Discover 9 Interesting Facts About the Irish Wolfhound
There are big dogs and then there’s the Irish Wolfhound. A giant among giants, these dogs are the tallest canines in the world today. Add their scruffy greyish coats and huge teethy grins, and Irish Wolfhounds manage to look both scary and adorable at the same time. Should we be afraid, however, or do Irish Wolfhounds actually make for great family pets? Let’s find out below with these 9 fascinating facts about the Irish Wolfhound.
What you need to know about the Irish Wolfhound
This is an old dog breed that we can talk at length about. Here we’ll mostly focus on the Irish Wolfhounds viability as a family pet, however, and what you need to know to best care for such a huge animal.
1. This breed has a long and storied history
The Irish Wolfhound is a hound breed, as is evident by its name. More specifically, this is a sighthound breed, which means that it was used for chasing down prey in open fields and not so much for scent tracking in dense forests. Common prey of these animals included deer, boars, and wolves.
What may surprise some, however, is that the Irish Wolfhound was also used in war – quite regularly too. These dogs were commonly employed against cavalry and chariots as they were big and powerful enough to unsaddle riders. Yes, that’s “chariots” as in pre-Medieval times – that’s how old this breed is.
All this is not just a fascinating history less, however, it also tells us what type of dog the Irish Wolfhound is. As sighthounds, these dogs are smart, obedient, and loyal. They also have a very strong prey drive and so they require a strong leash and a firm hand when walked outside.
2. Irish Wolfhounds are the tallest dogs in the world
When we talk about sighthounds, people usually imagine medium-sized and very lean breeds like the Greyhound and the Saluki or even smaller dogs like the Whippet. The Irish Wolfhound is quite different from its other sighthound cousins, however. The Wolfhound is still quite athletic for its size but it’s also very powerful and impressively large.
The average height of an adult Irish Wolfhound is 32 to 35 inches (81 to 89 cm) with some dogs getting even taller. This measurement is “at the shoulder” too, meaning that the head sits even higher. When an Irish Wolfhound gets on its hind legs, it gets even taller as Irish Wolfhounds can get close to 8 feet long (way over 2 meters).
For all their impressive size, however, Irish Wolfhounds are not the heaviest dog breed. The average weight of these dogs is 115 to 180 pounds (52 to 81 kg). That is a lot but is still less than other giant breeds like certain Mastiff breeds that regularly grow to over 200 pounds.
3. These dogs are as gentle and affectionate as they are large
The term “Gentle giant” can be applied accurately to most large dog breeds and is especially true for Irish Wolfhounds. Gone are the days when these dogs were used to chase down wolves or fight against cavalry. Today, however, Irish wolfhounds are almost exclusively bred as family pets and obedience competition dogs.
Yes, you can probably still find the occasional hunter using this breed but by and large, the Irish Wolfhound breed has been recognized as a phenomenal family pet. These canines would make for fantastic lap dogs if they weren’t the size of a dozen dachshunds. You can rely on an Irish Wolfhound to be warm, careful, and loving with all its human pack members, provided good care and training.
This makes the Irish Wolfhound a surprisingly good dog for families with children too. Of course, supervision is a must in the early years but overall, the Irish Wolfhound is impressively tolerant and loving.
4. Irish Wolfhounds are surprisingly social and friendly for a “war dog breed”
Most dog breeds are well-behaved with their families but the Irish Wolfhound is also quite a social and open-minded breed even when it comes to strangers. These dogs still need socialization, of course, but they generally behave much better around guests and outsiders than most other breeds.
This social nature extends to other dogs and animals too, as the Irish Wolfhound doesn’t have an aggressive temperament toward other canines. Even cats can get along perfectly with these dogs when socialized well. It is wise to be careful around non-canine animals that might trigger the Wolfhound’s prey drive, of course. However, with good socialization, this dog can accept any family pet.
Still, the aforementioned socialization is key to guarantee good behavior – as friendly as Wolfhounds are, you can’t take risks with a dog that huge and powerful.
5. You’ll need to supply enough exercise for your dog but there’s no need for anything excessive
As a sighthound breed, the Irish Wolfhound requires daily exercise. However, as an incredibly large and heavy breed, this dog tends to live a relatively calm and relaxed life. So, if you’re worried that you’d need to run around the dog park for hours every day – don’t be. Irish Wolfhounds need about an hour of outdoor exercise a day, typically in the form of a brisk and leashed walk in the dog park or around the block.
They do well with a yard to play in as well but that doesn’t count in those ~60 minutes of outdoor exercise. Keep in mind that said yard needs to be very well fenced to prevent this dog from acting on its strong prey drive. If you only have an open lawn, you can’t risk leaving your dog there without a leash, even if you’re nearby. Obviously, apartment living isn’t suitable for such a giant either.
6. These are quiet and calm dogs, not at all ideal for your watchdog needs
Irish Wolfhounds can easily scare off potential intruders just based on their size and looks. And, hypothetically, you can try and train such a dog to be wary of strangers and guests but then you will have raised a dangerous canine. Instead, it’s best to work with the Irish Wolfhound’s social nature and just accept that this is not a guard or watchdog.
7. As a giant breed, Irish Wolfhounds don’t live that long and have some health concerns to watch out for
No giant dog breed lives for very long and the Irish Wolfhound is sadly no exception. These dogs average a lifetime of about 6 to 8 years. If you’ve got a healthy pup from a reputable breeder and if you’ve taken good care of it, you can expect a somewhat longer lifespan but not by much.
Some of the health issues you’ll need to watch out for include:
- Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
- Anesthesia sensitivity
- Heart problems
- Liver Shunt
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
- Bloating (Gastric Dilatation Volvulus)
- Osteosarcoma
And more. Most of these conditions are preventable or treatable but diligent care and routine vet check-ups are needed.
8. These dogs are moderate shedders but have a lot of hair to brush
Irish Wolfhounds are not the heaviest shedders out there but they are no poodles either. You can expect moderate shedding from these dogs, which, given their giant size and medium-length coat can feel like a lot if you’re not ready for it.
The solution? Make brushing fun for both you and your dog and do so regularly. A couple of comprehensive brushings a week are a must and more are great too if possible.
9. Largely due to their size, Irish Wolfhounds are not recommended for first-time owners
With all this being said, it’s clear that Irish Wolfhounds are great family pets. Smart, loyal, friendly, and obedient, they are fantastic dogs. Even with all of that, however, they are still not generally recommended for novice owners simply because of their giant dogs. As great as these dogs are, they still require expert care and a firm hand in training – you simply can’t allow such a huge animal to not get adequate training and socialization.
Long story short, Irish Wolfhounds definitely aren’t suitable for every household but make for phenomenal pets for many owners. Social, gentle, and affectionate, these dogs get along with kids and other pets, and are tolerant toward strangers too.
They do require some physical attention and have moderate needs. Naturally, their size alone can be a problem for inexperienced owners. In the right hands, however, Irish Wolfhounds can be some of the best pet dogs out there.
