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Irish Wolfhound

A superb athlete, fierce hunter and endurance runner, the Irish Wolfhound is an ancient breed from the Greyhound family. The tallest dog breed, the Irish Wolfhound is alert, courageous and nonaggressive. His affectionate and trusting nature makes him an excellent family companion. This giant breed needs a spacious area for daily exercise, and his harsh coat needs regular brushing.

DID YOU KNOW? Famous Irish Wolfhound owners include Anne Boleyn, President Herbert Hoover, television host Conan O’Brien, and the musician Sting.

ALSO KNOWN AS: Cú Faoil

The need-to-know

  • Dog suitable for owners with some experience
  • Some training required
  • Enjoys active walks
  • Enjoys walking an hour a day
  • Giant dog
  • Some drool
  • Requires grooming every other day
  • Non hypoallergenic breed
  • Chatty and vocal dog
  • Not a guard dog
  • May require training to live with other pets
  • May require training to live with kids
Living Considerations
Good with children, not hypoallergenic, not suitable for apartment living
Size
Giant
Height
76 to 86.5 centimetres at the shoulders
Weight
Males – at least 54 kilograms, Females – at least 47.5 kilograms
Coat
Medium
Energy
Medium
Colour
Grey, brindle, red, black, white, fawn or any other color that appears in the Deerhound
Activities
Agility, Conformation, Lure Coursing, Obedience, Rally Obedience
Indoor/Outdoor
Both
Personality

Friendly and kind, the Irish Wolfhound dog is the gentle giant of the dog world – but pups and young adults are energetic and boisterous so may not be ideal for a family with young children. He gets on well with other dogs, but some can be intimidated by his size. The sheer enormity of his eventual size makes him unsuitable for many families, but for those who can accommodate his needs, he is a devoted companion.

History and Origins

The Irish Wolfhound dog is an ancient breed. Large wolf dogs are documented as being in Ireland more than 2,000 years ago. The dogs of kings and noblemen, the Irish Wolfhound has a long, fascinating history, being used as a dog of war (removing warriors from horseback and chariots) as well as a hunter of wolves. The last wolf was killed in Ireland in 1786 and the breed's popularity went into a period of decline, exacerbated by the Great Famine in the 1840s, but he was revived by dedicated enthusiasts.

Nutrition and Feeding

Giant-breed dogs, as well as having giant appetites, benefit from a different balance of minerals and vitamins, supporting different joint and cartilage needs. The Irish Wolfhound is also prone to bloating and stomach problems; try feeding smaller, more frequent meals to help minimise the risk.

Exercise

He may be huge, but the Irish Wolfhound is active and surprisingly fast and agile. A fully-grown, healthy adult Irish Wolfhound needs at least two hours' daily exercise. Great care should be taken not to over-exercise immature dogs, however, to avoid skeletal problems.

Other Information

Health and Common Issues

With a shorter life span than most breeds the most serious health problems that the Irish Wolfhound is predisposed to are an aggressive type of bone cancer and heart disease. Recognised inherited disorders include liver and eye conditions, but due to routine screening and careful breeding programmes these are relatively rare.

Best Family Dog Breeds

While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.