Irish Wolfhound Dog Breed

Irish Wolfhounds are quite similar to greyhounds and are in the hound category. The utilize their keen sense of sight along with their speed and imposing size to take down large game such as wolf and elk. They also enjoy running, are capable of doing so at high speeds and are often used for coursing small game as well. Contrary to what their giant size and shaggy coat may lead you to believe, these dogs are gentle giants. Irish Wolfhound attacks are virtually unheard of considering they are kind and gentle (although quiet and reserved) and are notoriously poor guard and watch dogs. You don't have to be a family of athletes to own one of these dogs, just make sure you have plenty of room for them as well as plenty of time to spend with them each day. Consider the following Irish Wolfhound facts and information so you are aware of the benefits and potential problems of owning one.

PROS

• Calm, gentle, patient
• Loyal and close bond with family
• Intelligent, easily trained
• Great with children
• Good with other pets
• Not aggressive towards strangers
• Quiet, only barks as necessary
• Can spend reasonable amounts of time alone
• Low maintenance grooming
• Doesn't need a ton of exercise
• Doesn't shed much
• Eye catching physique

CONS

• Not size appropriate for apartments
• Not hypoallergenic
• Poor watchdog and guard dog
• Size makes supervision around small kids a must
• If lonely can become destructive
• May remain reserved and introverted around people other than family
• Outdoor access is ideal; fenced yard or large property to run

The Irish wolfhound's size is almost comical as they can easily put their paws on an adult's shoulders and stand taller than their owner. Males can easily reach 36 inches from ground to shoulder and weigh as much as 180 pounds. If you're concerned about your dog getting too big, then this giant breed is not the best choice.

Irish wolfhounds have a very strong desire to be with their human family. This should be taken into consideration before adopting the breed as family is his main priority. Although the breed's gigantic size is intimidating to most people, the Irish wolfhound is not an aggressive dog and is fairly calm. The breed is gentle with children, but should be monitored since their large size can easily knock over children (and sometimes even adults). Irish wolfhounds do best with other animals, although they may chase small dogs and cats so it's recommended to socialize them with other animals at a young age.

Irish wolfhounds rarely need baths and a bath twice a year will suffice (unless their coat develops an odor). The breed does shed throughout the year, but brushing the coat weekly will help prevent excess hair from falling out uncontrollably. Even though Irish wolfhounds are enormous dogs, they are a house dog at heart. They are very calm indoors and only need moderate exercise to meet their energy needs.

Irish Wolfhound history is believed to go back as far as 9,000 years to 7000 B.C. Other theories state that the breed was introduced to the British Isles around 3000 B.C. when Phoenicians sailed in for trading and their sighthounds were crossed with regional mastiffs.

While the jury is out on the actual Irish wolfhound origin, there is far more solid evidence that the dogs were present in the Isles around 270 B.C. At that time, they were apparently used on the continent for war. When Celts sacked Delphi, the men had the dogs alongside them to fight. A century later, these accounts were noted by Julius Caesar when he penned a treatise called The Gallic Wars.

In the 5th century A.D., Irish laws and literature made mention of the dogs as "cú," which can be translated as "hound" or "wolf dog." In time, these dogs were trained for hunting and as guard dogs. The term "Cu" became a prefix that was bestowed upon warriors and kings who were to be respected, and the myth of Cúchulain reflects this. The Irish hero of the Ulster Cycle tales slew the hound of Culain and then took up the position of guarding the house that the formerly fearsome dog previously protected.

During the Tudor conquest of Ireland in the 1500s, the Irish Wolfhounds were legally owned only by nobility. A description of the breed can be found in the 1571 book titled Historie of Ireland by Saint Edmund Campion. In 1652, Oliver Cromwell made a declaration meant to protect the number of Irish Wolfhounds.

In the 18th century, the Wolfhounds had become scarce. In his 1790 book A General History of Quadrupeds, Bewick writes that they are the biggest and most beautiful dogs of all known dog breeds. In 1796, was when the allegedly last wolf in Ireland was killed. The dogs thereafter were used less as hunters than as status symbols.

The Irish Wolfhound is almost always left in his/her natural state, especially if the dog is to be in shows. No clipping or trimming is necessary and is, in fact, discouraged as the coat is a major asset to these dogs because this breed's appearance correlates with it's functionality. They appear very much like a larger, stockier and hairier greyhound. They are able to take down large game such as wolf or elk or can course small game at relatively high speeds.

Overall, they are longer than tall with a long neck and muscular but narrow limbs leading into large feet. The Irish Wolfhound's medium length double coat is wiry and rough to protect them against brush and cold, wet climates; it can be seen in many different colors including black, white, grey, brindle, fawn, wheaten, red and more. Even longer is the beard which adds character to the long face and muzzle and the brow hair that sometimes obscures the Irish Wolfhound's piercing round eyes. Other notable characteristics akin to the greyhound include small ears carried low and back and a long tail also carried low.

Some of the biggest dogs in the world, Irish Wolfhounds are often described as "giant" or "huge". The largest Irish Wolfhounds usually win "tallest dog" contests around the globe; the tallest Irish Wolfhounds can reach up to 7 feet! Males should be a minimum of 32 inches at the shoulder, females 30 inches and both sexes easily clear the 100 pound mark with males upwards of 120 pounds. As you can see, even the runt of the litter will be a very large dog so there are no "small" Irish Wolfhounds.

Some breeders may advertise Miniature Irish Wolfhounds but beware, small Irish Wolfhounds bred together to create smaller and smaller litter can greatly increase the likelihood of health problems. More likely the breeder has bred an Irish Wolfhound with a smaller breed of dog with similar build-- which means it is no longer an Irish Wolfhound. As of now there are no purebred Irish Wolfhounds with short hair (unless it is a rare genetic mutation). There are also no toy or teacup Irish Wolfhounds and trying to produce such is impossible without the introduction of other small breeds to the gene pool.

The Irish Wolfhound temperament is truly superb. Their most notable characteristics include: calm, gentle, patient, dignified, affectionate and intelligent. They are quiet yet loving and companionable indoors and are introverted and reserved around strangers; some may even be friendly towards strangers but one thing is for sure--they are not aggressive. If extreme circumstances call upon them to be protective of the owner, especially during a hunt, they can be but this is by no means a guard or watch dog.

Although most owners agree they are easily trained many retain an independent style thinking that calls for a firm, consistent owner. They can be left alone for reasonable amounts of time daily but may become destructive if left alone frequently for long periods-- a huge nuisance is not something the average owner can handle. The Irish Wolfhound personality loosens up when let outdoors where they can run freely; they aren't high energy dogs so a little outdoor playtime will go a long way. They also enjoy playing with other dogs and they will bond especially well with ones in their household.

Irish Wolfhounds, like most very large dogs, have a short lifespan. Generally, this breed lives 5-7 years but it's not unheard of for one to surpass this age range with the proper diet, veterinary visits, and a bit of luck. There are many possible health concerns for these dogs-- of course, some are more common than others. According to the Irish Wolfhound Club of America these include:

• Bone Cancer- leading cause of death
• Bloat
• Dilated Cardiomyopathy
• Portosystemic Shunt- liver issue, detected in puppy stage
• Pneumonia
• Von Willebrand's Disease
• Progressive Rentinal Atrophy
• Joint Issues
• Hypothyroidism
• Seizures
• Megaesophagus
• Hygroma- accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid

Due to laundry list of health conditions that can be inherited we recommend not skipping any veterinary exams, even if you puppy seems healthy. Your vet know procedures that can help detect and even prevent most of the health issues on this list.