The Irish Wolfhound is a huge breed of dogs that was used to fight wolves. This dog is the tallest of all breeds. Its ancient roots track it back to 1500 B.C. The dogs came from Greece to Ireland and they rapidly became an irreplaceable help to the hunters. In fact, this great dog was so appreciated, that it became the hero of many Irish legends. However, after a few centuries, the breed was close to extinction due to the disappearance of its prey. We could say they almost remained unemployed.
The Irish Wolfhound is a very large dog with an intimidating posture. This giant is the size of a pony. The head is long, with a flat skull. Its forehead is very short and the stop is abrupt. The muzzle is narrow and longer than the skull. The nose is black with generous nostrils. The eyes are pretty big and round. The colour of the eyes is usually brown. The ears are quite short, floppy and low attached to the head. The neck is arrogantly carried high. The back is long and strong and the chest is wide and deep.
Its body, robust and muscular, successfully combines strength with agility. Its movements may appear low, heavy and clumsy, but they are swift and graceful. Its legs are long and stable and the tail is long, narrow and carried low. The coat is wiry and rough and is longer over the eyes and under the jaw. The coat comes in a variety of colours such as brindle, gray, red, black, white or fawn.
The females are a little bit smaller than the males, but generally, they weigh about 90 to 150 pounds (40-69 kg) and they stand 28 to 35 inches (71-90 kg). When it stands on its hind legs it reaches up to 7 feet tall.
Even though they were bred to fight wolves, these giants are good-natured and sweet-tempered. When it comes to hunting, they are very focused and eager to please their master. They can easily track wolves and moose and carry on doing their job of protecting the master. However, when they are off-duty, they tend to love everyone. Because they are so patient, they are perfect for small children and a large family.
Their dependable nature makes them giant rag dolls. So, make sure you don’t leave them alone. Keep in mind that a firm and calm tone would make your dog more obedient. Also, you must socialize them as pups. They need a lot of space, but they can adapt pretty well to city life. They are not so active outdoors, but they do need some hours of running or exercising.
The grooming is minimal; they need regular brushing and occasional washing. You will need to pluck the coat to remove the dead coat once a year. Because of their size, their lifespan is shorter than the other breeds’, only 5-7 years.
The Irish Wolfhound is a loving and obedient dog that needs a lot of attention from a large family.
