A little look at life together.
Getting to know the Irish Wolfhound
The Irish Wolfhound is a giant, rough-coated sighthound whose great height and typically calm manner are both central to daily life. Think through transport, sleeping space, and handling a giant dog as well as ordinary coat care.
An everyday routine
Plan a daily mix of walks, play, and rest. The amount that works for a particular dog depends on age, fitness, experience, and temperament.
Coat care to plan for
Set aside time each week for coat care, checking through the hair rather than only brushing the surface. Shedding periods or longer furnishings may need extra attention.
Before deciding, meet the individual dog and ask about their history, handling preferences, and current routine. Breed tendencies are a starting point, not a promise about personality.
Irish Wolfhound questions
How big does a full-grown Irish Wolfhound get?
Males stand at least 32 inches and weigh at least 120 pounds, and females at least 30 inches and 105 pounds, which makes the Irish Wolfhound the tallest of all breeds. Those minimums apply to hounds over 18 months old, and males average 32 to 34 inches at the shoulder.
How long do Irish Wolfhounds live?
Life expectancy is 6 to 8 years, which is short next to most breeds. That is a breed-wide figure, not a prediction for one dog. It is worth talking through with a breeder and your vet before you commit.
Do Irish Wolfhounds shed?
Yes, steadily but not heavily. The harsh, wiry outer coat over a soft undercoat sheds through the year without the big seasonal coat drop many double-coated breeds have, and a thorough brushing about once a week is enough. The coat is meant to look natural, so clippers and styling are not part of the routine.
Are Irish Wolfhounds good with children?
They have a gentle reputation and mean nothing but well where children are concerned. Size is the catch. A playful puppy weighing 50 to 100 pounds can bowl a small child over without meaning to, so supervise around young children.
Are Irish Wolfhounds good guard dogs?
No, despite how they look. The breed's temperament makes it unsuitable as a guard dog, watchdog or patrol dog. It is a hound that notices what is going on without being wary of people and has courage without aggression, and it barks very little. The sight of a Wolfhound tends to do the deterring.
Can an Irish Wolfhound live in an apartment?
It is a hard fit. A home with a fairly large fenced area is needed for the breed to thrive, and the ideal is fenced property with room to gallop. Adults can be couch potatoes indoors, but they still need long walks or play sessions for life, on a leash or behind a secure fence because the instinct to chase is strong.
Are Irish Wolfhounds easy to train?
They learn quickly and are sensitive to their people, so early socialization and puppy classes that use positive methods only work best. Plan for a long puppyhood. Wolfhounds take 18 months or more to mature and can be very destructive if left alone for long stretches while they are young.
What were Irish Wolfhounds bred for?
Hunting big game by sight and speed. Ireland's giant hounds trace back to antiquity, when they were used on quarry such as the Irish elk, and they came to specialize in wolves in the 15th century. When Ireland's wolves were gone by the late 1700s the breed nearly vanished, and from 1862 Captain George Augustus Graham led the work to rebuild it.
