof that one isolated circumstance establishes unethical conduct.
Expect the breeder to assess your home too
A responsible selection process runs both ways. The Irish Wolfhound Society lists questions breeders may ask about a buyer’s experience with dogs, other pets, how long the dog will be alone, the home and garden, fencing, and what would happen if circumstances changed. A breeder who takes the time to assess suitability and answer your questions is giving you more useful information than polished advertising alone.
Be ready to describe your household, daily routine, experience, and plans for the dog’s care. Ask what sort of home the breeder believes is suitable and what support they offer if a placement proves difficult. You should be able to discuss practical concerns without feeling rushed or judged for asking.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Review the documents and care information before agreeing
Ask the breeder to list in writing what you will receive and what conditions apply to the sale. The exact records depend on country and registry. For example, the Irish Kennel Club advises buyers to obtain registration and signed transfer-of-ownership paperwork, while the UK Irish Wolfhound Club refers to Royal Kennel Club pedigree or registration documentation.
- Registration and ownership: Confirm which registry applies, what registration documents are included, and how ownership will be transferred.
- Health records: Obtain the parents’ heart-test evidence and the puppy’s shunt-screening result, along with any other relevant health information the breeder has agreed to provide.
- Sale terms: Read the written conditions, receipt, or contract before paying or collecting the puppy. Ask the breeder to explain anything unclear.
- Identification: Confirm the puppy’s microchip information and how it will be recorded or transferred under local practice.
- Care and rearing: Ask for vaccination, socialisation, diet, and exercise information, including what food the puppy is currently eating.
- Contact and support: Get the breeder’s contact details and a clear explanation of what help is available after the sale.
Compare puppy-age guidance by jurisdiction
Do not apply one club’s timing advice everywhere. The Irish Kennel Club says puppies should not leave before 8 weeks, and the Irish Wolfhound Society’s code also sets a minimum of 8 weeks. The UK Irish Wolfhound Club describes 10–12 weeks as usual, with an exception for an experienced owner already known to the breeder. Ask the relevant club what guidance applies where you live and how the breeder’s timing fits the puppy’s circumstances.
Ask these questions before committing
- How long have you bred Irish Wolfhounds, and why do you breed them?
- How often has the mother been bred, and how many litters has she had?
- Were both parents heart-tested before mating? May I see the certificates and understand which tests were performed?
- Was this puppy screened for portosystemic shunt? May I see the result and learn how the test was conducted?
- What health problems have occurred in your dogs or lines, and how do you account for them in breeding decisions?
- What vaccination, socialisation, diet, and exercise information will I receive?
- Which registration, ownership-transfer, microchip, sale, and health documents will be provided?
- What support do you offer after the sale, and what happens if I can no longer care for the hound?
Notice whether the breeder answers clearly, provides evidence, and welcomes reasonable questions. Their answers matter, but so do the visit, the records, and the way the breeder treats the puppies and their mother.
Know what support to expect after the sale
Ask whether you can contact the breeder for advice as the dog grows and what the breeder would do if your circumstances changed. The Irish Wolfhound Society describes after-sale advice and taking back a puppy if the owner can no longer keep it. The IWCA’s 2014 flier says conscientious breeders should be willing to give advice and support for questions and problems throughout the dog’s life. Clarify what the breeder personally commits to, and get any specific sale conditions in writing.
Quick Recap
Use a simple decision check before you pay
- Proceed with confidence only when: you have seen the puppies with their mother in their rearing environment, reviewed the relevant health results, understood the paperwork and sale terms, and had an open discussion about fit and future support.
- Pause and seek advice when: a visit or health evidence is refused, answers about records are vague, you are being pressured to decide, or an important document or commitment is unclear.
- Walk away if needed: you do not have to buy a puppy simply because you have visited, paid a deposit, or feel uncomfortable disappointing the breeder. Contact the relevant club for guidance if you are unsure how to interpret a concern.
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