Hi!

I'm M-J. I was born in Antwerp. My partner is Ian, born in Liverpool and we live together in Antwerp city. I'm a teacher of Dutch and English. I also speak French, a little German, Spanish and Chinese.

In 1979 I got my first Irish Wolfhound. 9 months later I bought my second. I fell in love with this ancient breed. 

As the years passed I couldn't but notice the short lifespan of the Wolfhounds. By some they got known as the 'Heartbreak breed'.

In American as well as in Scandinavian countries a study showed, cancer was the biggest cause of death, followed by heart disease.

Of course the smaller the breed the longer the lifespan. We can also see that some bloodlines have a better reputation for longevity than others. And we do see Irish Wolfhonds becoming 10, 11, 12, ... even 16 (the record as far as I know).

The idea started growing to make noticable improvements in the health and longevity of the breed. I don't have the pretence I know all about genetics, etc. but I'm not afraid to admit to that and ask advice to people who do. Longevity and vigor often run in families.  So does heart disease. It's good Wolfhounds get a yearly or even half yearly check up.  We have to try to eliminate the bad and stimulate the good factors.

For some of our last Wolfhounds I travelled 1400 km, cause I knew there was a good line, without any heart problems. This was after my favourite 's heart  had stopped at the age of 3 years  and 5 months. I was devastated, don't wish this upon anyone. The potential for longevity contains inherited components.

When I chose a kennel name I got parts of the names of my dogs present at that time :

                               Ca  (as in Cato=Kato)

                               ra   (as in Keara)

                               jai  (as in Jaimie)

So it became Irish Wolfhounds  'of Carajai's Castle', because Wolfhounds definitely belong in a castle and because 'cara' means friend, therefore thinking of 'friends of Jaimie' . When you're the friend of a Wolfhound, you have a friend for life!

We don't have traditional kennels. We live together with the dogs in our house built in 1899. Puppies are house raised and integrated into the pack  at an early age so they learn the social skills required in order to be well functioning dogs. Every day we go out on a walkabout. Our dogs come with us on our holidays to European countries (Spain, France, Holland, Germany, Italy, England, ...). We tend to follow obedience classes with all of them. They are what they deserve to be: part of the family.