Irish wolfhound: a very large, but very kind dog

Don’t be fooled by the Irish Wolfhound’s size; it is one of the biggest dog breeds in the world. These dogs are renowned for their loving and gentle disposition, even with their enormous stature and strong physique. Because of their peaceful and amiable nature, they are frequently referred to as "gentle giants" and make devoted companions.

The Irish Wolfhound is an athletic and powerful dog that was originally bred for hunting wolves and large game. But in a family environment, you can probably find them kicking back and looking for love. They are wonderful pets because of their kindness and patience, especially for families with young children.

Despite their intimidating appearance, Irish Wolfhounds are among the most laid-back canines out there. They form close bonds with their human families and are amiable and laid back. The Irish Wolfhound might be the ideal choice if you’re searching for a big dog with a heart to match.

History of the breed

A massive, unkempt dog that suddenly appears out of the forest can frighten anyone. Despite its name, the Irish wolfhound is actually the friendliest animal, so there’s no need to be afraid. And since he is a greyhound, all he does in the forest is walk.

The largest greyhound breed is the Irish wolfhound.

It is thought that this breed’s ancestors were transported to Ireland many centuries ago by the Celts. The Irish have been deeply proud of their national breed ever since. The Irish Wolfhound is praised in epic poetry, turned into a mythological and literary hero, and is also regarded as a role model. Local warriors frequently portrayed the massive dog’s silhouette on their shields with the inscription, "Terrible – in response to a challenge, gentle – in response to affection."

The name of the breed comes from the fact that the large greyhound was highly popular among the local nobility for hunting wolves. However, after the last wolf was killed in the Irish forests, the wolfhound was retrained to hunt bears, deer, and elk. Pedigree dogs were highly prized; during the seventeenth century, wolfhound puppies were frequently given as gifts to the ruling class, including foreign monarchs and the most eminent members of the clergy.

Wolfhounds were sent as gifts to Cardinal Richelieu in France in 1641 and to the Duke of Tuscany in Italy in 1646.

Because wolfhounds were so successful at their primary task, maintaining a minimum of twenty-two wolves per county was mandated in the fifteenth century. The Irish wolfhound was a national treasure by the nineteenth century, and its "father" is rightfully Captain George Graham of the British Army, who worked hard to bring the breed’s fame to the world and developed the first breed standard in 1885. Captain Graham had a deep love for wolfhounds.

The wolfhound’s peculiar appearance made it the protagonist of numerous Irish myths and stories.

However, it took more than a century—in 1995—for the breed to gain official standards and worldwide recognition. Nowadays, every respectable cynological organization recognizes the Irish greyhound.

Description of the Irish wolfhound

The Irish wolfhound is classified by the FCI as a greyhound, which is the tenth group in the catalog. It is included in the second section of the group, "wire-haired greyhounds," along with the deerhound. The breed standard underwent its most recent update in 2001.

Appearance

The Irish greyhound’s enormous size is what initially draws people’s attention to it, but the breed’s exterior is endowed with many other endearing traits as well.

The Irish wolfhound is well-known for its enormous stature.

Table: exterior of the Irish wolfhound according to FCI standard No. 160

• The minimum height at the withers for females is 71 cm, for males – 79 cm;
• minimum weight for females is 40.5 kg, for males – 54.5 kg;
• the standard does not specify upper limits for height and weight.

• impressive, powerful, but elegant and proportional;
• elongated body;
• wide chest and croup;
• well-developed muscles and ribs.

• large, elongated, without contrasting bulges;
• scissor teeth, but a straight bite is also acceptable;
• eyes – as dark as possible;
• small ears, in the shape of rose petals.

• high, strong, parallel;
• developed skeleton and muscles, expressive;
• well-knit toes.

• moderately thick;
• long enough;
• can be curved at the end.

• coarse, wiry;
• especially hard on the beard and above the eyes.

• gray;
• brindle;
• red;
• black;
• white;
• yellowish-brown;
• small white spots on the chest and paws are acceptable.

These dogs move with such lightness and flexibility that it was hard to suspect they were anything but.

The Wolfhound’s movements are captivating due to their energy, productivity, and freedom, despite their appearance of being lanky and even clumsy at first.

Photo gallery: some colors of Irish wolfhounds

Gray is regarded as the breed’s traditional color. Although they have an impressive appearance, white wolfhounds frequently have allergies. Brindle color comes in a variety of shades, and each one is unique. Chic red dogs are getting more and more well-liked.

Character and behavior

These dogs are calm, balanced, and never go crazy. They also have very strong psyches. Wolfhounds are extremely sensitive and emotional animals, and only their owners are aware of this. They will not tolerate rudeness, harsh treatment, or indifference. They are remarkably devoted to their owner and his family, cautious and understanding around kids, and pet-loyal.

You can trust a wolfhound to look after your kids; he’ll handle things responsibly and cautiously.

But the hunting instinct can show itself at any time, and the greyhound will suddenly start to view a cat or budgerigar as prey instead of a member of its pack, with all the consequences that go along with it.

