The Irish Wolfhound has an impressive physique, and appears almost aristocratic when it comes walking towards you. It is a graceful and friendly dog, which is really family-friendly. It forms close bonds with its owners, but also with cats and other pets. Many people actually choose to get two Irish Wolfhounds, because they experience double the joy and surprisingly little work with two. Read more about the Irish Wolfhound below.
race facts
Family friendly
Activity level
Fur care
Training needs
Clearing
Size
Facts about the breed
The Irish Wolfhound was first mentioned in a letter from 39 AD in England. It is a beautiful dog of impressive size, which has been used frequently for hunting wild boar and deer – especially in the British Isles. The Irish Wolfhound is an intelligent and independent dog, which thrives in company and wants to spend a lot of time with its family. You should therefore not leave it alone for more than six hours – then it will start to miss you too much.
What can you expect as an owner of an Irish Wolfhound?
Personality
Personality
The Irish Wolfhound is a friendly, loving and tolerant dog. It is protective of its family and owner, and is very peaceful in the home. It borders on lazy, spending most of its time either lying on the floor or wandering around the house.
Activity level
Activity level
The dog thrives best if there is a good balance between relaxation and activity. It is a so-called sighthound, which is characterized by the need to run away regularly. You should therefore make sure to maintain the condition of an Irish Wolfhound. Feel free to let it run freely in a large area when you walk it. However, make sure that it takes place in a suitable area.
Note! Puppies should not be taken on long walks as they grow rapidly in a short time. This means that their bones are soft, their tendons weak and their muscles are not well developed at first. As an adult, you can take them on ski, bike and hike trips.
Training
Training
Irish Wolfhounds are intelligent animals and respond well to positive training methods. You can train your dog in obedience and other activities, but they are not always as willing to work as other dog breeds.
Health
Health
Weight and size
Male dogs grow to be at least 79 cm tall, while females grow to about 71 cm. Dogs weigh between 50 and 57 kg. Due to the Irish Wolfhound's size, you should expect to put in some time and effort.
Hereditary diseases
Although the Irish Wolfhound is healthy, it can contract life-threatening diseases. It rarely survives these. Common causes of death for Irish Wolfhounds include heart failure, pneumonia, and cancer.
Fur
Fur
An Irish Wolfhound requires some grooming , but the amount varies from dog to dog. The coat is wiry and harsh, and it has a double coat. This means it has an undercoat and a topcoat. If you comb through dead and worn fur regularly, you can keep shedding to a minimum.
Food and nutrition
Food and nutrition
How much an Irish Wolfhound eats varies, but as a rule of thumb, a puppy should be fed three to four times a day. An adult Irish Wolfhound should be fed twice a day. It is very important that the dog is calm both before and after feeding, as there is a risk of stomach upset.
Irish Wolfhound
If you want to get an Irish Wolfhound, it is important that you deal with a serious breeder. At the breed club, Irish Wolfhound Club in Norway , you can find a lot of relevant information. You should expect to pay between 18,000 and 22,000 kroner for an Irish Wolfhound.
It is important that you choose a seller who gives you detailed information about how the dog was bred. Unfortunately, not everyone breeds in a responsible and correct way, which can lead to serious diseases in the puppies. You should always make sure that the process has been within the regulations, so that you do not contribute to uncontrolled or illegal dog trade. Therefore, it is wise to set aside some time for preparation in advance, and spend time finding a reliable breeder.
