Mary Allen
A well-known phrase is “The wolf in sheep’s clothing”. An Irish wolfhound does it the other way around: it’s a sheep in wolf’s clothing.
An Irish wolfhound is something very special: The shaggy dog with the daring appearance is not only one of the largest dog breeds in the world but also has an extremely lovable and gentle disposition.
In our breed portrait of the Irish Wolfhound, there is all the important information about the huge dog. Here you can find out where the breed comes from, what optimal care looks like, and what is important when it comes to training and keeping.
What does an Irish Wolfhound look like?
The most conspicuous characteristics of the Irish Wolfhound, which sometimes cause some passers-by to cross the street out of caution, are their size and their rather wild appearance. This makes the dog think more of a wolf and less of a gentle pet.
The coat of the Irish Wolfhound is rough and wiry, of medium length, and permitted in Germany in the colors white, grey, black, red, fawn, and brindle. In Ireland, its country of origin, all color variants that occur in the related Deerhound are also permitted.
Despite its size and weight, the Irish Wolfhound’s build is never clumsy and clumsy. The body of a nimble greyhound rests under the thick, long fur: It is very slim, sinewy and the chest is deep in front, as with all greyhounds, but narrow and tapered towards the waist.
Another prominent feature is the so-called rose ears. They are set far back on the Irish Wolfhound’s narrow skull and are quite small compared to its enormous size.
How big is an Irish Wolfhound?
The size of the breed is impressive and it is not for nothing that the dogs are among the largest dog breeds in the world: Males reach an average height at the withers of between 79 cm and 90 cm. Bitches grow between 71 cm and 79 cm. In 2012, the wolfhound “Wölfi” set the record as Germany’s tallest dog at an impressive 1.14 meters.
How heavy is an Irish Wolfhound?
Anyone who is that big also weighs a lot: males should weigh between 45 kg and 59 kg and females between 40 kg and 50 kg. As always, the respective weight depends on body type and size.
How old does an Irish wolfhound get?
Unfortunately, the Irish Wolfhound also has the same health problems as almost all very large dog breeds. The breed has an average life expectancy of fewer than eight years. Few dogs live to be ten years old or more. For some time now, many breeders have been trying to improve the life expectancy of dogs by focusing primarily on health and care and no longer (only) on appearance.
What character or nature does an Irish Wolfhound have?
With its wild appearance and its gloomy name “Wolfhound”, it may not look like it at all, but the giant has an extremely loving, good-natured, and affectionate character. Despite his past as a hunting dog that could even kill bears, he probably wouldn’t harm a fly for no reason today.
The Irish Wolfhounds are considered to be very affectionate and people-oriented. They actively seek closeness and contact with their human family, want to cuddle all the time, and are happiest when their mistress or master devotes all their attention to their four-legged friends. The dogs get along great with children and have a strong sense of family. Even towards strangers, they are usually more curious and friendly than aggressive. Therefore, despite its size and impressive appearance, the breed is not suitable as either a court dog or a guard dog.
The character of Irish Wolfhounds is characterized by inner calm, patience, and adaptability. At the same time, the Irish Wolfhound is basically still a running and hunting dog and accordingly requires diverse and busy activities. His hunting instinct is considered to be strong, which is why his people should pay special attention to it outdoors. Because once the dog has discovered potential “prey” for the first time, even the best training often does not help against the urge to start sprinting immediately.
Where does the Irish wolfhound come from?
The name says it all: the dogs come from Ireland. The breed is not only one of the largest dog breeds in the world but also one of the oldest. Evidence has been found during archaeological excavations that date back to around 7000 BC. BC in Ireland and England document the existence of large greyhound-like dogs. The Irish Wolfhound is probably descended from them.
From the Middle Ages until well into the 17th century, the huge dog was an extremely popular hunting dog for the big game among the English nobility. He became a prestigious status symbol, which was also given to other European royal families. Its main function was to protect the counties’ cattle herds from predators such as the wolf. That’s why it got its name and not because it looks like a wolf.
With the extinction of the wolf in England and many other European countries, the Irish Wolfhound lost its primary role and its decline began. In the 19th century, the breed was considered almost extinct with only a few living specimens left. It is thanks to Scottish breeder George Augustus Graham that we can still enjoy the gentle giants today. He crossed the few remaining dogs from Ireland with other breeds such as the Deerhound, Great Dane, and Borzoi in the 1850s. In this way, he laid the foundation for today’s Irish Wolfhound, which, in contrast to its ancestors, is somewhat larger, stronger, and less fast.
Irish Wolfhound: Proper Keeping and Training
The very loving, sociable, and easily trainable character of Irish wolfhounds contrasts with the high urge to move and the pronounced hunting instinct. Comprehensive basic training from the puppy age is essential for upbringing. The dog should be taught consistently but lovingly early on to listen to the commands of its people in “hunting situations”. Nevertheless, even with a very well-behaved dog, you should always consider the hunting instinct and better retrieve and leash your giant in unsafe situations.
Optimal outdoor activities are long daily walks, during which you should always give the turbo dog the opportunity to run and sprint exuberantly. Other good occupations are coursing and track work. The Irish Wolfhound can live out the hunting instinct. However, endurance sports or agility are not suitable for the breed.
Large, single-story living quarters with large, fenced-in gardens are best suited for the wolfhound. Climbing stairs is not at all good for large dogs and their joints. This should not be necessary, especially with young dogs.
What care does the Irish Wolfhound need?
You should brush the coat of Irish Wolfhounds regularly. Other than that, it doesn’t need any special care. Like any large breed of dog, the wolfhound will gobble up a lot of food. And by that we mean: lots of food! Be prepared for your Irish Wolfhound to devour massive amounts. You have to bring in correspondingly large amounts of feed for his nutrition.
What are the typical diseases of the Irish Wolfhound?
Unfortunately, the size of the Irish Wolfhound also gives it typical health problems. Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, heart disease, the dreaded torsion of the stomach, and cancer are considered to be common in the breed.
Ironically, the loving nature of the wolfhound turns out to be a disadvantage here, tragically. The dogs are considered relaxed and adaptable. This often means that they often endure illnesses stoically and don’t show anything for a long time. The disease then often progresses to the point that it can no longer be treated. Careful care and regular veterinary checks are therefore particularly important for wolfhounds. In this way, you can save the dogs a lot of suffering and pain.
How much does an Irish Wolfhound cost?
Many breeders now pay attention to optimal health in breeding and the limitation of the many hereditary diseases through strict controls and high breeding standards. Because the Irish Wolfhound is also rather rare in Germany, you have to reckon with prices for a puppy between 1,500 euros and 2,000 euros. Stay away from cheaper offers, as most likely for cost reasons not much value was placed on carefully checked health. The result is then often that many of these dogs later become ill and are subjected to unnecessary suffering.