Breed of the Month – Irish Wolfhound
December 1, 2020
The Irish Wolfhound is one of the oldest breeds in the world, hailing from Ireland. As their name states, the Irish Wolfhound were originally bred to combat wolves, though they were also used for hunting due to their size.
Their Personality
The Irish Wolfhound, which can definitely be described as a “gentle giant” can bounce back and forth between being calm and energetic, but are always somewhat easygoing. Most of these hounds are very friendly and love pats, but as with any breed, there can be outliers. Irish Wolfounds respond well to obedience training and are always looking to please. This does not mean that they do not love their independence though, and will love a large space to be able to stretch out and nap on their own!
Their Health
Being a large breed, the Irish Wolfhound may be prone to a few diseases that are common in larger breeds. Some of the more serious issues would be osteosarcoma, heart disease, and bloat. Being a large breed, they are also prone to joint issues as they grow, and are more susceptible to injury as puppies. The Irish Wolfhound is rather stoic, which means that it may be difficult to distinguish if they are having a health issue, which is why routine veterinary visits are important in such a breed.
Their Look
This muscular hound has a rough and hard coat, which can be longer or shorter. The colors you may see in an Irish Wolfhound are gray, brindle, red, black, white, or fawn. Being a large breed, the average weight is 120 pounds, though they can be a bit smaller for a female. The Irish Wolfhound is one of the world’s tallest breeds, and can stand at 32 inches tall (almost 3 feet).
There are some things to think about when deciding whether or not to welcome an Irish Wolfhound into your home. Though a very large breed, they will be loyal, gentle, and loving to their families, and are usually sweet dogs all around. More about this breed can be found on the American Kennel Club.