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BPO Introduction Forum => Introduce Yourself to the Forum => : BigIrishDogs July 31, 2008, 12:45:27 PM

: Introducing myself
: BigIrishDogs July 31, 2008, 12:45:27 PM
I have three Irish Wolfhounds at the moment (also have 2 Salukis...but they have small paws!) We are active in conformation, semi-active in Lure Coursing, and do some therapy work.
One of our IW's is even big for an IW, so he really fits in here!

I have a big dog fetish, and have owned other large-giant breeds in my life as well!

Let's hear it for those giant paws!!

Belle

: Re: Introducing myself
: BigIrishDogs July 31, 2008, 01:29:37 PM
Thanks for the welcome! I will attempt to upload some photos!
First one of our IW that we lost in Jan  :'( with the 2 Salukis on top of him!
Second one is my big hearthound Clu in his modelling job (forgot to mention that!) The hat is mine, that is my career!
Third is Clu lure coursing
Fourth is Penny our pup, she is a looker!
Lastly, Princess Buttercup...up sdise down as usual!

: Re: Introducing myself
: TINKSMOM July 31, 2008, 01:48:10 PM
Welcome!

Tink is my pound puppy. Short for TinkerBear. Though my husband calls her "Stink", short for Stinkerbell, but she comes to both. No harm no foul.I adopted her in Feb when she was 8 weeks old from a local shelter. Attached is her pict with my husband when she was 4 months old. She just turned 7 mos and is pushing 90lb. She is a black lab/komondor mix. She is turning gray now though, so in some ways she looks like an Irish Wolfhound but she is much bigger boned and still roly poly because she is a pup. Both are awesome dogs. Be sure to post more picts and again, WELCOME!
: Re: Introducing myself
: marypyrs July 31, 2008, 01:55:17 PM
Welcome! Welcome!! Welcome!!! I'm so glad you joined in with BPO. This is such a wonderful group of people and Pups.

First - I'm so sorry for your loss in January. The photo is lovely.

You have a fantastic Fur Family.  :-* Can't wait to hear more about you and your Crew.  :)

Jane

: Re: Introducing myself
: ZooCrew July 31, 2008, 04:37:06 PM
Hello and welcome!
your babies are gorgeous!  I love me some IW's, and salukis are on my breed list of future puppers.  Gorgeous dogs and so elegant (both breeds)

My name is Chris and my eclectic crew is listed below.  ;D
: Re: Introducing myself
: BigIrishDogs July 31, 2008, 04:50:01 PM
Well, I would agree with you that hats are better then shoes, but I am in the minority!
You should look at my etsy shop, www.boringsidn ey.etsy.com
I have many hats there to look at!

: Re: Introducing myself
: BigIrishDogs July 31, 2008, 04:52:24 PM
Thank you Chris! You have quite a crew, I didn't think to mention other animals as well. We recently lost our Chinese Water Dragon as well, I love him so :(

: Re: Introducing myself
: daytrippers July 31, 2008, 07:09:43 PM
Welcome from the New Mexico Daytrippers and our ZOO listed below.  This is a wonderful group, and your a welcome addition. ;D
: Re: Introducing myself
: BigIrishDogs July 31, 2008, 07:25:13 PM
Hello Daytrippers!
The Wolfhound that we lost in January was named Loki, yours guy has to be as special as our was...
Thanks for the welcome,

Belle
: Re: Introducing myself
: jesday July 31, 2008, 07:47:01 PM
You have come to the right place with your brood. Beautiful family.

I just don't have a hat head. Even my husband agrees. I think  my head is too small for my body. Hey, good things come in small packages.

Welcome.
: Re: Introducing myself
: VdogLover July 31, 2008, 07:57:54 PM
Welcome to BPO...this is a great place and I'm sure you too will be addicted soon.
: Re: Introducing myself
: KiraNGunnersmom July 31, 2008, 07:59:57 PM
Welcome!!  I didnt realize just how big IW really are!! I have never seen one in person.
Your designs are awesome.
: Re: Introducing myself
: BigIrishDogs July 31, 2008, 08:01:14 PM
I have a small head too, I like your logic...I always thought that small head = small brains, like in Salukis!
: Re: Introducing myself
: BigIrishDogs July 31, 2008, 08:03:57 PM
Thank you Vdoglover, how wonderful yours look! I love Akitas...
: Re: Introducing myself
: +four+leaf+clover+ July 31, 2008, 08:17:33 PM
Hi from one Irish dog lover to another!
: Re: Introducing myself
: Scootergirl July 31, 2008, 09:23:01 PM
Welcome!! Irish Wolfhounds have always been one of my favorite breeds - and yours are gorgeous. I have two lab mutts: Kentucky and Derby (see pics of the goofs). They aren't physically big, but they both think they're huge so your salukis fit in just as well as they do.

This is the most welcoming, knowledgeable and supportive group you will ever find online.

As for your hats - they are nothing short of stunning. I love hats and often buy them but rarely wear them. I'm weird that way.

(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e166/jjfritsche/000_0102.jpg)

(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e166/jjfritsche/100_0365.jpg)
: Re: Introducing myself
: GrumpyBunny July 31, 2008, 09:59:24 PM
Welcome - your hats are stunning, as are your dogs.  I think I might be a little bit in love with Clu!  :D
: Re: Introducing myself
: Butts Mom July 31, 2008, 11:34:21 PM
You have a beautiful family!!! I can't wait to see more pics of them.
: Re: Introducing myself
: GoldenPyrs August 01, 2008, 01:05:19 AM
Welcome!  Your pups are adorable & I especially love the "Black Velour Bow" hat.  Really beautiful! 