The wolfhound is described by cynologists as "a lion on the hunt, and a lamb at home."

Disqualifications and faults

The Irish wolfhound is considered to have serious faults with the following deviations from the breed standard:

• too light or too heavy a head;
• too convex a frontal bone;
• crooked forelimbs; weak pasterns;
• weak hind limbs and general underdevelopment of muscles;
• too short a body;
• sagging back, with over-tracking or straight;
• large, flat-hanging ears;
• toe or clubfoot.
• loose toes;
• short neck, dewlap;
• too narrow or too wide a chest;
• too curved tail;
• nose of any color other than black;
• lips of any color other than black;
• very light eyes, pink or liver colored eyelids.

Only canines with a healthy bite and all of their teeth are eligible to breed.

Choosing a puppy

Consider your options before purchasing an Irish wolfhound puppy. Will you have the resources—money, time, experience, and strength—to raise the puppy into a healthy, well-trained adult? Analyze the selected baby’s genetic makeup, find out about its parents’ genetic tests, and consider its living and development circumstances.

The first thing you should try to clarify as much as you can is the puppy’s heredity.

This breed is being bred by a number of Russian nurseries. This is where you should purchase a dog, not from questionable ads. A puppy costs between 40 and 80 thousand rubles, depending on the breed.

Puppies of wolves are endearing due to their awkwardness.

When making your decision, use common sense in addition to your emotions. Take note of the following crucial exterior characteristics of the pet you want:

• on the head – the structure of the skull of this breed is distinguished by smooth lines, there are no pronounced cheekbones, feet, etc. d.;
• on the paws – a real wolfhound has the pads of the fingers tightly gathered together, and not loosened;
• on the coat – it is unique both in appearance and to the touch (even a puppy"s awn should resemble wire, hard, rough and prickly).

A proud attitude is another way to identify an Irishman; in fact, the breed standard states that these dogs should wear their heads and necks high and with dignity.

To believe that a colossus of this size could only be kept in a country home with a large walking space would be a mistake. Even though the Wolfhound enjoys running, an apartment will be a much better home for him than a backyard aviary. These dogs suffer greatly when left alone, require constant human interaction, and are extremely sensitive to affection and praise.

A gigantic dog will make a lot less noise and mess than some extremely active "decor," even in a small city apartment. It is strictly forbidden for the Irishman to lie on hard surfaces due to his sensitive joints; the only places he can lie are on a soft rug or the owner’s sofa.

The Irish wolfhound enjoys plenty of room, but a cozy couch is preferable to an aviary.

Feeding

Wool?"What is his daily intake?" People who are staring at one of my black terriers in wonder frequently ask. I hate to break the news to them, but despite their size, giant dogs do not eat a lot. The enormous wolfhound is not an exception.

Correctly constructing a dog’s diet during the puppy stage is crucial. Remember that Irishmen take a long time to grow and mature: large males can take up to three years, or even up to three and a half years, for bitches. An unbalanced, subpar, or inadequate diet for a dog that is growing quickly sets the stage for lifelong health issues.

The secret to your dog’s long life and good health is a well-balanced diet.

Based on their personal experience, giant dog breeders and owners advise feeding their pets premium-quality prepared food meant for large breed dogs instead of natural food, such as:

• Pro Plan Adult Large Robust;
• Dog Chow Adult;
• Bosch Adult Maxi;
• Hills SP Adult Advanced Fitness Large Breed Lamb& Rice;
• Acana Heritage Adult Large Breed.

It is unlikely that a large dog like this will be raised properly in the modern world without helpful supplements containing vitamins, minerals, and special means for supporting the skeleton, so if you have more faith in a natural diet, try to make it rich and balanced.

What needs to be on your pet’s menu:

• fresh or frozen meat – not pork;
• offal – beef offal is a must;
• poultry meat without tubular bones;
• boneless and boiled sea fish;
• low-fat dairy products;
• raw quail eggs;
• vegetables, fruits, fresh leafy greens;
• porridge – only well-boiled and in small quantities.

Giving such "goodies" to dogs of any age is strictly prohibited:

• what you eat yourself;
• smoked, salted, peppered, fried or fatty foods;
• yeast baked goods;
• any sweets, especially chocolate;
• legumes and citrus fruits.

Hygiene

The purebred coat of the Irish greyhound is short and hard, does not tangle, and is simple to clean of dirt; maintaining the coat of the dog is not difficult. That being said, there are a few crucial details to consider:

• for combing you will need a fine metal comb, a massage brush or a silicone glove;
• frequent bathing is contraindicated – two or even one bath per season is enough;
• show dogs are trimmed to improve the quality of the coat – the coarse awn is plucked out as it matures;
• for convenience in everyday life, you can trim some parts of the dog"s body with a clipper – the neck, ears and the area under the tail.

These dogs take daily or even daily baths in the river and in the bathtub once or twice a year.

