The Irish wolfhound, also known as the Irish hound or Irish Wolfhound, is one of Ireland's most loved and appreciated dog breeds. Its history is ancient and remote, since it is already mentioned by Julius Caesar in the comments on the Gallic War. At that time he was valued for his combat skills, the ferocity with which he attacked the enemy being famous.
However, currently, the Irish Wolfhound stands out as one of the most docile and affectionate dogs. For centuries this dog breed has defended lands and animals from predators, especially the wolf, which is why it has been recognized as a particularly brave dog. With a gentle and very friendly character, this dichotomy has surprised those who have been able to enjoy his company. In this breed file on our site you will discover the tallest dog in the world, so read on to find out all the characteristics of the Irish Wolfhound, its main care and much more.
Origin of the Irish Wolfhound
Ancient and with history, this is the Irish Wolfhound breed. These hounds are believed to be descended from the earliest Egyptian sighthounds, which were brought to Ireland by the Celts, who became interested in breeding large, tall dogs. The existence of these dogs was already recorded in the year 391 AD. C., when the Roman consul Aurelio exposed the astonishment with which all of Rome saw the seven animals that had arrived there as a gift. Formerly it was also known as "cu", because in Ancient Rome it was baptized as "Cú Faoil", which in Gaelic means "hound".
Until the 17th century, Irish hounds were highly prized dogs by European monarchs and other regions. In fact, pairs of these dogs were offered as gifts and used to protect flocks from wolves. However, at the end of the 17th century the decline of the breed was so pronounced that it was feared its disappearance, since the populations of large animals had already decreased too much which he used to hunt, such as the Irish elk or the wolves themselves. It was thanks to a British Army Captain named George A. Graham that the breed was able to rise from the ashes, as he was the one who rescued it by crossing Irish Greyhounds with Bulldogs and Scottish Greyhounds. Thus, at the end of the 19th century, the Irish Wolfhound became part of Irish cultureand became a symbol of it, as well as of the Celtic step that characterizes it so much.
Despite being a very old breed, it was not officially recognized by the Kennel Club until 1879 and until 1955 by the International Cinological Federation (FCI).
Physical Characteristics of the Irish Wolfhound
Given its dimensions, it is normal that when talking about characteristics the first thing that comes to mind is the size of the Irish Wolfhound. This is the tallest dog, because even competing with the colossal Great Dane, the Irish Wolfhound gains in height. However, it is important to note that the largest dog in the world to date, as a whole, is the Great Dane. Specifically, the minimum height at the withers for a male Irish Wolfhound is 79 centimeters, with an average of between 81 and 86 cm, being at least 71 in the case of females. Of course, this great height is accompanied by a high weight, 54.5 kg in the case of men and 40.5 kg for women, all at least.
This great giant has a long body and broad chest, a slightly arched back and a long, slightly curved tail covered by a good coat of hair. The head of an Irish Wolfhound is elongated, measuring the same width of the skull as the length of the snout, which has a pointed shape. The ears are small and shaped like a rose, much like a greyhound. The eyes are dark and medium in size.
In general, it is very similar to the Scottish Hound, although the Irish Wolfhound is larger and more robust.
Irish Wolfhound Colors
The coat of an Irish hound is made of a hard and strong hair, wiry and long, especially in regions such as the lower part of the jaw or around the eyes. A curious fact is that during its origins there were specimens with hard hair and others with straight hair. However, probably due to the climate in Ireland, hard hair ended up predominating, and for this reason today this is the accepted coat of the breed. As for the colors of the Irish Wolfhound, it can be grey, brindle, red black, pure white, fawn or any other color that appears in the deerhound.
Irish Wolfhound pup
Since it is a giant breed, already during the puppy stage we observe a large dog. Thus, an Irish Wolfhound pup of about 3 months old can weigh around 15 kg.
Irish Wolfhound Character
Despite the fact that due to its warlike and combative history we may see the Irish Wolfhound as a dangerous or hostile dog, nothing is further from the truth. These dogs are extremely docile and very peacefulFormerly the following saying "lambs at home, lions on the hunt" was attributed to him, from which we can deduce that as a companion animal they are friendly and very loyal dogs, being known as the " friendly giants " of the canine world.
