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Irish wolfhound

The Irish wolfhound is the tallest dog breed in the world, an ancient Irish sighthound used to course wolves and elk.

It died out with the wolves and was reconstructed in the 1860s by Captain George Augustus Graham from surviving deerhound and other stock.

It is enormous and rough-coated, with a long head and a deep chest, and it moves with a light, easy stride that belies the size. The temperament is the famous part: wolfhounds are gentle, quiet and notably unaggressive — the old description is gentle when stroked, fierce when provoked, and modern dogs are mostly the first half.

Origin
Ireland
Size
48–70 kg, 71–86 cm at the shoulder
Lifespan
6–8 years
Coat
Rough, harsh and wiry
Temperament
Gentle, quiet, dignified, easygoing indoors
Exercise
About an hour daily, gentle while growing

Related: Irish red and white setter · Irish setter · Irish terrier · Irish water spaniel

3 irish wolfhound photos, newest first

  • Fionn, a irish wolfhound

    Fionn

    Fionn fits under the arch. Only just, and he is well aware of it.

    FrostyOtter · 5 days ago

  • Dumpling IV, a irish wolfhound

    Dumpling IV

    Dumpling IV was promoted to film director frustrated with a toy clapperboard; unfortunately, a feather duster gets stuck in a tiny chandelier.

    FrostyOtter · 1 week ago

  • Dumpling IV, a irish wolfhound

    Dumpling IV

    Nothing about Dumpling IV's expression is an accident.

    GentleFinch · 2 weeks ago

Living with a irish wolfhound

The coat needs brushing weekly and hand-stripping occasionally; the beard needs washing.

Growth must be managed with care. A wolfhound puppy grows faster than almost any animal and hard exercise or a rich diet during that period damages joints permanently. Restraint until well over a year.

The lifespan is the hard truth of the breed — six to eight years is typical. Dilated cardiomyopathy, bone cancer and bloat are the principal causes, and preventive gastropexy is common. They need soft bedding and space simply to lie down.

General guidance, not veterinary advice. Individual dogs vary, and anything about a specific animal is a question for a vet who has seen it.

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