Monday 28 July 2025

Meet the Dog | Behind the colossal bulk hides a delicate and very sweet soul. Imposing, elegant, mysterious: His Highness the Irish Wolfhound by Chiara De Carli

Thanks a lot Chiara De Carli for the great article about our Irish wolfhounds published last Saturday in our city's newspaper "La Gazzetta di Parma”

Saturday, July 26, 2025

Meet the Dog | Behind the colossal bulk lies a delicate and sweet soul

Impressive, elegant, mysterious: His Highness the Irish Wolfhound

by Chiara De Carli

Impressive, elegant, mysterious. The Irish Wolfhound is one of those dogs that—once you meet him—changes the way you look at the animal world. It's impossible to remain indifferent to his majestic height and his deep, "ancient," and almost human gaze. Yet, behind the colossal bulk lies a delicate, reserved, and sweet soul. "The Irish Wolfhound is not just any companion dog. He's a creature that demands your time, presence, and respect. He doesn't like noise or hustle and bustle. He loves quiet, routine. He loves being there, close by, without asking for anything," says Alex Riva, who, with his wife Ottavia, runs the "Arkham" kennel in Langhirano. A gentle giant, but with more than just physical grandeur. "They are sensitive, balanced, and reserved animals. They almost never bark. They bond deeply, but not intrusively. They need constant companionship and routine. If you leave them alone for too long, they'll shut down."

This is precisely why they're not suitable for everyone. "They're dogs to life. Not for leaving in the garden. They need to walk every day, sleep comfortably, hear your voice. And learn about the world. That's why we work hard on early socialization." For them, their first encounter with this breed was love at first sight. "We were in Milan and we saw one on the street. One look was enough. We started researching, looking for breeders, visiting shows, and shortly after, Merlino arrived." From that moment, their lives changed. "Then came Parsifal, our second dog. But we had a painful encounter with him: portosystemic shunting, a congenital liver malformation, unfortunately not that rare in the breed." Parsifal, in his short life, taught the value of prevention. "The postprandial bile acid test is the only way to rule it out with certainty. If a breeder doesn't do it, it means they're not protecting either the dog or the family that adopts him." But this isn't the only aspect to keep an eye on. The Irish Wolfhound is among the tallest dogs in the world—adult males can exceed 90 cm at the withers—and, like all large dogs, can be predisposed to joint, cardiac, and respiratory problems. "When choosing a puppy, the first thing to ask is: who are the parents? Which breeders do they come from? What is their pedigree? If a breeder gets annoyed, that's already a sign. The pedigree isn't a piece of paper: it's a story of choices, health, and selection."

Behind each of Alex and Ottavia's puppies are journeys, studies, and even important collaborations. "Over the years, I've developed relationships with breeders around the world, especially in the United States and Canada, where they've maintained a balance between health, morphology, and character. Our goal, however, isn't trophies—though that obviously doesn't hurt—but health. We want to contribute to the future of the breed. We want these dogs to live longer and better lives, and to continue to enchant those who meet them by chance. As happened to us that day in Milan." And Arkham Wolfhounds aren't just show dogs or companions, they're also "photo models." "Last fall, some of our dogs were featured in an advertising campaign for a men's clothing brand. They contacted us after seeing our dogs at the Expo, and the shoot was filmed in various locations. The dogs behaved impeccably, and it was moving: who knows, maybe we'll repeat the experience."

Irish Wolfhound: Adult males can exceed 90 cm at the withers.