How many in a litter?
There can be anywhere from 1-20,but an average litter is about six puppies.

How many are "show" quality?
Unless a puppy has a major hereditary fault such as retaining one or both testicles - all Irish Wolfhound puppies are show quality if they have 4 legs, 2 ears, 2 eyes and a tail, because there are no disqualifications other than monorchidism or cryptorchidism in the standard. The number of truly worthwhile show puppies varies depending on the litter quality. In some litters there may only be one or 2 stars, in a larger litter there can be multiple worthy puppies, but no litter is ever entirely show quality.

How often do you feed them and how much?
The mother nurses them the first few weeks and then feed is added several times a day. When the puppies are weaned,they receive four meals a day to start.

Do they require supplemental feeding?
Only if the bitch cannot nurse or if they aren't getting enough milk or its a very large litter, or if a smaller puppy is getting pushed away without getting time to nurse.

How do you pick the stud & dam?
Look for the qualities needing improving in the bitch. A good temperament and complimentary bloodlines. Health screening should be done to rule out potential problems, and both parents should have approximately 75% champions in the first 3 generations.

When are the puppies weaned & what are they weaned to?
I start adding to their food between three and four weeks, and they usually wean between four and five weeks,or when the bitch says ENOUGH! They are weaned to puppy formula mixed with milk,softened,and usually put on adult at about ten to twelve weeks.

When do the puppies' eyes open?
The eyes begin opening at about ten to twelve days, but may not be totally open until 14-16 days.

How active are they?
You can't imagine! They are walking before the eyes open and at weaning they are in and out of the whelping box!

How much room does a Whelping box take?
People vary but generally hand made boxes are about 5x 6 feet. Sometimes they are a little longer. Big enough for the bitch to stretch out.

How much room does the nursery take?
The nursery takes up one whole room. At about five weeks they will leave the whelping box and go out onto the paper to potty and back on the blankets in the box to sleep. Change papers every few hours at this stage!

When can they go outside?
If there are no problems, and no parvo worries, they can go out about five to six weeks. Thats if the weather has been timed right.

Who gets first pick?
There is an agreement between the stud dog owner and the owner of the bitch as to who will get which pick. If the stud dog owner takes a fee insteead of a puppy, the owner of the bitch gets first pick, then purchasers looking for show puppies, then pet purchasers.

What is custom for establishing which pup goes to whom?
For pet puppies I usually try to place puppies according to temperament and attitude. Rowdy pups go to homes who are active, etc. Some breeders do puppy aptitude testing to help match puppies with their new homes

What is the ratio of boy to girls?
It varies from litter to litter but the average would be 50/50 - boys to girls.

Why is one bigger or smaller?
It changes as they grow and size at birth usually doesn't mean anything. Because a bitch can conceive over several days, some puppies may be the result of a later breeding and therefore a few ounces smaller. In the long run they will all grow to be the size they are genetically programmed to be as long as they receive proper food and exercise. Quite often the smallest IW in a litter ends up as the biggest dog.

How do you keep track of them?
Many breeders use coloured ribbon or wool to identify puppies. Others use nail polish and paint a toe nail.

What does the vet do with them?
The vet checks the pups and vaccinates them and fills out a health report. Many breeders will also have the vet remove the dewclaws.

What shots do they get and when?
Vaccination programs will vary slightly between veterinarians. Most give a puppy shot (Distemper, Adenovirus, Parainfluenza and Parvovirus) at approximately 6 weeks, and ten weeks with a final adult booster and Rabies vaccine at 14 weeks. There has been concern in recent years that we may be over vaccinating and some breeders are now spreading out their innoculations rather than giving the group shot.

What about dewclaws?
Most people remove dew claws at two to four days, but some don't. A matter of preference.

Do tails or ears need corrections?
Tails and ears are not usually anything to mess with. You get what you get. You can help rose them but we don't tape or glue like terriers.

What support will breeder supply?
Breeders will vary in what they supply with the puppy. Some simply supply the registration form (and some not even that!) while others will also supply food, information about your puppy, a pedigree and material about raising your puppy, toys, dishes, etc.. The better breeders will be a 24 hour a day/7 day a week resource for you when you have questions or problems.

What information do I need to take my puppy home?
As a minimum you should know what type of food the puppy is eating,what quantities and how often. You should know what vaccinations the puppy has had and when it is due for additional boosters.

How do I fly/drive the puppy home?
It is always safest for your puppy to travel in a crate for his own protection. Some breeders will not fly puppies until they are at least 3 months of age.

Should I give breeder my old clothes so puppy knows me?
Yes, it is helpful to let your puppy get used to your scent.

What will they do after the flight/drive?
The first thing the puppy will need to do is to relieve itself. Have a collar and leash ready and immediately carry the puppy to an appropriate place.

What is the wellness/health report on the puppy mean?
Wellness report means the vet has examined the puppy and states it is healthy and free of communicable diseases. Or the breeder verifies whatever guarantee,such as free of genetic problems.

Why should I see a vet when I get puppy home?
You should see a vet as soon as you get home to get an independant opinion to verify the pup is healthy and free of problems, before you become too attached to give it up.

Why does breeder insist that I return the puppy if there are problems?
Breeders don't insist you return puppy if there is a problem, only that they are willing to take the puppy back if there IS a problem. Some have a clause in the contract that says if you decide to not keep the puppy it HAS to be returned to them. Sort of a safety net for the breeder.

What does "puppy proof" mean?
Puppy proof is to remove anything of value or harm that a puppy might find entertaining,but not good for the puppy!

Many thanks to Kathy Cummings who provided most of the answers to these questions.