Learn More About Irish Wolfhound

Summary

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.

Character

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.

What to Expect

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.

Care

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 supervisor 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.

Training & Education

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 when raising children. Due to its history as a hunting dog, the Irish Wolfhound has a certain hunting instinct. This should be considered and controlled when raising children. 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.

Nutrition & Grooming

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.