irish wolfhound

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Good tempered, patient and thoughtful!

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South

Irish Wolfhounds as Pets:

general health

energy level

Detachability

trainability

intelligence

chewing tendency

size

family and kid friendly

happy/barking

low

separation anxiety

low

preferred temperature

average climate

exercise needs

ease

be friendly with other dogs

poor

Thoroughbred Cost of Ownership

$1,500 and $2,000

pack of dogs

hound

male weight

-161 lbs

female weight

-132 lbs

evolution and history

The 4th century Romans mentioned very large dogs among the Gaels (ancient Irish). However, zooarchaeologists say no one knew of a dog the size of an Irish wolfhound before AD 1200. This may be due to the fact that the large Irish dogs gained their size after crossing with the bloodhounds of the medieval Middle East, known for their size and hunting prowess.

Irish clans then used the breed in battle because despite their gentle nature, these dogs were fierce fighters. Throughout the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, the Irish Wolfhound was praised in literature for its gentleness and strength. Usually owned only by nobles, they were often presented as prized gifts to visiting royalty and dignitaries. However, in the 1700s, Irish farmers and hunters chose the breed to help them control the wolves that were rampant in the countryside. Hence their name.

Unfortunately, these heirloom Irish wolfhounds did too well. By the 1860s, wolves were extinct in Ireland, and the breed was nearly extinct. At the time, British Army Captain George Graham was scouting Ireland for any remaining Irish wolfhounds and made it his goal to do everything in his power to preserve the breed. He is still revered for this work.

Irish Wolfhound Health and Recreation

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Throughout their history, the breed has come in both short-legged and long-legged types, but today the Irish Wolfhound is the tallest of all breeds. Irish wolfhounds are sight hounds, meaning they are able to hunt using their keen eyesight and great speed. They are known for their very dignified, calm and courageous demeanor.

3 Pros and Cons of Ownership

size and weight

Irish Wolfhounds are large dogs, possibly the tallest of the breed. Males are at least 32 inches tall, but usually closer to 36 inches, and females are at least 30 inches tall, but usually closer to 33 inches. An adult male can weigh up to 160 pounds and an adult female can weigh up to 130 pounds. A 2-month-old puppy typically weighs about 24 pounds. By 6 months, male puppies weigh nearly 100 pounds and female puppies about 90 pounds. They are fully grown when they are three years old.

common health problems

If you're considering adopting one of these dogs, there are some common health issues you should be aware of. It's also important to note that they may not "complain" when something is bothering them, which can make it more challenging to identify what the problem is.

Irish wolfhounds can get cancer. Osteosarcoma is a bone tumor that most commonly occurs in the extremities, but can also be found in the bones of a dog's spine, chest cavity and even the skull. Some Irish wolfhounds can also develop heart disease. This may include dilated cardiomyopathy. Usually, your veterinarian is able to treat this disease.

This breed can also be affected by a gastrointestinal problem called bloat or torsion, which requires immediate treatment. Pneumonia is another health problem to watch out for. Finally, before bringing home Irish Wolfhound puppies, make sure they've been checked for liver shunt, a developmental disorder.

To recap, some of the most common health issues faced by Irish wolfhounds are:

• cancer
• Heart disease (including dilated cardiomyopathy)
• expand or twist
• pneumonia
• hepatic bypass

temperament

These dogs are known for their brave behavior. However, they also don't have an aggressive personality, which makes them great dogs around kids. They are also very calm dogs. This trait also makes them great family pets. However, if you plan to keep an Irish wolfhound around young children, you still need to ensure close supervision due to how large these dogs are.

Another characteristic that defines this breed is their easy-going nature. While they will usually listen to your request, this may take some time. While Irish Wolfhounds will do well inside, it's always a good idea to take extra care when you're outside with them. They are hunters by nature, so they may spot an animal and try to chase it.

care

If you're bringing home one of these dogs, there are some key things you'll want to consider when planning their care. Understanding their health needs, dietary and nutritional needs, and other aspects of care they need will set you up for success with your new furry friend.

best dog food

As they are very large dogs, be prepared for them to eat a lot of food. For puppies and adults, it is better to feed them several small meals throughout the day rather than several large meals. If you give them too much food at any one meal, they may overeat, which could make them sick.

When choosing food for your puppy, choose whole foods that are very low in calcium and have little to no added supplements. A raw food or high-quality kibble will be your best choice for raising an Irish Wolfhound puppy.

Unlike puppies, adult Irish wolfhounds are capable of self-regulation. This means they only eat when they are hungry and do not overeat. Once your puppy is an adult, you can choose to continue feeding small amounts throughout the day, or you can switch to ad libitum feeding, allowing your dog to eat when hungry.

