Question:
>I was just looking at an Irish Wolfhound webpage. Is it true that 6 is >about as old as they get? >– >. >Their life span is more than six years on an average.
Well – a mean age of 6.47 years to be more precise. For full information on the last study done visit http://sashimi.wwa.com/~merbland/wolf/life-len.html In truth the smaller the breed the longer they live. One glaring exception to this is the >Afghan, which is an extremely long lived breed.
Yes – my first Afghan outlived her daughter (who lived to be 13) and reached the ripe old age of 16 years. It is the giant breeds that have the short lives. To quote Rudyard Kipling in his ‘Power of the Dog" >"When the fourteen years that nature permits >Is closing in on tumors and fits >Brothers and sisters I bid you beware >On giving your heart to a dog to tear"
Nice quote – thanks Alan Cowen Braveheart Irish Wolfhounds www.wolfhound.com
Response:
> >I was just looking at an Irish Wolfhound webpage. Is it true that 6 is >about as old as they get? >– >. > Their life span is more than six years on an average. In truth the smaller > the breed the longer they live. One glaring exception to this is the > Afghan, which is an extremely long lived breed. It is the giant breeds that > have the short lives.
Why is this? I believe you, and have seen the same scene over and over again. Just wondering what causes this? Terri
Response:
>I was just looking at an Irish Wolfhound webpage. Is it true that 6 is >about as old as they get? >– >.
Their life span is more than six years on an average. In truth the smaller the breed the longer they live. One glaring exception to this is the Afghan, which is an extremely long lived breed. It is the giant breeds that have the short lives. To quote Rudyard Kipling in his ‘Power of the Dog" "When the fourteen years that nature permits Is closing in on tumors and fits Brothers and sisters I bid you beware On giving your heart to a dog to tear" CAPTAIN HAGGERTY Publisher of the AGGRESSION NEWSLETTER Los Angeles (310) 398-4676
Response:
> The only thing worse than losing an Irish Wolfhound so early is not knowing > one at all
Oh, Alan, what a _perfect_ statement! You’re so right; there’s nothing quite like sharing life with an IW or two (or more). Both of ours nearly made it to ten; we lost one to chronic congestive bronchitis, the other to thyroid cancer. We’ve known several 10-, 11-, and 12-yr-olds, too.
Response:
>I was just looking at an Irish Wolfhound webpage. Is it true that 6 is >about as old as they get?
I have heard this is true. Also true for Great Danes. I am no expert though.
Response:
>I was just looking at an Irish Wolfhound webpage. Is it true that 6 is >about as old as they get? >–
It is true that the Irish Wolfhound (like many other giant breeds) suffer short lifespans. The last study was conducted over a 20 yea period . Irish Wolfhounds in the United States from 1966 to 1986 lived to a mean age of 6.47 and they died most frequently of bone cancer. These facts are the result of a privately funded study conducted under the auspices of the Irish Wolfhound Club of America, Inc. Full details of this study can be seen at http://sashimi.wwa.com/~merbland/wolf/life-len.html Having said this – there are many Irish Wolfhounds that make it to double digits. My oldest male will be seven in October and he is very fit and healthy. Last weekend he proved he can still take off like a rocket after the lure (we went lure coursing). His grandpa lived to almost 12 and his great grandpa made it to 10 while his grand-aunt hit 10