Dog
Group:
Hound 
Irish Wolfhound Champions
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Pronunciation:
Irish Wolfhound
Breed Description:
A massive, muscular dog, the Irish Wolfhound breed of dog is one of the tallest breeds in the world. This gentle giant can reach the size of a small pony. Standing on his hind legs, the Irish Wolfhound can reach up to 7 feet tall! The Irish Wolfhound breed of dog has a rough, shaggy coat and wiry bushy eyebrows. Colors include gray, brindle, red, black or white. Gray is the most common color. The paws are large and round, with markedly arched toes and strong, curved nails. It has a long head with a moderately pointed muzzle and a muscular arched neck. The chest is very deep and it has a well retracted abdomen. The shoulders are strong. The Irish Wolfhound gives the appearance of both strength and grace. The tail hangs down with a slight curve. The ears are carried back against the head except when the animal is excited, when they may prick up part-way.
Temperament:
Irish Wolfhounds are sweet-tempered, patient, generous, thoughtful and very intelligent. They are excellent with, and can be trusted with, children. Dignified and willing, the Irish Wolfhound breed of dog is unconditionally loyal to his owner and family. Not a guard dog by nature, but may be a deterrent simply due to his size. They tend to greet everyone as a friend, so do not count on them being a watch dog. This giant breed can be clumsy. Slow to mature, it takes two whole years before they are full grown. However, they grow rapidly and high-quality food is essential. While it is important to take a growing pup for daily walks for their mental well being, hard exercise should not be forced and may be too taxing for this dog's body when it is young. Teach it not to pull on its leash before it gets too strong.
The Irish Wolfhound breed of dog is relatively easy to train. He responds well to firm, but gentle, consistent, leadership. This approach with plenty of canine understanding will go a long way because this dog quickly grasps what you intend. Make sure the young dog is given as much self-confidence as possible and that you are always consistent with it, so that it grows into an equable, confident dog. This calm dog gets along well with other dogs. This is also true with other animals if the dog has gotten to know them when it was still young. However, it might "course" a smaller dog in an open yard.
Height:
28 to 30 inches minimum for females, 31 to 32 inches minimum for males
Weight:
90 to 105 pounds for female, 120 pounds minimum for male
Health Problems:
The Irish Wolfhound breed of dog is prone to cardiomyopathy, bone cancer, bloat, PRA, Von Willebrands, and hip dysplasia.
Living Conditions:
The Irish Wolfhound breed of dog is not recommended for apartment life. They are relatively inactive indoors and will do best with at least a large yard. You must have a lot of room in your home, heart, yard and car to successfully own this giant breed. They need to be part of the family and would be very unhappy in a kennel. Being sighthounds, they will chase and so need a secure, fenced area for exercise.
Exercise:
The Irish Wolfhound breed of dog is not recommended for apartment life. They are relatively inactive indoors and will do best with at least a large yard. You must have a lot of room in your home, heart, yard and car to successfully own this giant breed. They need to be part of the family and would be very unhappy in a kennel. As sighthounds, they will chase and so need a secure, fenced area for exercise.
Life Expectancy:
6 to 8 years
Grooming:
The rough, medium-length coat of the Irish Wolfhound breed of dog needs regular and thorough grooming with a brush and comb. This with keep the coat in good condition. About once or twice a year pluck the coat to remove excess dead hair. This breed is an average shedder.
Origin:
The Irish Wolfhound's name originates from is use as a wolf hunter, and not from its appearance. The Irish Wolfhound breed of dog is a very old breed, possibly dating back as far as the 1st century BC. They were used in wars, and for guarding herds and property and for hunting Irish elk, deer, boar, and wolves. They were held in such high esteem that battles were fought over them. Irish Wolfhounds were often given as royal presents and eventually became such popular gifts that Oliver Cromwell had to stop their export from Britain. Boar and wolf became extinct in Ireland and as a result the Irish Wolfhound declined in population. It was carefully breed in the second half of the 19th century by a British army officer, Captain George Graham. The breed was revitalized by the influx of Great Dane and Deerhound blood. The Irish Wolfhound Club was founded in 1885. It was recognized by the Kennel Club as a sporting breed in 1925. In 1902 a hound was first presented to the Irish Guards as a mascot. The Irish Wolfhound Society was founded in 1981. Comments
The standards for all the breeds accepted to the AKC are used here for breed information, and those not part of the AKC are resourced from FCI standard information, where it is written and coded into the club rules for those breeds.
