Declan is ready, (mostly) willing, and able

Declan got neutered today. He weighed in at a whopping 170 pounds!, and emerged slightly lighter after the removal of two fairly sizable testicles. This means that Declan has accomplished what he needed to in foster care and he's ready for a new home. Here's some things you should know about him.

He's about two years old and he's an Irish Wolfhound (they just call them wolfhounds in Ireland). He's 170 pounds, which is a LOT of dog. He makes my two female Danes seem small. He fills the hallway when he's in it.

Declan has been very good indoors, uncrated, in my downstairs kitchen area at night, along with another dog. I would have brought him upstairs to one of the giant Dane crates in my office at night, but Declan has refused to do the stairs. He also refuses to jump into the van when I need to take him someplace as we did today, going both to and from the vet. I put one front leg up at a time, shift him forward, and then pick up the back end. He's going to need someone who is prepared to do some positive reinforcement training with him to work on those things that he's not willing to do.

Declan is very friendly both with people and other dogs. Strangers are just new friends to him. The vet tech from today described him as an "aggressive kisser." When she knelt down to remove the bandage from his leg, he just covered her in kisses. He is always wanting human contact; he head always shows up under my hand, he leans, he nudges. He picked the least friendly dog we have around here and insisted on making Hugo his friend. It took some doing, but Declan prevailed and actually taught Hugo to play with another dog instead of constantly wanting to retrieve.

He has not been leash walked and that will be another challenge for his new owner, although I'm sure that could be sorted out easily with a gentle leader, and maybe some lessons with a trainer.

Declan's fur was badly matted when he arrived, so he got a short hair cut, but it will grow back to normal wolfhound length. I had thought wolfhounds were always shades of gray, but no, other colors exist and Declan is all wolfhound. 

As big as he is, Declan is still rather light on his feet. As demonstrated above and below, Declan goes airborne, all four feet off the ground, when he's playing with another dog. 

Everyone at the vet's office today loved him and he was very good about it all. The woman who groomed him gave him a rave review too, and said he was wonderful in the bath.

He doesn't want to get into the car, but once he's in he rides very well, quiet and no car sickness.

Declan is a wonderful dog and he will certainly fill up your home and fill your heart with love, much like his own.