

The Irish Wolfhound is a gentle, imposing wire-haired sighthound—originally bred to hunt wolves at full sprint. Today, this giant athlete is surprisingly calm indoors, but needs plenty of space outside for its explosive sprints.
How the health grade is calculated
Sources for required breeding screenings. Irish Wolfhound Club e.V.
Self-check
Answer 6 quick questions about your everyday life and see how well the Irish Wolfhound fits you — including an honest cost estimate per month, per year, and across the dog's lifetime.
At a glance
The essentials — key facts, traits, and health priorities — before you dive deeper.
Lifespan
6–8 yrs
Shoulder height
71–86 cm
Weight
40–70 kg
Practical
Temperament
Daily life
What matters most
Especially with a Irish Wolfhound, choosing the right breeder is the single most important decision you'll make. Serious breeders consistently test the parents for inherited conditions, prioritize healthy early socialization, and stay accountable long after handover. A cheap puppy without health screening tends to become the most expensive dog later on.
See HonestDog breeder standards →Colors & coat
The coat colors that occur in the Irish Wolfhound — including which ones fall outside the breed standard and which carry genetic risk.
Eye colors
Coat type
The real vibes check
An Irish Wolfhound is like a gentle giant from an old legend—indoors a huge, cuddly couch potato, outdoors an explosive sprinter. You aren't getting an obedient command-follower, but a confident roommate in pony-format who goes through life with stoic calm, until something flees on the horizon.
The Irish Wolfhound is the largest dog breed in the world when measured at shoulder height. With its impressive size and powerful appearance, it is a real eye-catcher. Its build is muscular and proportional, with a deep chest and long legs that give it an elegant gait. The head is long and narrow, with dark eyes and high-set ears. The tail is long and slightly curved. His rough coat is dense and wiry and serves to protect him from the elements. The Irish Wolfhound belongs to FCI Group 10, the group of sighthounds.
Despite its impressive size and courageous heritage, the Irish Wolfhound is an incredibly gentle and friendly dog. He is known for his love for people and his patience and gentleness with children. He is a good family dog and gets along well with other dogs and pets. He is not aggressive and tends to stay out of conflict rather than participate in it. Because of its history as a hunting dog, the Irish Wolfhound has some hunting instinct, but it is not as strong as some other breeds. He is not particularly alert and is not prone to barking or growling unless he feels threatened or challenged. The Irish Wolfhound is intelligent and learns quickly, but it can also be a bit stubborn. He needs loving but consistent training to bring out his best behavior. He is a calm and easy-going dog who does not have excessive energy, although he enjoys getting regular exercise. He is not a dog that always wants to play or run, but rather enjoys spending quiet time with his family. He is happy to live in both a rural and urban environment as long as he has enough space to move around. It is not suitable for living in a small apartment or in a house without a garden. Despite its size, the Irish Wolfhound is not meant to live outdoors - it is a family dog that enjoys spending time indoors with its family. The Irish Wolfhound is good at staying alone, although he prefers to have his family nearby. He can be a bit clingy and loves being around his people. He is not the type of dog that likes to be alone, he would rather be with his people or other dogs. Training an Irish Wolfhound can be challenging as they can be stubborn at times. But with patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement, he can be a very well-behaved and well-adjusted dog.
| Watchfulness Occasionally alerts but is fundamentally open. | Low |
| Openness to Strangers Warms up quickly and is generally welcoming. | Friendly |
| Hunting or Herding Drive Noticeable drive — needs attention around small animals. | Moderate |
Fun Fact!
Although the Irish Wolfhound is known for its impressive size, it is often referred to as a "gentle giant" - a perfect description of his loving and calm nature.
The Irish Wolfhound is considered a calm dog. The life expectancy of this breed is rather low. This breed also has many diseases typical of large breeds, such as problems with the musculoskeletal system, but heart disease and bone cancer are also common.
The Irish Wolfhound is generally suitable as a city dog, but needs sufficient exercise and mental stimulation. Due to its size, it should be kept in an apartment with enough space and ideally with access to a garden. He gets along well with children and is generally very gentle and patient. However, a responsible adult should always be present as it could accidentally knock over a small child due to its size. The Irish Wolfhound can also live well with other pets, including cats, provided it is properly socialized.
