An Irish Giant.

The Irish Wolfhound is a giant size dog and one of the tallest breeds in the world, generally reaching the size of a small pony. The Wolfhound is an ancient breed with Roman records indicating their existence dating back as far as 391 AD. Their name comes from their use, as wolf hunters and not from their appearance as some may believe. Along with wolf hunting they were used throughout the wars for guarding herds and property and also hunting deer and elk. They were a very popular breed with battles being fought over them; they were also often giving as royal presents. Over time the boar and wolf population became extinct throughout Ireland and from this the Irish Wolfhound population declined. An Officer of the British Army, Captain George Graham, bred them during the second half of the 19^th Century and was able to restore them by the introduction of the Great Dane and Deerhound blood.

The Irish Wolfhound is a sweet tempered, kind, patient and very intelligent breed. They are very trustworthy and excellent with children and are unconditionally loyal to their family. They get along well with other dogs and most other pets. They are keen to greet everyone so aren’t ideal as a watchdog, although sometimes their appearance can be enough. They are considered a clumsy breed and are slow to mature both mentally and physically. It’s not until they are about 2 years of age that they are fully grown, but being they grow so rapidly do require a high quality diet. They are an easy breed to train, they are very willing and eager to please and obedience should start at a young age. Though some things can be cute as a pup you must remember when this breed is fully grown, their strength will grow too and can cause a lot of issues if not picked up at a young stage. Boosting this dog’s self confidence is a must and you need to consistent with this, helping your dog to grow into a confident large dog.

Due to their large, the Irish Wolfhound is prone to bloat so feeding should be monitored and adjusted as required. Hip dysplasia is also a common health issue. They require a lot of space to run but strangely enough do not need much more exercise then a small breed. Though daily walks are ideal, whilst this pup is going through the growing stage it’s best not push them through too much exercise as it can cause damage to their growing body. This will help keep their mind stimulated as prevent boredom.
Apartment life if not ideal for this breed, although inactive indoors they do require a large yard just to be able to wonder around. They are really family pets and loved to be involved, being locked in the backyard to long periods of time is not the right lifestyle for this dog.
The Wolfhound’s coat is medium in length and requires regular and thorough grooming with a brush and comb. Twice a year it will need to be plucked to remove excess dead coat.

As they are a large breed their lifespan is obviously shorter than smaller breeds and on average live from 6-8 years.

The stunning, and very large, Watson - a Wolfhound mix.