Health Equals Success for Kerryarc Irish Wolfhounds
Showing Irish Wolfhounds is “not for the faint of heart,” as 15-year-old Chandler Collier-Tyler, of Kerryarc Irish Wolfhounds, puts it. And, one quickly begins to understand why when observing the dedication and commitment that the Tyler family puts into breeding and showing these magnificent dogs.
Longtime Platinum Performance clients, the Tyler Family, of Comanche, Calif., are veterans on the Irish Wolfhound show circuit. Their ranch, Kerryarc, is home to generations of champion Irish Wolfhounds that the Tylers have bred and shown.
Their latest achievement is proof of the success of their passion. At the end of May, their dog, Kerryarc Fast Cars, won the annual Irish Wolfhound Club of America National Specialty with Multiple National Specialty, Best in Hound Show and Hound Group. This was the second time Kerryarc Fast Cars won the national title, with the previous win in 2008. According to Collier-Tyler, the last Irish Wolfhound to win two national titles was nearly 30 years ago. “The thrill of a lifetime for a breeder is to win a national with a dog they bred, and even better, bred, owned and handled. We’ve been blessed to win it twice.”
The Irish Wolfhound’s exquisitely tall stature makes them one of the tallest dog breeds. Historically these dogs were used to hunt wolves and had to possess not only speed, but also endurance. They are often described as graceful with an easy yet powerful gait. An easygoing animal, they are usually quiet by nature.
“All of my siblings and I have been raised with the Wolfhounds,” said Collier-Tyler. “They’ve done some incredible things for us. We’ve met people from all walks of life, from all over the world. We’ve been able to travel all across the country and have had some incredible opportunities.”
The Tylers’ love for their dogs is ever-apparent and quite possibly unsurpassed with the care they receive. Collier-Tyler, her mom Mandy Tyler, and her 17-year-old brother Sam Collier, all show the dogs and take an active role in caring for them. “As breeders, being able to succeed with dogs that we bred through multiple generations of Kerryarc Irish Wolfhounds is our quintessential definition of winning,” said Collier-Tyler.
“Breeding, owning, and showing Irish Wolfhounds is not only our passion, it is our lifestyle. We put a tremendous amount of time into feeding, training, exercising and grooming every day,” said Collier-Tyler. “It’s essential as breeders of Kerryarc Irish Wolfhounds to monitor our dogs’ health and happiness on a daily and sometimes hourly basis.”
“Our big deal is health, health, health and happy puppies,” said Collier-Tyler. That’s why Platinum Performance is a crucial part of the Kerryarc program. Platinum is fed twice, daily to all Kerryarc dogs, which can include nearly 30 dogs, plus puppies. “From the time our puppies start to eat, they get Platinum. Even in gestation our puppies are receiving it. Platinum is essential for our Wolfhounds, but especially our puppies because of the fast rate they put on bone and their joints grow. We also notice when our puppies are teething, they stay up on their feet, and they are able to ‘rose’ their ears, which shows how strong their ligaments, tendons and cartilage are,” said Collier-Tyler. “They get the proper nutrients that Platinum offers. We see a difference in their brilliance, their overall appearance and general good health.”
Kerryarc dogs are bred primarily to produce future quality generations for the Kerryarc breeding and showing program. “As breeders, we emphasize keeping only the very best for our own program. We are incredibly careful of where our puppies go. We have a select few people who are fortunate enough to be able to have show puppies from us and breed with us. The balance of the puppies go into loving companion homes on limited registration and are never used for breeding. Having said that, from what we select to further our breeding program, approximately 98 percent are champions,” said Collier-Tyler.
“We attribute our success to a lot of hard work, dedication, team work, years of experience and staying true to the breed standard, making sure the Irish Wolfhound breed comes first,” said Collier-Tyler. “Breeding, raising, owning and showing Irish Wolfhounds is not for the faint of heart. Owning an Irish Wolfhound isn’t easy, although absolutely worth all the effort.”
To learn more about Kerryarc Irish Wolfhounds, visit www.kerryarcirishwolfhounds.com.
