Giant Irish Wolf Schnauzer
8-11 yrs
75-140 lbs
25-30"
Unknown

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Giant Irish Wolf Schnauzer

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Giant Irish Wolf Schnauzer

75-140 lbs

25-30"

Unknown

Giant Schnauzer

Irish Wolfhound

The Giant Irish Wolf Schnauzer is a designer dog, an intentional crossbreed between the Giant Schnauzer, a large dog originally developed in Germany as an all-around farm dog, helping to drive cattle to market, guard livestock, and pull carts, and the Irish Wolfhound, a giant breed that was originally utilized to hunt and kill both the now extinct Irish wolf and possibly even Irish elk at least as far back as 391 A.D. Both dogs generally enjoy the company of children, both large and small, but they may be too rambunctious or incautious around very small children, especially those Giant Irish Wolf Schnauzers that are still in their adolescence. Standard and Miniature Irish Wolf Schnauzers do exist as well, utilizing either the Standard or Miniature Schnauzer instead of the Giant Schnauzer. It is important to remember that the three Schnauzers are actually three separate breeds with a similar appearance, but the health problems, temperament, and natural skills can vary quite a bit between these breeds causing both the Standard and Miniature Irish Wolf Schnauzers to be very different dogs than the Giant Irish Wolf Schnauzer.

                
                Purpose
              
Guard Dog, Companion

                Date of Origin
              
Unknown

                Ancestry
              
Giant Schnauzer and Irish Wolfhound

Giant Irish Wolf Schnauzer Health

Average Size

Height: 27-32 inches Weight: 85-150 lbs

Height: 25-30 inches Weight: 75-140 lbs

Major Concerns

Osteosarcoma
Hip And Elbow Dysplasia
Bloat

Minor Concerns

Urolithiasis
Portosystemic Shunt
Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)

Occasional Diagnoses

Hypothyroidism
vonWillebrand’s Disease
Megaesophagus

Occasional Tests

Biopsy
X-ray imaging
Electrocardiogram
Urine Tests

Giant Irish Wolf Schnauzer Breed History

The Irish Wolf Schnauzer is a designer dog, an intentional hybrid between the Irish Wolfhound, a sighthound used in packs for hunting the great wolves, elk, and boar that populated ancient Ireland, and the Giant Schnauzer, a German dog used for herding and driving cattle. The Irish Wolfhound has been known to history as far back 391 AD, when several of these huge dogs, who were both powerful and swift, were gifted to the Royal Consul from Ireland. Packs of Irish Wolfhounds were used throughout Ireland to hunt down very large prey such as elk, boar, and the now extinct Irish wolf. Once the last of the Irish wolves was killed in 1786, the population of Wolfhounds also began to dwindle and by the middle of the 1800s, the Irish Wolfhound was nearly extinct. We can thank the survival of the breed on the dedication of Captain George Augustus Graham, a Scotsman who was enlisted in the British army. In 1862 Captain Graham gathered together all of the Irish Wolfhounds he was able to locate and attempted to resurrect the breed. In order to do so, outcrosses with other breeds like the Scottish Deerhound, the Great Danes, and the Russian Wolfhounds, among others, were employed to bring back the health and vitality of the breed. The Irish Wolfhound was recognized by the American Kennel Club in the Hound group in 1897 and by the Kennel Club of England in 1925. Although not quite as old as the Irish Wolfhound, the Schnauzer is still an older breed, developed in Germany and employed as far back as the 1500s, particularly to drive livestock to and from the market. The Standard Schnauzer came first and was adept at herding and driving sheep. Cattle farmers then crossed the Standard Schnauzer with other canines, chosen for their size and strength, dog breeds including the Bear Schnauzer, Rough-coated Sheepdog, and Great Dane. When cattle driving became obsolete in the early 1900s, the Giant Schnauzer changed specialties and became a military, police, and guard dog. When the first Giant Schnauzers were imported into the United States around this time, German Shepherds had already been firmly entrenched in the roles of military and police dogs, and Giant Schnauzers filled the roles of guard dogs, show dogs, and companion animals.

Giant Irish Wolf Schnauzer Breed Appearance

The Giant Irish Wolf Schnauzer is a very large animal with a square or slightly rectangular silhouette. Dogs that favor their Irish Wolfhound heritage will have a long, narrow head with a long, pointed muzzle covered in fine, short hair, while those that favor the Giant Schnauzer will have a heavy, brick-like head with a broad but slightly tapering muzzle that often sports copious facial furnishings that often form a moustache and beard. The eyes of this hybrid are generally dark brown and may be either oval or almond in shape, and the ears will be set high up on the skull and fold forward. Some Schnauzer owners choose to have the ears docked so that they stand up, and some Irish Wolf Schnauzer owners choose to do the same. It is important to note that ear docking is no longer allowed for nonmedical reasons in many countries.

