Irish Wolfhound
Hound Group

Height at Shoulders
Females 30+ in, Males 32+ in
Weight
Females ~105 lbs, Males ~120 lbs
Life Expectancy
6-8 yrs
History
The Irish Wolfhound is an extremely old breed, possibly dating back as far as 7000 BCE. They were well established as of the 5th century, as they were mentioned as cú, a loose term translating to hound, Irish hound, war dog, wolf dog, etc. in Irish literature dating back to this time. It is likely that they were developed by crossing indigenous large dogs of Britain to the Middle Eastern coursing hounds. The Irish Wolfhound was use to hunt the massive, now-extinct Irish Elk, wolves, and other large game. Unfortunately, the dogs were so good at their job that by the late 18th century, they hunted all the big game in Ireland to extinction, leaving the breed unemployed. Their unemployment might have lead to their own extinction if it wasn't for British army captain George Augustus Graham who brought the popularity of the breed back.
Breed Characteristics
While not all Irish Wolfhounds share the exact same personality and temperament, there are certain generalizations that can be made about the breed. In addition to genetics, a dog’s environment, training, socialization, and many other factors all contribute to their personality and behavior.
Intelligence
Affection Towards Family
Friendliness Towards Strangers
Friendliness Towards Other Dogs
Exercise Needs
★★★★☆
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★☆
Energy Level
Sensitivity
Noise Level
Prey Drive
Shedding
★★☆☆☆
★★★☆☆
★☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
★★★☆☆
Intelligence
★★★★☆
Affection Towards Family
★★★★★
Friendliness Towards Strangers
★★★★★
Friendliness Towards Other Dogs
★★★★★
Exercise Needs
★★★★☆
Energy Level
★★☆☆☆
Sensitivity
★★★☆☆
Noise Level
★☆☆☆☆
Prey Drive
★★★★★
Shedding
★★★☆☆
Common Traits
Gentle, calm, and people-oriented
Alert but are too friendly to be suspicious of strangers- don't make the best watchdogs and are poor guard dogs
Very sensitive and don't respond well to harsh training or punishments
Strong prey drive and will bolt straight through underground electric fences
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