Irish Wolfhound
Breed Group: Hound Group
Size Group: Large Dog Breeds
Origin: Ireland
Height: 30”-34”
Weight: 95-180lbs
Color: Black, Blue, Brindle, Cream, Gray, Gray & brindle, Red, Red & brindle, Red wheaten, Silver, Wheaten, Wheaten & Brindle
Lifespan: 6-8 years
Temperament: Serene, brave, pleasant
Set Your Pup Up For Success
Overview
The Irish Wolfhound is truly a sight to behold. These massive pups are the tallest breed recognized by the American Kennel Club. Originally bred as big game hunters, later turned out against the wolf population in the Irish countryside, they literally hunted wolves into extinction in that area. Fair play to them!
While they are fearsome to look upon, they are truly gentle giants. This breed tends to have a calm, patient, and easy-going demeanor. They are famous compatible with children and make wonderful family dogs. If you have lots of space, lots of love, and lots of time to exercise, the Irish Wolfhound could just be for you!
Smartest Dog Breeds
- If you need someone to take the SATs for you, we have you covered
- Intelligence is something you're born with. And these ones were.
EXPLORE SMARTEST DOG BREEDS
Celebrity Owners
Herbert Hoover, John F. Kennedy
Fun Facts
Irish wolfhounds were used to combat the wolf population in the Irish countryside. They did it so well, that wolves in that area became extinct. This however left them without a job and the breed itself almost died out. Guess they should have been a little less awesome.
Health
Irish wolfhounds are typically very healthy pups. Some concerns to be aware of include osteosarcoma, cardiomyopathy, hip dysplasia, osteochondritis dissecans, bloat, pneumonia, and liver shunt.
While you always hope your pet will live a long and healthy life, it is always a good idea to invest in pet health insurance.
Keeping your dog’s mouth clean and problem free goes a long way to your pup’s overall health. Dental hygiene can be the cause or can be the byproduct of other serious health issues.
Visual inspections can be performed to keep track of the signs of potentially waning oral health. These signs can be anything from bad breath to abnormal chewing to loss of appetite.
Keeping ahead of these warning signs can pay dividends. A preventative approach can delay and stop many of the common dental problems from arising.
Oral health can be tackled in five basic steps:
- Brushing your dog’s teeth to prevent an undesirable buildup of plaque
- Feed your dog a diet where the high quality dog food has dental benefits
- Regularly give your dog dental toys and treats
- Use mouthwash, to help where brushing misses
- At the sign of any abnormalities, consult a vet. You can even do it virtually, from the convenience of your home.
Dogs are just like humans in that they can experience anxiety. The degree to which they are susceptible to anxiety and how they deal with anxiety is breed specific. Left unchecked, initial signs of anxiety could give way to an anxiety disorder. The symptoms of anxiety disorders can lead to a myriad of behavior issues.
Knowing the signs and symptoms will best equip you to keep ahead of it and to nip it in the bud at the earliest signs. There are options available to help with anxiety.
Family Dog Breeds
- They have the right patience and temperament for your family
- Vigilant and loyal, these dogs will protect their own
EXPLORE FAMILY DOG BREEDS
Grooming
Irish wolfhounds are considered average shedders. Once a week you should perform a basic grooming of your pup. Using an undercoat rake, brush in small strokes with the direction of the hair. Take a second pass of your dog’s coat with a pin brush. With both brushes, remove hair as it fills up the brush to be sure you are removing as much dead fur as possible. Every 4-6 weeks your pup will need a slight coat trim and nail clipping. Bathe your pup around every 2 months. If your pup starts to smell bathing more frequently is permittable but be sure you are not washing too frequently as this can dry out your pup’s skin and cause irritation. Check your dog’s ears to be sure they are clean and clear of debris, every week. Brush your pup’s teeth several times per week.
