Irish Dane Dog Breed

The Irish Wolfhound Great Dane mix is best as a family companion. They can usually adapt to apartment living so long as they are taken on daily walks and frequent visits to the dog park (or outdoors). These massive dogs get along remarkably well with kids, other dogs, and non-canine pets, and they warm up quickly to new friends too. Best of all, they are fine for first time dog owners.

Here are some more things you should know about the Irish Dane:

PROS

• Very calm
• Energetic
• Highly affectionate
• Fairly easy to train
• Not dog-aggressive
• Few grooming needs
• Separation anxiety not a problem
• Will try to be your devoted lapdog!
• Doesn't eat a lot despite huge size
• Fairly tolerant of hot and cold climates

CONS

• Short lifespan
• Somewhat rare
• Not hypoallergenic
• Can jump very high
• Not a good watchdog
• Will be lazy if allowed to
• Prone to a number of health issues
• Curiosity and size may be problematic
• Needs to be supervised with small kids

The Irish Dane is one of those "gentle giants" that loves to play, is splendid for families and is very friendly. Their loyalty, affection, and eagerness to please make these gargantuan dogs a wonderful family member. Being very big dogs, they nevertheless require some extra responsibilities. Both parent breeds are very patient and calm. While any given Irish Dane might inherit any number of traits from either or both parents, these hybrid dogs are sure to be easy-going.

They are intelligent dogs that are easy to train in obedience. Their parents are average intelligence and respond to a moderate amount of repetitions, and their crossbred puppies should be no different. As they are eager to please as well as highly motivated by food, however, there are ways to ensure they learn quickly!

Being giant dogs, they present two obvious challenges: jumping and bumping. They can easily leap over average height fences, and while they are docile dogs, it doesn't take much to accidentally bump children and knock them down.

The Irish Dane's parent breeds tend to need only a moderate amount of exercise, and it's no different with these mixed breed dogs. A decent daily walk and some outdoor space to run and play (that should have a very high fence) will work well. If your home has no outdoor area, be sure to hit the dog park a few days every week.

Irish Danes are giant dogs that come from giant purebred parents who each have a significant list of health concerns. Hybrid vigor helps to mitigate the possibility of genetic issues, but these dogs are still prone to a number of problems. There are many health tests and vet certifications that the parents and the puppies should have so that you know important details (such as the hip conditions). You should also insist on meeting the parents and litter mates if possible.

Here are some of the issues you should know regarding the Irish Dane's health profile:

• Bloat
• Cancer
• Eye problems
• Hip dysplasia
• Heart ailments
• Liver complications
• Developmental issues
• Anesthesia sensitivity
• Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD)
• Fibrocartilaginous Embolic Myelopathy

The Irish Dane has a much shorter average lifespan than most such very big dogs. These hybrids are said to typically live from 7 to 10 years old.