When choosing food for your adult Irish Wolfhound, you'll also want to look for quality food. Raw food or adult kibble made with high-quality ingredients is also suitable for adult Irish Wolfhounds. When formulating a diet for your dog, you should try to include approximately 25 percent protein and 15 percent fat. Keep in mind the breed's vulnerability to heart conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy. Soy in dog food has been linked to heart failure, so you can choose a soy-free dog food.

Our pick for the best dog food for Irish Wolfhounds at AZ Animals is Purina Pro Plan Large and Jumbo Chicken and Rice Adult Dry Dog Food.

This food does not contain any worrisome legumes, such as lentils and peas, which Irish wolfhounds should avoid. Instead, get real chicken, fish, and beef, which are natural sources of taurine, which supports a strong heart. Due to the breed's potential for pneumonia and cancer, we love that this large breed's formula also contains amino acids, prebiotic fiber, and live probiotics to boost the immune system.

You can find Purina Pro Plan Large and Giant Breed dog food on Chewy and Amazon.

Maintenance and Grooming

As far as grooming goes, this breed is relatively easy to care for. The Irish Wolfhound has a double coat consisting of a rough, strong outer coat covered by a soft undercoat. Their hair will not be matted. However, you will need to brush several times a week and pluck dead hair about twice a year. If you don't, your dog will look scruffy.

Unlike other dogs that may have hair all over your house, Irish Wolfhounds don't shed. You'll want to keep an eye on their whiskers and clean it regularly, as it gets dirty when the dog eats.

train

Irish Wolfhounds are relatively easy to train. They respond best to positive reinforcement. When choosing a training method, you need to look for one that centers on positive reinforcement for your dog. You may find that your Irish Wolfhound puppy is clumsy and not very obedient, but after they are a year old, this should not be a problem anymore.

exercise

Irish Wolfhounds need 20 to 40 minutes of exercise each day. When your dog is a puppy, it's important to make sure they don't get so much exercise that they can damage growing bones, ligaments, and joints that are still soft.

It's also important to avoid exercising your dog while it's eating. Because of the risk of gas in Irish Wolfhounds, it can be dangerous to exercise them before or after meals.

puppy

If you're considering adopting a puppy, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, remember that these dogs are very large dogs, so the puppy you bring home will grow very quickly. They are slow to mature, so be prepared to deal with large breed puppy behavior for quite some time.

You should definitely be ready to enroll your puppy in training classes. If they're not well trained, they can do a lot of damage just because of their size, even if they don't want to cause trouble.

When raising Irish Wolfhound puppies, it is also important to realize that their joints and bones still have a lot of development to do. Therefore, you want to be careful to limit their movement and take care to prevent stress on their joints.

interact with children

This breed can make a great family dog. However, due to their large size, they are best suited for families with older children. These dogs may accidentally knock over or startle a baby or toddler.

This dog breed is very gentle and loves children. It's still important to make sure your child knows how to handle dogs appropriately and how to play with them safely. As with other dog breeds, when your children are near your Irish Wolfhound, it is important to supervise them to ensure everyone's safety.

similar dog

Greyhounds, Great Danes, and Setters are three dog breeds that resemble the Irish Wolfhound.

• Great Dane: The Great Dane and the Irish Wolfhound are the two largest dog breeds. There is sometimes debate about which breed is the largest. In general, Great Danes are heavier than Irish Wolfhounds, but Irish Wolfhounds are taller than Great Danes.
• Greyhound: Greyhounds and Irish Wolfhounds are both very large dogs. Additionally, both dogs are sighthounds, which means they are good at spotting prey.

• Bloodhound: The Irish Wolfhound is also similar to hunting dogs, such as the Irish Setter. Both dogs were bred to be hunting dogs and are both large in size. However, the Irish Wolfhound is heavier and taller than the Irish Setter.
• Scottish Deerhound: The Scottish Deerhound is another breed that is very similar to the Irish Wolfhound. These dogs can be difficult to distinguish from Irish wolfhounds due to their large size and similar coloration. However, the Irish Wolfhound is taller and more muscular than the Scottish Deerhound. Their tails are also longer and slightly curved, whereas the Scottish Deerhound's tail tapers and almost touches the ground.

popular name

Not surprisingly, many of the breed's most popular names are of Gaelic or other Celtic origin and are rooted in Irish tradition or history. These names include:

• Aodh, pronounced oogh or Hugh, means the Celtic god of fire
• Anluan, pronounced on-lin, translates to big hound
• Cathal, pronounced Cahool, means mighty in battle
• conan or hound
• Connor, translates to Hound Lovers
• motor, or dog
• Onchu, meaning mighty dog

famous irish wolfhound

As one of, if not the largest dog breed, you might want to know about some of the "famous" Irish Wolfhounds:

• Liam Hemsworth's dog Dora: Golden Doodle, an Irish wolfhound mix, was rescued by Liam in 2015 when she Only 6 months old.
• John F. Kennedy: When John F. Kennedy was president, he had an Irish wolfhound named Wolfe. Wolfe was a gift from Irish priest Thomas Kennedy.

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