The Irish Wolfhound

Irish Wolfhounds are a living symbols of Irish culture and the Celtic past. Once called "The Great Hounds of Ireland", these massive, muscular dogs are the largest of all breeds. The average adult weighs between 105 to 150 pounds. They have a rough wiry outercoat and a softer undercoat. Their coat color can be solid or brindle in assorted shades of gray; white to wheaten (beige) to sandy beige, or varied tones of brown and black.

They are an ancient greyhound type breed. According to Irish lore and legend, ancestors of the Irish Wolfhound were guardians and companions of ancient Irish kings and valued by Celtic chieftains as dogs of war. The first authenticated reference to the breed was recorded in 391A.D. in ancient Rome in a letter from a Roman Consul thanking his brother for a gift of "7 Great Irish Hounds." Ownership in Ireland was originally restricted to Irish nobility. The dogs' chains were made of precious metals and they wore collars studded with gemstones. They were given away in large numbers as gifts to foreign emperors and kings.

For centuries the hounds were highly prized for their hunting abilities. They were used in Ireland for hunting Irish stag, deer, elk and wild boar and for hunting the wolves that infested large areas of Europe. Wolves and elk disappeared from Ireland and by the late 1700's the Irish Stag was hunted to extinction. With the dwindling amounts of wild game plus excessive exportation of the dogs as gifts to European royalty, the number of Irish Wolfounds steadlily declined. During the Irish famine of 1844 to 1846, the breed became nearly extinct.

A British Army officer, Captain George Augustus Graham, is responsible for reviving the breed. He obtained descendants of a dog said to be the last true example of the Irish Wolfhound. By breeding them with Scottish Deerhound and other other breeds which the Irish Wolfhound most probably had been crossed, he eventually achieved specimens that bred true to type. In the 1870s Irish Wolfhounds appeared for the first time as a separate breed in a Dublin, Ireland Kennel Club Show. The first Wolfhounds were registered by the AKC in 1897. The Irish Wolfhound Club of Ireland was formed in 1925 and The Irish Wolfhound Club of America in 1927.

According to the AKC Standard, the Irish Wolfhound is a dog "Of great size and commanding appearance, the Irish Wolfhound is remarkable in combining power and swiftness with keen sight."

These slightly shaggy dogs are intelligent, good-natured gentle giants with sweet dispositions. Despite their size, they are quiet indoor dogs who thrive on human companionship . They are sensitive, affectionate pets who love everyone in their family .... other dogs, the new kitten ... even the family parakeet. They're especially sweet and responsive to children. They bond easily and become devoted guardians of the children they love.

They do, of course, need lots of space to accommodate their size. The Irish Wolfhound is a fairly expensive dog to properly maintain. Medications like heartworm preventative and flea protection that are given according to a dog's size will be two to three times as much as for an average dog. They need super size crates, extra large pet beds, and more food than typical large breeds.

All dogs need a balanced diet from a high quality pet food, but this is of utmost importance for a rapidly growing giant breed puppy. Follow a diet recommended by your dog's breeder or your veterinarian. Feeding adult wolfhounds twice a day, dividing the recommended daily diet in two, is recommended to prevent bloat, a deadly condition that can result from overeating or eating too fast.

As with many giant breeds, Irish Wolfhounds have short lives. Sadly, their average lifespan is only about 6 to 8 years. A high percentage of Irish Wolfhounds suffer from cardiac disease. Heart failure is one of the major causes of death. A yearly health check is very important. Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) and Lymphoma are the most common cancers diagnosed in the breed. Other common health issues are Bloat, Von Willebrands Disease (a bleeding disorder), Hypothyroidism, joint diseases such as Osteochondrosis, Elbow and Hip Dysplasia, and Epileptic seizures.

Irish Wolfhounds are moderate year-round shedders. Brush and comb once a week to remove loose hair and keep the coat tangle free and in good condition.

Irish Wolfhounds must be contained when outdoors. Even though they are no longer used to hunt wild boar and elk, their predatory traits persist, and they will instinctively chase whatever "prey" they see outdoors. To today's Wolfhound, "prey" might include rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, the neighbor's cat, or even that kitten it gently plays with and nudges indoors.

Since young Irish Wolfhounds love to run, they should have a securely fenced yard where they can run and play freely. Though they love the outdoors, mature adults will quite easily become couch potatoes if you let them. They need outdoor play and exercise or regular walks daily.

Lure coursing is an outdoor activity which many Irish Wolfhounds and their owners enjoy together. Lure coursing is a performance event developed by sighthound fanciers who previously hunted rabbits with their dogs in the open field and risked the harm caused by barbed wire fencing. They invented lure coursing as a safer, more controlled sport for sighthounds. It recreates the physical requirements and tests the power, swiftness, and abilities of sighthounds as in open field coursing. Several field trials are held every weekend in the U. S. by more than 120 American Sighthound Field Association (ASFA) member clubs.

See a short Lure Coursing Video from The American Sighthound Field Association.
(Real player must be installed on your computer)
Basic questions and answers about Lure Coursing

Irish Wolfhounds are revered for their courage and admired for their beauty. This St. Patrick's Day, as always, Irish Wolfhounds will "march" in parades across the country and around the world. Two stunning Irish Wolfhounds, always lead the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade. They are the mascots of the “Fighting 69th”, an infantry regiment that's part of the New York National Guard.

A monument at the Gettysburg National Battlefield in Pennsylvania,
is a memorial to fallen soldiers of the 63rd, 69th and 88th New York infantry - The Irish Brigade.