Eye Color Possibilities

Brown

Nose Color Possibilities

Black

Coat Color Possibilities

Black

Blue

Brindle

Cream

Gray

Red

Silver

White

Coat Length

Short Medium Long

Coat Density

Sparse Normal Dense

Coat Texture

Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Giant Irish Wolf Schnauzer Breed Maintenance

The shed rate of this crossbreed is low enough for the Giant Irish Wolf Schnauzer to be considered hypoallergenic, but choosing to share your home with a Giant Irish Wolf Schnauzer means that you are committing to a fairly high grooming requirement compared to many other dogs, although it is not usually a daily chore. Brushing the Irish Wolf Schnauzer is only required one or two times a week, however, the brushing sessions for this hybrid tend to be lengthier than brushing sessions for many other dogs due to both their unique coats and the sheer size of the dog. Combing through the coat will help to loosen dirt as well as to remove any tangles or foreign objects like twigs or grass seeds, and following up with thea slicker brush or stiff bristle brush will help to tease out the last of the tangles as well as removing dead hair, further reducing the dog’s shed rate. Bathing only needs to occur every few months and is best done after the dog has been combed and brushed. Stripping of the coat will be required every four to six months, either using a special stripping comb or by hand stripping the coat and depending on how the coat grows shaping and scissoring may be required on a regular basis. If your dog does develop a beard, it is essential to clean it after every meal as water, food, and saliva can become smelly and unsanitary quite quickly.

Brushes for Giant Irish Wolf Schnauzer

Slicker Brush

Deshedder

Nail Clipper

Brushing Frequency

Daily Weekly Monthly

Giant Irish Wolf Schnauzer Temperament

The Giant Irish Wolf Schnauzer is a powerful and athletic animal, with a strong prey drive and an imposing visage. They can be energetic, particularly during their adolescence, but they are also able to settle down and be calm in their homes. The Irish Wolfhound is known as a gentle giant, however, Schnauzers are known to be a little more rambunctious and can unintentionally be destructive. Although it is unlikely that a well-socialized Irish Wolf Schnauzer would intentionally be aggressive towards a child, all interactions should be closely supervised to prevent misunderstandings and over exuberant or rough treatment from either the animal or the child. Their prey drive may make them poor roommates for other animals, particularly smaller, fast moving animals, and Giant Schnauzers are known to exhibit fearfulness or aggression around other dogs. Although these dogs are quite intelligent, they can be a challenge to train as they can also be quite stubborn and willful, and beginning training as early as possible can help to mitigate defiant behaviors.

Giant Irish Wolf Schnauzer Activity Requirements

Although the Irish Wolfhound can tend to become a bit of a couch potato as they age, the Giant Schnauzer is an active and athletic canine so the Giant Irish Wolf Schnauzer does need at least 60 to 90 minutes of vigorous exercise throughout the day each day to keep it at its happiest and healthiest. Due to its size, this crossbreed may be prone to developing skeletal disorders if they are allowed to play too roughly or overstress their joints by walking or jogging too far at one time while their bones are still developing during their adolescence. Along with walking and jogging, this canine may also excel at and enjoy activities such as obedience training, swimming, agility training, and rally events.

Activity Level

                  Low
                  Medium
                  High
                
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
9 miles

Minutes of Activity Per Day
90 minutes

Similar Maintenance Breeds to Giant Irish Wolf Schnauzer

Similarly Sized Breeds to Giant Irish Wolf Schnauzer

Giant Irish Wolf Schnauzer Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
4 cups
Daily Cost
$2.75 - $3.00
Monthly Cost
$80.00 - $90.00

Written by Kathleen Egger

Published: 10/20/2017, edited: 02/24/2021

Giant Irish Wolf Schnauzer Owner Experiences

Max

6 Years

1 People

House & Yard

Health

Grooming

Friendliness

Energy

Trainability

Pastimes

Run

Nervous and anxious since adopting him a month ago. He is starting to pace back n forth much less now but i’m still getting tried daily lol.

6 years, 6 months ago

Question - Other

Question

Do you have any known breeders for the Giant Irish Wolf Schnauzer?

Answer

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