Lives for its family — the born family companion.
Extraordinarily patient and loving — a true family dog.
Actively enjoys the company of other dogs.
Can manage in the city, but only with very active owners.
Owning a dog is a privilege, but it's also a real responsibility. Before you bring one into your life, be honest with yourself about the commitment it takes.
Training the Irish Wolfhound should begin early and always be consistent but loving. He is intelligent and learns quickly, but can also be stubborn. That's why patience is very important in training. Due to its history as a hunting dog, the Irish Wolfhound has a certain hunting instinct. This should be considered and controlled during training. It may make sense to offer him alternatives such as search games to satisfy his hunting instinct. It's also important to teach him early on how to deal with frustration and practice impulse control, otherwise he may be prone to becoming overly excited or restless. The Irish Wolfhound is an active dog that requires regular exercise and mental stimulation. Sports like agility or obedience can be a good way to exercise both physically and mentally. However, care should be taken not to overwhelm him as this can lead to health problems.
Due to its size and rapid growth as a puppy, proper nutrition for the Irish Wolfhound is particularly important. He needs a balanced feed with high protein and low fat content. Overfeeding should be avoided as this can lead to joint problems. Caring for the Irish Wolfhound is relatively straightforward. His rough coat should be brushed regularly to prevent matting and skin problems. It has an undercoat that protects it from the cold and therefore copes well with the German climate. He sheds moderately, but it can Increased hair loss occurs during shedding in spring and autumn.
| Care Level Minimal effort — occasional brushing and bathing. | Low-maintenance |
| Exercise Needs Needs several hours of serious exercise every day. | Very active |
| Shedding Hair everywhere, always — no white clothing survives. | Very heavy |
| Trainability Has its own ideas and will test limits. | Strong-willed |
Our experts are still reviewing this information. Spotted something wrong? Email us at info@honestdog.de.
High risks
Health grade
The Irish Wolfhound reaches an average of only about seven years; heart disease and bone cancer are the most common causes of death. Alongside cardiac conditions such as dilated cardiomyopathy, portosystemic shunt (hepatic encephalopathy), cervical spondylomyelopathy (wobbler syndrome), and gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) also burden the breed considerably. While the Irish Wolfhound Club e.V. mandates heart disease screening for breeding approval, responsible breeders additionally test for further risks. Before buying, ask to see clear findings for dilated cardiomyopathy and portosystemic shunt (hepatic encephalopathy), as well as evaluations for hip dysplasia (HD) with HD A–B and elbow dysplasia (ED) with ED 0.
Grade is relative to other breeds — AI-assisted and editorially reviewed.
Methodology and data: HonestDog Dog Breed Health Report 2026
What matters most for this breed
Tap any item to see details.
For a long dog life, you should ensure slow growth, joint-friendly exercise, and regular heart check-ups, while also keeping an eye on the risk of bloat.
Responsible breeders fulfill the mandatory screening for heart diseases and additionally test for dilated cardiomyopathy, portosystemic shunt (hepatic encephalopathy), and hip dysplasia (HD).
Note: This health overview is AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. It is for orientation only and does not replace veterinary advice.
What matters most for this breed — what's common, how much it affects the dog's life, and how to protect yourself as a buyer.
Tap a body region to see the inherited conditions linked to it.
The three most important risks
Pick a region on the map to explore other areas.
Tier 1 reflects the tests Irish Wolfhound Club e.V. actually mandates. Tiers 2 and 3 show how responsible breeders go beyond.
Club standard. Irish Wolfhound Club e.V. requires these tests for breeding approval. Ask any reputable breeder for the results.
No entries in this tier.
Note: This health overview is AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. It is for orientation only and does not replace veterinary advice.
A Irish Wolfhound costs around ~€230 per month (€120 – €440, depending on your setup). The first year adds up to roughly ~€6,780 including purchase, equipment and puppy school; across the dog's life (7 years) it comes to about ~€23,000.
With surgery cover, running costs come to about ~€240 per month — in return, your share of a major operation drops from several thousand euros to around 20 percent.