These dogs adapt to almost any type of coexistence, whether it is with children, the elderly, other animals, other dogs…, because their nobility is such that there will hardly be confrontations with anyone who is part of their family, whom he defends without hesitation, being a great protective dog Likewise, we are dealing with intelligent and somewhat reserved dogs, especially with strangers, although not for it aggressive. However, as we have just commented, their protective instinct can lead them to confront whoever they consider to be a threat.
Irish Wolfhound Care
Irish hound care should focus on brushing its coat, which must be done at a minimumtwice a week , thus preventing tangles or tangles from forming. Baths should be limited to when strictly necessary. These dogs need to perform at least one hour of physical exercise a day, this being high intensity. This does not mean that they should only take a long walk, far from it! Like any dog, they need to go out a minimum of three times a day, but at least one of the walks must be long and intense enough for the dog to release all its energy. We will have to complement this with a balanced diet , which covers their energy and nutritional needs, but controlling the quantities, since they are quite gluttonous.
In terms of space, it is recommended to have an Irish Wolfhound in a spacious place, such as a country house or some land where it can move, so it is not the best option to have it in a flat little. Even so, it is not a race that should live isolated abroad Its sociable and affectionate character demands a family that includes it in the family nucleus and allows it the free access to the interior of the house.
We must bear in mind that the Irish Wolfhound has been bred as a hunting and herd protection dog, so that it not only needs to receive physical stimulation, but also mental. For this reason, environmental enrichment at home is equally important, so we should offer him toys and spend time playing with him every day.
Irish Wolfhound Education
Irish hounds are a relatively easy breed to train as they are intelligent and respond wonderfully to positive training So, to When training an Irish Wolfhound, as with any other dog, it is essential to use positive reinforcement as the main tool and avoid punishment, yelling and any type of violence.
Ideally, start training when the dog is still a puppy, promoting the household rules set by all members of the the family unit. It is not necessary to always use snacks in positive reinforcement, we must also use the voice or caresses to reinforce their behavior. We'll teach him to bite gently and urinate on the newspaper until he can go outside to relieve himself.
The socialization of the dog will be another fundamental and essential aspect, since it will depend on it that learns to relate correctly with all kinds of people (children, adults and the elderly), animals and environments. Likewise, we will also introduce you to the basic orders of obedience, essential for a good communication with the tutors and proper behavior. Later we can introduce you to advanced education.
Irish Wolfhound He alth
Unfortunately, the Irish Wolfhound is one of the dog breeds with the most he alth problems. Some of them are common in giant breeds, such as hip dysplasia or elbow dysplasiaIn the same way, they often show a tendency to develop bone cancer or osteosarcoma, hypersensitivity to anesthetics or medications, liver bypass or heart conditions such as heart failure caused by dilated cardiomyopathy, in which the heart muscle becomes so thin that its ability to contract is impaired.
However, one of the most relevant dangers when talking about Irish Wolfhounds, since it is typical of giant or large dogs with deep chests, is the dreaded gastric torsion, in which what occurs is a swelling of the stomach, which distends as a result of excess air or gas, twisting and preventing that gas from being released, which affects blood flow and can cause the death of the animal in a short period of time. Some recommendations to avoid stomach torsion are to put the food high instead of at ground level, avoid physical activity just after eating or give them large amounts of food in one sitting. To act quickly, we need to recognize the symptoms, which include lethargy, a distended abdomen, unproductive vomiting attempts, or restlessness. If we recognize them, we will have to urgently go to the vet to try to save our dog and recover.
Apart from these conditions, we must keep our Irish Wolfhound with the vaccinations in order, regular deworming against parasites, both internal and external, and regular visits to the vet for regular check-ups every 6 or 12 months. With this and all the necessary care, the life expectancy of the Irish Wolfhound is between 6 and 10 years
Where to adopt an Irish Wolfhound?
It is difficult to find Irish Wolfhounds for adoption outside of Ireland. However, given their size, many are the people who abandon them to their fate when they leave behind the puppy stage. For this reason, we recommend going to shelters, protectors, associations and rescue centers of the breed to ask if they have a specimen with the characteristics of the Irish Greyhound. Keep in mind that the important thing when adopting a dog is not that it meets a breed standard, but that its character, size, etc., adapts to our lifestyle so that we can cover all its needs. So don't rule out mongrels.
