Irish Wolfhound

The history of the Irish Wolfhound is shrouded in Celtic myths and legends. It is one of the oldest breeds in the world. The first written records date back to 391 AD, when the Roman consul Quintus Aurelius Symmachus wrote to his brother, thanking him for a gift – seven Irish dogs that caused a sensation in Rome. “All Rome views them with wonder,” he wrote. They were used for baiting wild beasts in arenas and for guarding.

In Ireland itself, these dogs were the property of kings and chieftains. Under the laws of the time, only the nobility could own them, and the number of dogs depended on the owner’s status. Wolfhounds had a very specific job – hunting big game: the Irish Elk (now extinct) and, of course, the wolf. Their efficiency was so high that by the 18th century, wolves were completely eradicated in Ireland. Paradoxically, this threatened the existence of the breed itself – once the work vanished, so did the need for such a large number of these gigantic dogs.

Revival of a legend: the role of Captain Graham

By the mid-19th century, the Irish Wolfhound had practically disappeared. What we see today is the result of the titanic efforts of Captain George Augustus Graham. He gathered the remaining bloodlines and began a recovery programme. To achieve this, he used the Scottish Deerhound, which is the Wolfhound’s closest relative, and introduced Great Dane blood to increase mass and height. Incidentally, it is thanks to this that the modern Wolfhound often competes for the title of the world’s tallest dog.

The Irish Wolfhound is a dog of immense size, massive but not heavy in build. It belongs to the sighthound group, so its movements should be light and swift. The head is long, held high and proud. The coat is rough and wiry, especially over the eyes and under the lower jaw (the characteristic beard), giving it a wise and somewhat severe expression.

Important: Despite its huge dimensions, the Wolfhound should not look clumsy. It is a high-speed hunter. A deep chest provides a large lung volume for endurance running, and long, muscular legs allow it to cover great distances.

There is an old Irish proverb about this breed: “Lambs at home, lions in the hunt”. This perfectly describes the Irish Wolfhound’s character. At home, they are phlegmatic, calm, and incredibly affectionate creatures. They adore their owners and crave physical contact – often trying to sit on your lap, completely forgetting their size.

• Relationship with children: Wolfhounds are famous for their patience. They tolerate a lot from children, but due to the dog’s size, parents must still be vigilant – one careless wag of the tail can easily knock a toddler over.
• Guarding qualities: If you are looking for a property guardian, you would be better off looking at a Moscow Watchdog. The Irish Wolfhound is far too friendly towards people. It rarely barks and is more likely to lick a thief than bite them. Its main weapon is its intimidating appearance.
• Other animals: Usually, they get on well with other dogs. However, do not forget that this is a sighthound. The instinct to chase “prey” (cats, hares) can wake up suddenly. Although, many Wolfhounds sleep peacefully cuddling with the family cat.

Training an Irish Wolfhound is radically different from working with service breeds. These giants will not perform commands “robotically” hundreds of times in a row, as Shepherds do. The key to success is patience, consistency, and exclusively positive reinforcement. Wolfhounds are extremely sensitive to the owner’s tone of voice and emotional state: harshness or shouting can cause the dog to withdraw and lose trust in you. It is worth remembering that they mature mentally quite slowly, so even inside a huge body often hides a playful puppy that finds it hard to concentrate on boring exercises for long.

A critically important stage of upbringing is teaching loose-lead walking and the perfect “Heel” command. Since an adult male can weigh more than his owner, physically holding him back during a sudden lunge is almost imposible. Therefore, voice control is a matter of your safety and the safety of those around you. Special attention must also be paid to the recall command (“Come”), as the strong sighthound hunting instinct can suddenly compel a Wolfhound to chase a moving object, and at that moment, only the owner’s authority can stop it.

Keeping a dog weighing nearly 70 kg has its specifics. This is not a dog that can live in a cramped flat without walks, although indoors they take up surprisingly little space, simply lying on their rug.

Physical exercise

Unlike active terriers, such as the Rat Terrier which needs constant motion, an adult Wolfhound is content with long walks and the chance to run freely in a fenced area. Critically important: Irish Wolfhound puppies must not be subjected to excessive loads, jumping, or active running until 12 months. Their joints and bones grow very quickly and are extremely vulnerable during this period.

Coat care

The Wolfhound’s coat is fairly easy to maintain. It needs to be combed 1-2 times a week with a metal comb and brush. Hand-stripping (plucking dead hair) is recommended every few months to keep the dog looking tidy. Bathing the giant too often is not worth it – only when absolutely necessary, as it is quite a laborious process.

Feeding an Irish Wolfhound is a significant expense. But it is not just about quantity, but quality too. These dogs grow rapidly, and they need an ideal balance of calcium, phosphorus, and protein.

Golden rule: Never feed a Wolfhound immediately before or immediately after a walk. This significantly increases the risk of bloat (gastric torsion) – a potentially fatal condition.

Unfortunately, this is the most painful topic for owners of “the Irish”. Like most giant breeds, they do not live long. The average life expectancy is 6-8 years. Long-livers reaching 10 years exist, but they are a rarity.

Main health problems:

• Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM): A heart disease where the heart muscle weakens and enlarges. Regular check-ups with a cardiologist are mandatory.
• Osteosarcoma: Bone cancer. Sadly, large dogs are prone to this disease. Any limping should be checked by a vet immediately.
• Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (GDV/Bloat): A condition where the stomach twists, blocking blood supply. Requires immediate surgery. Some owners opt for preventative gastropexy (stitching the stomach).
• Portosystemic Shunt: A congenital liver defect. Usually checked in puppies by the breeder.

Pros:

• Incredibly calm and balanced character.
• Very quiet at home, hardly ever barks.
• Friendly to people and other dogs.
• Spectacular appearance that draws admiration.
• Intelligent and capable of learning (though not a service dog).

Cons:

• Very short lifespan.
• High cost of upkeep (food, vet bills, equipment).
• Transport difficulties (requires a large car).
• Need for space (at least so the dog can stretch out).
• Long maturation period.

1. The Irish Wolfhound is the official mascot of the Irish Guards. The dog serving in the regiment is traditionally given an Irish name and takes part in parades in full ceremonial dress.
2. In the Middle Ages, there was a ban on exporting these dogs from Ireland to preserve their numbers. Oliver Cromwell issued a decree to this effect in 1652.
3. This breed is often mentioned in literature. The famous dog Gelert from Welsh legend is often depicted as an Irish Wolfhound, although debates about this continue.
4. For a puppy to grow up healthy, it needs very soft bedding. Due to their heavy weight, they often develop elbow hygromas (calluses) if they sleep on hard surfaces.

Is an Irish Wolfhound suitable for a flat?

Theoretically yes, if the flat is large enough and there is a lift (carrying 60 kg up the stairs if the dog gets sick or old is unrealistic). They are calm at home, but they take up a lot of floor space when lying down.

Do they eat much?

An adult dog eats about 800-1000 grams of dry food per day. During the puppy’s active growth period, the volumes can be even larger.

Is this breed hard to train?

They are intelligent but do not like drilling. They quickly get bored with repeated commands. The best method is positive reinforcement and treats. Harsh methods do not work with them; the dog will simply withdraw into itself.