Irish Wolfhounds: A guide to dogs and puppies of the Irish Wolfhound breed

The Irish Wolfhound!

The Irish Wolfhound is one of the tallest breeds in the world. This massive, muscular dog can reach the size of a small pony. They can even reach up to 7 feet tall when it stands on its hind legs. Atop its muscular, arched neck is a long head with a moderately pointed muzzle. They have a shaggy and rough coat and busy eyebrows. Their large, round paws with arched toes have strong, curved nails. Irish Wolfhounds gives of the impression of strength and elegance. They have strong shoulders and a tail hanging down with a slight curve. When they get excited, their ears stand but is usually just carried back against the head.

Some Quick Facts:

Life Expectancy:
7-9 years

Energy Level:
Gentle and clumsy.

Living Conditions:
Not ideal for constant indoor living because of size

Barking:
Lower than average.

Exercise Needs:
Daily walk and outdoor time.

Breed Group:
Hound

Size:
Large

Height:
28-35 inches

Weight:
100 -150 pounds

Standard Hair Colors:
Gray is the most common color, but their usual colors include gray, brindle, red, black or white.

National breed club:
The Irish Wolfhound Club of America

Irish Wolfhound Skills

Their ancestors possess the necessary skills needed to pursue wild boar, wolves and elk. Before, they were also often given as royal presents. There was even a point that they became popular gifts that their export from Britain was banned. For a time, they disappeared in Ireland in 1766 but later brought back by the Romans to their home country.

Irish Wolfhound Personality

Irish Wolfhounds can be trusted with children. They are sweet-tempered, generous, patient, thoughtful and extremely intelligent. They love their owner and family unconditionally. This breed is very loyal and willing to follow. Though they are not guard dogs in nature, their sheer size already poses a threat. They are friendly with just about anyone and it is futile to make them watch dogs. They are also clumsy and slow to mature, taking two whole years before they can be considered fully-grown. Irish Wolfhounds are relatively easy to train and responds well to gentle yet firm training. They are quick to grasp what you intend and plenty of understanding will boost their confidence and surely go a long way. Take time to make sure they are given as much self-confidence as they need and do it consistently, so that they will turn out to be an equable, confident dog. Before it gets to strong for you, train it not to pull on its leash. This peace-loving breed will get along fine with other canines. However, it has the tendency of attacking a much smaller dog when both are left in an open yard. They grow at a fast pace and giving them high-quality food is essential.

Exercise Needs

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Living Conditions

If you happen to live in an apartment and planning to get an Irish Wolfhound, it is strongly recommended that you do not. They are not suited for apartment life and relatively inactive indoors. Irish Wolfhounds would enjoy having a large yard or a secure, fenced area for exercise. They would be miserable in a kennel but will be extremely happy to be part of a family.

Grooming Requirements

They are average shedders and a pluck once or twice a year is good enough to remove excess dead hair. Grooming with brush and comb will suffice.

Health Issues

Be sure to take extra care of them because they are prone to cardiomyopathy, bone cancer, bloat, Von Willerbrands, PRA, and hip dysplasia.

If you liked this dog…

...you would also like the Great Dane which shares many of the big dog characteristics with the Irish Wolfhound.

Irish Wolfhound Pics