Before you commit to an Irish Wolfhound puppy, ask for written health-test records, meet the litter where it is being raised, and read the sale contract—including the return terms. A responsible breeder should be able to explain the parents’ health, the puppy’s early experiences, and why that particular puppy is a suitable match for your home.
Use the questions below to compare breeders. Recommendations about puppy take-home age and registration differ by country and club, so confirm the rules and registry that apply where you live.
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Ask what health testing the parents and puppy have had
Start with the Irish Wolfhound Society’s direct question: “Do you heart test both parents before mating?” Also ask: “What health tests have the parents of the litter had and what health tests will the puppies have?” The Irish Wolfhound Health Group’s 2025 buyer booklet and breed-club guidance emphasize parent heart testing and an individual puppy’s liver-shunt, or portosystemic shunt, result. Ask to see the records rather than relying on a verbal assurance. (Irish Wolfhound Society; Irish Wolfhound Health Group; Irish Wolfhound Club of America)
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- Who performed each test, and when?
- What were the results, and what do they mean for this litter?
- Has each puppy had a liver-shunt test, and will you receive that puppy’s written result?
- What health problems have appeared in the breeder’s own dogs and family lines?
- How does the breeder discuss breed health and longevity, and what support would they offer if a health or behavioural problem develops?
A breeder should be able to talk plainly about common breed problems and their own screening. The Irish Wolfhound Club of America cautions buyers not to treat a claim that a line has had no cancer or heart disease as reassurance. (Irish Wolfhound Club of America)
Ask about the breeder’s experience and breeding decisions
Useful starting questions from the Society’s buyer guidance include “How long have you been breeding Irish Wolfhounds?”, “Why do you breed?” and “How often do you breed?” Follow up by asking how many litters the dam has had and how the breeder decides which dogs to breed. The answers should help you understand the breeder’s approach, not just their years in the breed. (Irish Wolfhound Society)
Expect the breeder to ask about your household, previous dog experience, other pets, plans for the dog, and readiness for a giant breed. Ask what criteria they use to match puppies with homes. A website or online profile can introduce a breeder, but it cannot verify the litter’s living conditions or health records; compare answers and consider asking a relevant breed club for references. The Irish Kennel Club likewise advises prospective pedigree-puppy owners to consult the relevant breed club for advice. (Irish Kennel Club; Irish Wolfhound Club of America)
Visit the litter and observe how the puppies are raised
Arrange an in-person visit and see the puppies with their mother in the place where they are being raised. Meet adult dogs where possible, and ask about the sire if he lives elsewhere. Notice whether puppies appear alert and clean and whether their living area, food bowls, and water bowls are clean. A breeder should welcome reasonable questions and be willing to show you the litter’s real environment. (Irish Wolfhound Society; Irish Wolfhound Club of America; Irish Wolfhound Health Group)
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Ask what socialisation and preparation the puppy has had
Ask how the breeder has introduced the litter to handling, household sounds, people, vehicles, traffic, other animals, toilet routines, and collars or leads. Find out what each puppy has experienced so far and what you should continue at home. A breeder who knows the litter should be able to describe individual temperaments and explain how those observations inform puppy-to-home matching. (Irish Wolfhound Health Group; Irish Wolfhound Club of America; Irish Wolfhound Society)
Agree on take-home age for your location
There is no single take-home age recommendation shared by all the organizations cited here. The Irish Wolfhound Society’s code says no earlier than eight weeks; the UK club typically recommends 10–12 weeks, with a limited exception for experienced buyers already known to the breeder; the Irish Wolfhound Club of America recommends 10–12 weeks; the Irish Wolfhound Health Group’s 2025 booklet says at least 9–10 weeks; and the Irish Kennel Club’s general puppy advice says not before eight weeks. These are recommendations from different organizations, not a universal legal rule. Ask why the breeder has chosen the planned age and check the applicable requirements where you live. (Irish Wolfhound Society; Irish Wolfhound Health Group; Irish Wolfhound Club of America; Irish Kennel Club)
Read the contract and clarify ongoing support before paying
Ask for the contract or written sale conditions before you pay a deposit. Make sure you understand any registration endorsements or breeding restrictions, what a health guarantee does and does not cover, and what to do if a serious problem arises. Ask whether the breeder will remain available for advice and whether they will take the dog back or help rehome it if your circumstances change. Get the return arrangement in writing. (Irish Wolfhound Club of America; Irish Wolfhound Health Group; Irish Wolfhound Society)
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Before collection, ask which records and items you will receive. Registration and ownership-transfer paperwork depend on the registry and location, so confirm which registry applies to you.
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- The parents’ heart certificates and the puppy’s written liver-shunt result.
- The puppy’s microchip number, vaccination evidence, and veterinary history.
- Your signed contract, sale receipt, and any insurance certificate or cover terms included.
- The puppy’s current food, feeding plan, and any written exercise or nutrition guidance.
- Deworming history and details of the puppy’s current routine.
The UK club’s recommended-breeder guidance includes a contract, parents’ Royal Kennel Club pedigree, puppy registration, clear puppy liver-shunt result, and microchip information; it notes that insurance inclusion varies. The Irish Wolfhound Health Group’s booklet also lists vaccination evidence, parents’ heart certificates, a diet sheet, food, an insurance certificate, and written exercise and nutrition information. Confirm the documents relevant to your own country and arrangement. (Irish Wolfhound Health Group)
Recognise warning signs and decide what to do
Pause and investigate if the breeder refuses to show the puppies’ living area or their mother, will not provide health-test evidence, pressures you to buy quickly, or cannot explain the litter and the puppy’s background. The Irish Wolfhound Club of America also identifies insistence on a deposit or cash as a reason for concern. These signs are grounds to ask more questions or seek advice, not proof by themselves that a breeder is acting improperly. Contact the relevant breed club if claims or conditions seem doubtful, and be prepared to wait for a suitable puppy. (Irish Wolfhound Club of America; Irish Wolfhound Society; Irish Kennel Club)
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