| Irish Wolfhounds: the most honest dog breed review you'll ever find. Information about Irish Wolfhound personality and behavior. |
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My book, Your Purebred Puppy: A Buyer's Guide (published by Henry Holt & Co.), includes a full-page profile of the Irish Wolfhound, including these excerpts:
"The AKC Standard says, "Of great size and commanding appearance, the Irish Wolfhound is remarkable in combining power and swiftness with sight."
This gentle giant is sometimes calm and dignified, sometimes playful and silly, always easygoing and reliable.
The Irish Wolfhound does best in a suburban or country home with lots of companionship and room to stretch out. He needs regular exercise to stay fit, whether he seems to want it or not. A daily one-hour walk/trot (on-leash) with twice weekly gallops inside a safe enclosed area are necessary for proper development.
Sensible with strangers, most Irish Wolfhounds are friendly and expect to be petted, while some are more wary. This breed does need early, frequent socialization to encourage an outgoing attitude. Not many individuals are guardians; indeed, suspiciousness or aggressiveness should never be encouraged because of his massive size.
With other animals the Irish Wolfhound is usually amiable, but he does love to chase, tackle, and pounce on anything that moves rapidly.
A sweet and sensitive dog, he has his independent side but responds well (slowly and thoughtfully) to patient obedience training. Use positive rewards rather than heavy-handed jerking.
Wolfhounds remain gawky, clumsy, and potentially destructive (in a big way!) for up to three years."
History
The tallest breed in the world was developed in feudal Ireland for hunting wolves.
Size
30-36 inches and 105-160 lbs |
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Irish Wolfhounds
What's good about 'em
What's bad about 'em
- Is a gentle giant with a wiry coat and whiskery face
- Is sometimes calm and dignified, sometimes playful and silly, always easygoing and reliable
- Does best in a suburban or country home with room to stretch out
- Is usually sensible and reliable with everyone
- Responds well to patient obedience training
An Irish Wolfhound may be right for you.
| If you don't want to deal with... |
- A very large dog who takes up a lot of space in your house and car
- A heavy dog who wants to sit on your feet, lie on your lap, and lean his weight against your leg
- Exuberant jumping, especially when young
- Destructiveness when bored or left alone too much
- Suspiciousness or fearfulness when not socialized enough
- Aggression toward other animals -- chasing instincts
- Regular brushing and trimming of the wiry coat
- Gassiness (flatulence)
- Serious health problems and a very short lifespan
- A high price tag
An Irish Wolfhound may not be right for you.
| If I were considering an Irish Wolfhound... |
My major concerns would be:
- Providing the proper balance of exercise. Young Irish Wolfhounds need enough exercise to keep them lean and healthy, but not so much that their soft growing bones, joints, and ligaments become over-stressed and damaged. The proper amount of exercise can be difficult to regulate in giant breeds.
Since you have to minimize their exercise, young Irish Wolfhounds can be very rambunctious. They will romp with uncoordinated gawkiness all over your house. You need to substitute extra quantities of companionship and supervision. Otherwise, left alone, young Irish Wolfhounds become bored and destructive -- and their powerful jaws can literally destroy your living room.
- Providing enough socialization. Some Irish Wolfhounds have protective instincts toward strangers. They need extensive exposure to friendly people so they learn to recognize the normal behaviors of "good guys." Then they can recognize the difference when someone acts abnormally. Without careful socialization, they may be suspicious of everyone, which could lead to biting. Some Irish Wolfhounds go in the opposite direction -- without enough socialization, they become fearful of strangers, which can lead to defensive biting.
| If you have small children, or if you or anyone who lives with you is elderly or infirm, I do not recommend Irish Wolfhound puppies. Young Irish Wolfhounds (up to about three years old) romp and jump with great vigor, and things can go flying, including people. |
- Animal aggression. Some Irish Wolfhounds are dominant or aggressive toward other dogs of the same sex. Some have strong instincts to chase and seize cats and other fleeing creatures. If anything goes wrong in the breeding, socializing, training, handling, or management of this breed, it is capable of seriously injuring or killing other animals.
- Mind of his own. Irish Wolfhounds are very willing to work with you, but they are not Golden Retrievers. They have an independent mind of their own, and you must show them, through absolute consistency and while they are still small enough to be physically controlled, that you mean what you say.
- Gassiness (flatulence) that can send you running for cover. Fortunately, Irish Wolfhounds who are fed a natural diet of real meat and other fresh foods have much less trouble with gassiness. See my Irish Wolfhound Health Page for more information.
- Serious health problems and a short lifespan. Irish Wolfhounds are extremely prone to a life-threatening digestive syndrome called bloat. In addition, they are frequently stricken at an early age by joint and bone disorders, heart disease and cancer.
- Paying the price. Many breeders are charging $1000 and up for an Irish Wolfhound.
| Frankly, most Irish Wolfhounds are "too much dog" for the average household. Very few people really have the knowledge or facilities necessary to manage this breed. |
| Not all Irish Wolfhounds are alike! |
- There are energetic Irish Wolfhounds, and placid Wolfhounds.
- Hard-headed Irish Wolfhounds, and sweet-natured Wolfhounds.
- Serious Irish Wolfhounds, and good-natured goofballs.
- Introverted Irish Wolfhounds, and Wolfhounds who love everyone.
| If you acquire an Irish Wolfhound puppy, you can't know for sure what he or she will grow up to be like. Because a good number of purebred puppies do NOT grow up to conform to the "norm." |
| If you're considering an adult Irish Wolfhound... |
There are plenty of adult Irish Wolfhounds who have already proven themselves NOT to have negative characteristics. If you find such an adult, don't let "typical breed negatives" worry you.
When you acquire a puppy, you're acquiring potential -- what he one day will be. So "typical breed characteristics" are very important. But when you acquire an adult, you're acquiring what he already IS.
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