CONTACT & INFO

JOURNEY
Our journey to loving Irish Wolfhounds began while living in New Orleans, LA. After lengthy research, and contacting many good breeders, we brought home our first little hound, Maeve, in August 1996. We had no idea that she would change our lives forever, shape who we would grow into and what we love to do with our time. In 2003 we moved to Milwaukee, WI, began participating in Milwaukee Irish Fest, St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and continued competing with our hounds in AKC Conformation. Soon we also began competing in AKC Agility, Rally, Obedience, LGRA, Fast CAT, and Scent Work.

HEALTH TESTING & PARTICIPATION
We health test, attend and participate in IW Specialties, seminars, and are active members of national, international, and regional Irish Wolfhound clubs, as well as local All-Breed dog clubs. We have exceeded the requirements by the AKC to have the honor of being recognized as AKC Breeders of Merit.

LIMITED BREEDING
If you choose to contact us regarding our hounds, kindly tell us about yourself in detail. Please also tell us how you became interested in Irish Wolfhounds. We choose to do limited breeding and have a long wait list for potential homes. We have a legally binding contract and do home checks, as well as reference checks before homes are chosen for our puppies. This is not a business transaction for us. Puppy owners become extensions of our family, and are asked to stay in touch often. New owners will have beings we have chosen to create, for whom we have tremendous love for, and feel an overwhelming concern for their lives being the best they can possibly be.

THERAPY DOG vs SERVICE DOG
While we do know a few Irish Wolfhounds have temperaments that are suited for being amazing therapy dogs, and we have a TDI certified therapy dog, ourselves, we don't feel wolfhounds are suited to be actual "service dogs" due to the different style of training they require, their personalities, prey drive, and their shorter life span. Please look at other breeds who are better acclimated for being a service dog. While it is extremely worthwhile and admirable to be one, we will not place our puppies as potential service dogs. Racing, agility, obedience, rally, conformation, and therapy are more suited to our line and the breed.

QUALITY BREEDERS
Finding a good breeder is of utmost importance. You may not have plans to show or compete, but that does not mean you don't want a healthy, well-socialized, balanced puppy. Patience will be needed in finding the right puppy because ethical breeders don't always have available pups. Sadly, locating a less-than-ethical or commercial "breeder" who has multiple litters a year, does limited or no health testing, and is willing to sell a puppy to you without investing time and asking any questions is easy. Look for a breeder who cares more about their puppies going to a wonderful home than the money they will be charging for a puppy. And choose a breeder who is in good standing with the National and Regional breed clubs.

-Dave & Risha Berzins

Tipitina, April 2021. Photo Credit: Risha Cupit-Berzins

Hubig, Marigny, and Dauphine, 2014. Photo Credit: Risha Cupit-Berzins