I'm so sorry about your losses but I'm glad that you found us.  I hope that being "around" a bunch of fellow dog lovers will give you some comfort.  I found BPO while mourning my Halley and it helped me a lot.  Again, welcome.
: Re: Introducing myself
: TINKSMOM August 01, 2008, 06:06:13 AM
I would love any info on koms you have to offer! I haven't found any kom owners yet, but the pyr owners have been great.

She passed her basic obedience and we are taking advanced classes twice a week for the socialization and to help keep her in check. She is definately an independent thinker and wants to be the dominant dog. But she also has the lab personality too. Endless energy and when she wags her tail her whole body spasms. She is a great girl.

My only real compaint is her "mouthing" She greats people with her mouth. Not a bite, but your hand or clothing goes straight to her mouth until you start paying attention to her. It's her way of getting your attention, but is scary to some people who don't know her - she is all teeth.

But I wouldn't trade her for the world.

She is still shedding her puppy coat. She was solid black with white paws when I got her at 8 weeks. She is slowly turning a smoky gray with white legs now. Do their coats normally change like this? Once she gets her adult coat, will she continue to shed. I was told they don't or at least shed very little.

Welcome again.
: Re: Introducing myself
: jennifer August 01, 2008, 06:36:53 AM
Hello and welcome! Your wolfies are as beautiful as your hats. I can't wear hats because my head's too BIG. :-\ But I can certainly appreciate your stunning craftsmanship.

I admit to a secret longing for irish wolfhoundsand can't wait to see more pics!
: Re: Introducing myself
: BigIrishDogs August 01, 2008, 10:11:59 AM
Wow, thanks to so many people for making me feel welcome here!
Thanks Jennifer for the compliments on my hats, I am not trying to sell you any as I am way busy and do not "need" more, but truthfully, a milliner that makes handmade hats can fit any size head, I have loads of clients with giants head! Don't let that stop you if you really do want to wear hats!

TinksMom,
Koms are a very special breed, and although I have a deep love for them, I will not have another, it took years (well all 10 years of his life) to get him to live in society. With a Kom you can never stop being alpha, never. Now, our boy was the alpha male of a litter of 10, so he was worse then usual. Even at the end of his life, when he was very ill, he challenged us daily for that alpha spot (that is MINE!) But he was the funniest, and smartest dog I have ever owned, and I have owned 13 breeds of dogs! Daily that dog entertained us!
The mouthing is a big Kom trait, we chose not to allow it, knowing our boy, but it was not easy. One time when he was a pup he tried to mouth a strange man on a walk, hubby pulled him back, and the guy screaming "Your dog bit be!"  It was just that he was big, and guarded, and you can't see their eyes people are wary of Komondors.
In terms of the coat, it is hard to say what will happen with the mixture, Koms tend to start their cording around 10 months, and should be fully corded by 2 years. You may have cording, you may not. I would not expect full cords from a mix, but you may need to even clip the hair or brush it all the time to prevent mats. Their hair is especially designed to "mat" and it is quite hard to manage to avoid that tendency!
Full Komondorok will not shed at all, once corded huge cords fall off, but no individual hairs, and Koms are all white so the only change of color is a slight greying as undesirable things start to get intwined in that hair!

I don't think I have any pics of Vlad on my digital camera, but I will look around and post one if I do.
Hope this helps!




: Re: Introducing myself
: BigIrishDogs August 01, 2008, 10:14:58 AM
GrumpyBunny- I love the username  ;D
You are a smart woman to be in love with Cluey, he is everyone favorite that knows my dogs, there is just something about him!
Thanks for the welcome!
: Re: Introducing myself
: BigIrishDogs August 01, 2008, 10:19:15 AM
Scootergirl,
Thanks for the compliments, your dogs are so cute! Are you in Kentucky? That may be why you like hats, but it is funny that you don't wear them! I do that with vintage clothes, I used to wear them, but now that I do almost strictly doggie things, there is not much need, and still I buy them!
: Re: Introducing myself
: BigIrishDogs August 01, 2008, 10:25:48 AM
You bet I can, send it on!
: Re: Introducing myself
: TINKSMOM August 01, 2008, 10:32:30 AM
Thanks for the advice. I am really not worried about her temperment. She is a sweet girl, just over enthusiastic in especially around kids - must be her lab part. She isn't afraid of anything, storms, people, places, etc. She has been in puppy/obedience class since 10 weeks and she is now 7 months old. We hold class at different locations so they can be introduced to new environments with our trainer handy to help out. She has been absolutely amazing with her training. She learns very quickly and seems to like it. She wants everyone to know how smart she is. We work daily on the mouthing though. She will go weeks without doing it and is back at it again but she has never "bit" anyone. I love her coat, it does take daily brushing at this point given she is shedding her puppy fur, but it is soo soft and thick. I am definately not interested in letting it cord - too much maintenance! She is very pretty and "interesting" dog, I can't wait to see how she grows up. You will probably be hearing from me again with questions as she grows.

Thanks.