Lorna May's Irish Wolf-Oodles

02/13/2020

Thank you Carrie M. for sharing a picture of one of Mabel's puppies.. Look at her! Beautiful!

05/10/2019

I have been receiving pictures of Mabel Puppies (2019 - Litter) from their new families.. Enjoy the slide show!

05/10/2019

I have been receiving pictures of Mabel Puppies (2019 - Litter) from their new families.. Enjoy the slide show!

05/01/2019

I do not remove declaws from my puppies. This is the reason why:

The Function of Dewclaws 101

Front dewclaws are typically removed by some at 3-5 days of age, because they are believed to be a non-functional digit that poses an unnecessary risk for being injured.

In standing, the front dewclaw may not appear to be functional because it doesn't come in contact with the ground. However, observing the dewclaw when the dog is in motion tells a different story.

Five tendons attach to the dewclaw and play an important role when the dog is in motion. For example:

-When a dog’s lead leg is on the ground during the gallop or canter, the dewclaw is on the ground to stabilize the carpus

-When a dog turns, the dewclaw digs into the ground to support the structures of the limb and prevent torque

If a dog does not have dewclaws, there is a higher potential for the carpal ligaments to stretch and tear which could result in laxity and arthritis over time (OUCH!). This can then result in more stress being generated through the dog's carpus, elbow, shoulder, and spine as it tries to compensate for the lack of digit.

On the other hand, the rear dewclaws do not have associated tendons and are considered non-functional (though they may be required for some breed standards to be present).


In speaking with many vets, you would be surprised at how few dewclaw injuries they see.

So- given the front dewclaws' functional use, why are we so quick to remove them?

In dogs, the most common injuries seen by many rehab providers and vets occur in the shoulder complex, yet we don’t see shoulders being removed. Food for thought!

Here are some cool videos if you'd like to learn more about the functional use of dewclaws in dogs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp2xHj_NJn4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4XflsMEk-k

This is an excerpt from the DVD Tongue to Tail - The Integrated Movement of the Dog. Produced by Galen Natural Progression. The DVD as a whole can be bought ...

03/10/2019

This little gentleman has found his forever family. Yvan, Ethan, and Aedan have named their new buddy: Jamba!
Jamba will be going with his new family April 15th!
Congrats Boys!

03/05/2019

Great pointers!

If you subscribe to my newsletters then you probably already heard the exciting news—my parents adopted a new

03/05/2019

Wonderful tips for you and your family with your new precious puppy.

http://bit.ly/jf4klr - More great tips for raising a happy and healthy puppy! How to Take Care of a Puppy: Bringing a Puppy Home Professional Dog trainer Kat...

03/03/2019

Puppy Therapy! Check it out!

From puppies confused by their own hiccups, puppies trying to bite a dog's tail, to puppies sitting in a watermelon and eating it, these are just a few of th...

03/03/2019

Mabel and Ollie's first litter (2019) (Feb 13)
Mabel had 9 puppies with this litter
6 males
3 females
Nice midnight black with a tuxedo marking and white stockings, with the slight lovely curl.

09/18/2018

Mabel and Devin have become very close. Many know that Devin has autism, and Mabel picked up on that right away. She follows Devin everywhere. She is a "Velcro" dog, which is perfect for his sensory/pressure needs. Mabel is always right there to make sure Devin is OK! Can't ask for a man's best friend better than that :) :)

09/18/2018

Our Mabel is one special gal! She came all the way from Missouri and we are so happy that she is a part of our family. Her and my oldest son Devin have become very close. :) :) :)

09/03/2018

Can't wait for this adventure to begin. Bringing our Irish Wolfhound: Mabel and our Standard Poodle: Ollie to create very special puppies for very special families. 😊Hoping for our first litter of bringing these two great breeds together this fall. 😊Just in time for Christmas. 😊Stay Tune!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🐶🐶🐶🎉🎉🎉🎉