Per month
~€230
In the first year
~€6,780
Across the dog's life
~€23,000
Estimated purchase price from a breeder: €2,500 – €4,000
Estimate at a mid-range setup (suburban, dry food, 1–2 hours of daily exercise), average German prices, as of July 2026.

Illustrative image
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Illustrative imageThe Irish Wolfhound is a very ancient breed originating from Ireland. Originally bred for hunting wolves, elk, and wild boar, the breed was renowned for its speed, power, and courage. In fact, the name "Wolfhound" translates to "hound of the wolf" in the Irish language. References to the Irish Wolfhound appear as early as ancient Roman writings, and the dogs were highly prized gifts among the nobility and royalty of Europe. The breed faced near-extinction after its original role as a hunting dog declined, but it was revived in the 19th century through the dedication of breeders who introduced dogs from foreign lines into the Irish stock. The breed was recognized by the Kennel Club in Great Britain in 1897 and by the American Kennel Club in 1925. Today, the Irish Wolfhound is primarily a companion and family dog, though it has retained its characteristic bravery and spirit.
Hunting dog (wolves, giant deer), war dog
Ireland
Antike
At home and with the family, owners almost unanimously describe the Irish Wolfhound as a true "gentle giant." Indoors these dogs are remarkably calm and laid-back; many owners report with a smile that the giant likes nothing better than to curl up on the sofa like a lap dog and barely make its presence known. With children and other familiar pets it is usually very patient and peaceable. Owners also stress, however, that its sheer physical mass has to be taken into account: a careless wag at table height and at a child's face height, or a boisterous moment in adolescence, can knock small children over without meaning to.
Experienced owners also stress that getting one isn't like getting any other dog; it means adapting your whole lifestyle. A regular station wagon's cargo space quickly hits its limits, so a van or a tall-roof wagon often becomes necessary. You should also be aware that a walk rarely goes by without reactions from passersby – the dog's huge size constantly draws looks and comments in public.
On training and keeping one busy, owners mainly highlight its typical sighthound temperament: the Irish Wolfhound isn't a dog that obeys blindly or wants to grind through endless repetitions on the training field. It learns quickly, but it likes to question whether a command makes sense and shows a certain independence and stubbornness. Pressure or harshness gets you little with this sensitive breed; owners agree on loving but unwavering consistency from puppyhood on – because if a fully grown dog of over 50 to 70 kilograms doesn't walk nicely on a leash, you physically can't hold it.
Outdoors, many first-time owners underestimate its hunting drive. Owners repeatedly stress that these are sight hunters: while scent trails on the ground are often ignored, a running cat or a deer on the horizon is enough to send the dog off like a shot. Since it is built as a sprinter, it doesn't need hours-long hikes; what it values most is a chance once a day to run flat out at a full gallop in a safe, fenced or open area.
The dominant topic among breeders and owners is health and the breed's comparatively short life expectancy. Many owners describe how much care is needed even in the first year: because the puppies grow incredibly fast, their food has to be precisely matched to slow, bone-friendly growth, and walks and jumping have to be strictly limited to protect joints and ligaments from long-term damage.
Owners also warn about the considerable costs if the dog gets sick. Because anesthesia, surgery and medication are almost always dosed and billed by body weight, vet bills for the illnesses typical of large breeds – such as bloat, heart disease or bone cancer – are very high. Owner accounts therefore repeatedly stress setting money aside in advance and going only to reputable breeders who put a strong focus on longevity and heart health in their bloodlines.
Sources:reddit.comforum.hundund.dedogorama.appgesundehundeforum.comhundeforum.com
Paraphrased from real owner reports · translated from German
The Irish Wolfhound is an active dog that needs plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. Research the temperament, grooming needs, and space requirements before deciding.
The average life expectancy of a Irish Wolfhound is 6-8 years. With proper care and regular vet visits, your dog can live a long, healthy life.
Irish Wolfhound grooming requirements include regular brushing, nail trimming, and dental care. HonestDog provides detailed grooming tips for every breed.
The Irish Wolfhound can be a great family dog. Proper training and socialization are key. HonestDog provides family suitability information for every breed.
The Irish Wolfhound comes in these colors: Grey, Brindle, Red, Black, White, Fawn, Wheaten.
Showcase your kennel on HonestDog and reach families searching for a responsibly bred Irish Wolfhound.