Cost
$900 – $2,500
Exercise
Your Irish wolfhound will need around an hour of exercise each day. Brisk walks, jogging, hiking, and playing games in the yard will all make your up quite happy. While your pup is still growing be sure you do not overexercise her, as this will lead to joint issues. Having a large fenced in area for your pup to run is ideal. Keep your Irish wolfhound securely leashed or in a fenced in area when you are outside of your home. These pups have a strong prey drive and may just bound off on an impromptu hunt.
Nutrition
Your full-sized Irish wolfhound will eat around 4.5 cups of food per day over 2 meals. This breed is prone to bloat which is an immediately life-threatening condition where the stomach overfills and flips in the torso. You can help avoid this situation by monitoring the rate at which your pup eats. The exact amount of food your dog will need will vary depending on age and activity level.
We’ve taken a look at some premium dog foods, high in nutrition here.
Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds
- Low shedding dogs that will attack the allergies less
- These dogs come in all shapes, sizes and temperaments
EXPLORE HYPOALLERGENIC DOG BREEDS
Training
As with all dogs, early socialization with humans and other pups is essential. Establish a strong pack order in your home while your dog is still young. Start training early because helping reposition a puppy is much easier than a full-sized wolfhound. This breed succeeds in positive-reinforcement training. Always be firm but fair in your corrections.
Proper training is essential to ensuring the safety of your dog and those around you. Having your dog come when they should, and in general having them listen is something you want to address early in your pup’s life, as it will pay dividends down the line. There are many tried and true training programs to accomplish this training – faster and better than you might think!
Unless you’re living on a farm, or have the space, a yipping dog, or one that barks all day when you are gone could be an issue with the neighbors and/or landlord. Historically, dogs would bark to communicate with the rest of the pack when hunting and bark as a warning shot to predators eyeing up their flock. Barking is deep rooted in dogs and manifests itself in many ways and for a variety of reasons.
Just like any habit or instinct, there are effective ways you can train this issue away.
Cute Dog Breeds
- I mean, come on. These dogs will have you wanting one.
- Guaranteed to make you instagram famous (or at least your pup!)
EXPLORE CUTE DOG BREEDS
Supplements
A solid Glucosamine Supplement for hips and joints will go a long way to helping your furry friend.
Other helpful supplements include full-spectrum hemp oil or CBD oil. Fish oil skin and coat supplement.
Ensuring a comprehensive preventative vitamin and mineral plan is essential to keeping your dog healthy. Truth is, there are vitamins and minerals that your dog needs, but doesn’t produce naturally. While many of these vitamins and minerals can be found in your dog’s current diet and dog food, the question becomes, are there enough vitamins to ensure they aren’t deficient.
Poor nutrition can lead to some of the most common health issues, such as weak joints, compromised immunity, increased allergies, and low energy.
Vitamins play a vital role in your pet’s health and overall life expectancy. Here are some multivitamin and joint relief options.
As regulations around marijuana have eased, the emergence of CBD oils for humans and dogs have sprung up.
Just to begin to dispel the negative stigma, CBD extract comes from Hemp, marijuana’s cousin. Unlike its cousin, there are no psychoactive qualities in CBD oil. An emerging number of clinical and institutional studies have shown the wide variety of healing qualities in CBD, including pain management, and the containment of seizures and epileptic episodes.
Explore this remedy further to see all the health benefits that have transformed the lives of so many dogs to date.
Hunting Dog Breeds
- Energy and a willingness to get the job done, these dogs love outside
- Their traits and unique skillsets have them separated from the pack
EXPLORE HUNTING DOG BREEDS
The Good
Great at making people laugh
Fearless
Adapts well to apartment living
Good with other dogs
Low tendency to drool
The "Ruff"
Not great with kids
Does not like being left alone
High tendency to bark
Companion Breeds
- Their loving and caring spirit makes them great compadres
- A passion for giving back to their owner is in their DNA
EXPLORE COMPANION DOG BREEDS
All Dog Breeds Lists
- From family to hairless to sled dogs, we have you covered
- All breeds from the ones you know, to the ones you don't
EXPLORE DOG BREEDS