Frequent cleanings of the eyes, ears, and teeth, as well as the trimming of overly long claws, are also requirements for good hygiene. By the way, most of the time, the development of plaque is a sign that the dog’s regular diet is inadequate.

Walking

Every greyhound should walk a lot, both far and wide. Everyone, that is, except for the Irish wolfhound, who is content with two walks of thirty minutes each day. He won’t stop running for fun, of course, but you’ll need to take him to quiet places, away from moving vehicles, and away from any stressful situations. A frenzied wolfhound can run off after a cat, for example, and you’ll have to spend a lot of time searching for him.

The Irish Wolfhound does not require longer walks than other dogs, despite its massive growth.

Training

Overtraining an Irish wolfhound is pointless as it will not benefit from the extra effort. Naturally, a puppy should be thoroughly socialized and taught the fundamentals of obedience from an early age. "Lie!", "Sit!", and "Give me a paw!" are not commands that will benefit your pet in the long run. It is far more crucial that he understands and obediently complies with directives like "Come to me!" and "Next to!" as well as prohibitive ones like "Ugh!" or "No!", "Drop!", "Spit!", and other similar ones.

Children get along well with wolfhounds.

An owner with patience and some experience can train his dog on his own for this purpose; a general training course is not even required. Furthermore, the Wolfhound prefers working with its owner alone on the training field far more than it does listening to a stranger.

Keep in mind: forceful training methods in this case will only bring the opposite effect. At the slightest pressure, dogs of this breed "turn on" disobedience and refuse to learn — you need to be able to negotiate with them.

Regarding the protective and guard service course, professionals advise against even attempting it. Although it is improbable that you could teach an Irishman how to be a security and guard, you should absolutely avoid arousing the beast within this massive body.

Video: everything about the Irish Wolfhound breed

Despite being one of the biggest dog breeds in the world, the Irish Wolfhound is known for its gentle disposition despite its size. Despite their intimidating appearance, these dogs make wonderful companions because of their well-known calm, amiable, and loving personalities. They are the ideal choice for families searching for a devoted and affectionate pet because of their kindness and patience, especially with young ones. Irish Wolfhounds are more likely to cuddle up with you on the couch than to bite, despite their intimidating appearance.

Characteristic diseases

Regretfully, one cannot declare the Irish Wolfhound to be a perfectly healthy breed. Because of its enormous growth, it is prone to numerous diseases, just like all the giants of the dog world. The majority of these pathologies are caused by poor puppy rearing practices rather than even poor genetics. Initially, this pertains to a condition known as hip dysplasia.

X-rays make the state of the joints very evident: a picture of healthy joints is on the left, and dysplasia is clearly visible on the right.

It is crucial to shield the puppy from harm and excessive joint stress until it is at least a year old:

• do not allow it to go down stairs and steep slopes on its own;
• exclude walking on slippery floors;
• prohibit and too active games.

The dog should be brought to the doctor at the first indication of lameness, discomfort, or joint pain because an early diagnosis of a disease makes recovery easier. Even in the absence of any outward indications of disease, your pet should have an X-ray performed after ten months of age to learn more about the condition of the joints; if necessary, the doctor may prescribe supportive or preventive medication.

Both during the puppy years and the elderly years of the dog’s life, special attention should be given to the state of the joints.

While medication is usually effective in treating dysplasia, surgery may be the only option in certain cases. Along with other health issues that are common to Wolfhounds, the following illnesses can be mentioned:

• bloat;
• dislocation of the patella;
• hyoderma or Malassezia dermatitis;
• hypothyroidism;
• osteochondrosis of the shoulder;
• dilated cardiomyopathy;
• elbow hygroma;
• von Willebrand disease;
• Wobbler syndrome;
• entropion;
• osteosarcoma;
• cataracts.

Wolfhounds, like most large breeds, are unfortunately short lived; very few live to see their tenth birthday.

Characteristic	Description
Size	The Irish Wolfhound is one of the largest dog breeds, known for its towering height and strong build.
Temperament	Despite their size, they are gentle and friendly, making them great companions for families.
Exercise Needs	They need regular exercise but are not overly energetic, enjoying long walks and relaxing indoors.
Coat	They have a rough, medium-length coat that requires regular grooming to keep it in good condition.
Social Behavior	Irish Wolfhounds are very social dogs, getting along well with children and other pets.

Despite its massive stature, the Irish Wolfhound is actually a kind and affectionate companion. This breed is frequently referred to as a "gentle giant" because of its calm temperament and amiable demeanor. Irish Wolfhounds are far more likely to spend time with their family in an affectionate manner than in an aggressive manner, despite their hunting heritage.

Loyalty is among the Irish Wolfhound’s best qualities. They are excellent family pets because they build close relationships with their owners and are well-known for being patient with kids. Their gentle nature more than compensates for the additional care they require, even though their size necessitates plenty of room and exercise.

Ultimately, the Irish Wolfhound is a great option if you’re searching for a dog that combines striking stature with a kind and considerate nature. For those who can put up with their size and energy, they make wonderful companions due to their loving and gentle nature.

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