What I learned after adopting a giant-breed dog

When we lost our 15-year-old golden retriever, our family was consumed by grief. A giant hole was left in our hearts and in our home. Giant isn’t even a big enough word to describe the lasting impression our Winnifred had left. 

For weeks, I insisted we would not be getting another dog to replace her. I was adamant, I told my two kids and my husband. There was no dog who could ease my grief. Then, I discovered that there was a responsible breeder of my dream dog who lived within two hours of our home. 

Enter the new giant in our lives. I’ve always loved the majestic look of the Irish Wolfhound. Tall, wirehaired and very much horse-like, they stand 81 to 89 cm tall and weigh 140 to 180 lbs. It was important to me to choose a breeder who was ethical, had a long-standing history of breeding, a pristine history of health for the animals and was someone who could provide guidance as we raised our new dog. Within a few short weeks, we were able to bring home our puppy. 

Here are four things I wish I knew before bringing home my new fur baby, Betty.

Food costs

It all begins with large breed puppy food. Formulated to slow the growth of your Wolfhound, it lets bones grow at a slower pace. This is important because Wolfhounds grow so quickly that their bones can become brittle and break easily. A 38-lbs bag of Purina Pro Plan Large Breed puppy food rings in at approximately $115.00 per bag. The price does not sound unreasonable when you factor in a smaller appetite of three cups a day for a nine-week-old puppy. Blink and they are consuming close to nine cups of food per day. This does not include treats. Any good boy or girl will likely set you back $10 to $15 a week in high-value dog treats. 

Other expenditures

Keeping up with a giant breed’s growth spurts is not for the fainthearted. From upgrading to heavier-duty leashes to larger harnesses, we’ve paid a small fortune in oversized puppy accessories. 

Our early misstep was the size of the dog beds we purchased. We must have bought four or five beds as she grew before finally finding the biggest dog bed we could fit into our SUV. 

Crate training, in my opinion, is a necessity when your near-teenage puppy, who stands as high as a countertop, is left to their own devices at home. We started with a smaller crate, but realized she was getting too tall and needed to upgrade to a crate with no top. 

Puppy training classes were another expenditure I recommend. Back when we first adopted our golden retriever, we were childless and had all the time in the world to focus on training our new puppy. Now, as parents to two children and both working full-time, a course at the Sudbury District Kennel Club was the best fit for us to provide structured training for our pup. Two hundred dollars later, we have a more civilized giant land-shark who can follow commands such as sit, stay, lie down, and do a decent recall. 

Insurance

Vet bills are inevitable when it comes to any fur-child. When you factor in the cost of dosage, which is based on weight and size, the bills are super-sized, too. In the first six months, we paid for three rounds of vaccinations, a well-puppy visit and parasite protection from fleas and ticks. These are all considered standard costs associated with owning a dog. Unplanned costs came when Betty was four months old and acquired a double ear infection and required antibiotic treatment. Testing and treatment totalled $400. Luckily, Pets Plus Us offers pet insurance and is a CAA partner, so we got pet insurance to help cover the cost of unexpected vet bills. This coverage helped allow us to rest easier when it comes to unplanned emergency room visits or medical treatments.

Attention

Be prepared to be a spokesperson for your breed. Questions ranging from “Is that a horse?” to “How big are their poops?” are frequent and welcome. I’ve leaned into the conversation about the breed and have become more informed about its origin and purpose. 

People are drawn to the sheer size of our now 10-month-old, who currently weighs 85 lbs. We garner “oohs and awws” wherever we turn, and in true gentle giant fashion, she soaks up all the pats on the head. 

In the end, welcoming an Irish Wolfhound into our lives was never about replacing what we lost, but about making space for a new love to grow. The costs, the logistics, the adjustments, and the constant attention are very real—and at times overwhelming—but they pale in comparison to the joy of watching Betty stretch out across our living room floor or gently rest her head in a child’s lap. Grief opened the door, practicality framed the decision, and love sealed it. Our home is once again filled with fur, laughter, oversized footprints, and a presence that feels both familiar and entirely new. Betty has reminded us that hearts don’t replace what they lose; they expand—and sometimes, they expand just enough to fit a gentle giant.

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