October 27th 2023.
Claire Moorhouse and Jason Mather of Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, are the proud owners of eleven Irish Wolfhounds. These majestic canines range between 60 and 88 kilograms, and the tallest stands 37 inches tall at the shoulder.
Caring for such a large number of dogs is no easy feat. The couple spends an average of £300 a week on dog food, adding up to an annual total of £15,600. This figure doesn't even include the £15,000 they spend on cleaning, blankets, toys and treats.
It all started when the couple got their first wolfhound, Cilla, in 2011. Immediately, they felt a strong connection to this breed and decided two years later to start breeding. Their first litter arrived in 2013.
The couple knew keeping wolfhounds would require a lot of space, so they ended up selling their old house and buying a new one with three acres of land for the dogs to run around in. With the larger house came bigger bills. As Jason jokingly put it, “Everything gets bigger. Your house gets bigger. Your food bill gets bigger. Your car gets bigger.”
Besides investing money, the couple also puts in a lot of time and effort to care for their beloved pets. “It’s busy but it’s a lifestyle,” said Claire. “You need to plan in advance every time you leave the house.”
Despite the challenges, Claire and Jason wouldn’t trade their experience for anything. “When I was a kid my dad worked in a manor house that had these wolfhounds and I just fell in love,” recalls Jason. “They seemed like these giant friendly fluffy magical creatures.”
Claire adds, “You’re unlikely to get burgled and a big positive is that you get to live with a pack. You get these incredible insights into how they think. We’re not trainers and we’re not groomers but we have hands-on skills. We’re also part of a community now. We’ve made so many friends, we never sit down, but you’ll never hear us say we’re bored.”
Claire and Jason love their wolfhounds more than they like people, and they wouldn’t have it any other way. As Jason said, “It’s hard to bear losing them, but you can’t help but fall in love with them.”
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