Irish Wolfhound

95-105 lbs
28-30"
Ireland
Cu Faoil

The Irish Wolfhound is a very large dog originally used to drag men from their horses and off of chariots. Also an accomplished hunting dog, the breed almost became extinct after boars and wolves disappeared from Ireland. Captain George Graham introduced Great Danes and Deerhounds to the breed; he helped to restore the breed by doing so. At one time, the “Great Hound of Ireland” was highly sought by royalty. They were sometimes given as a gift and battles were even fought over the ownership of the dog. This large and impressive canine was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1897.

purpose Purpose
Coursing, Hunting
history Date of Origin
390 AD
ancestry Ancestry
Great Dane, Deerhound

Irish Wolfhound Health

Sketch of Irish Wolfhound
Average Size
Male Irish Wolfhound size stats
Height: 30-32 inches Weight: 100-120 lbs
Female Irish Wolfhound size stats
Height: 28-30 inches Weight: 95-105 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Gastric Torsion
Minor Concerns
  • Osteosarcoma
  • Cardiomyopathy
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Osteochondritis Dissecans
Occasional Tests
  • Hip
  • Heart
  • X-Rays
  • Physical Examination

Irish Wolfhound Breed History

History tells of a “Great Hound of Ireland” that was presented to Quintus Aurelius Symmachus by his brother (in total, seven of the dogs were given to Aurelius). Paintings, statues, and jewelry of old depict this dog, once described in literature of the 1500s as "bigger of bone and limb than a colt." The Irish Wolfhound was a mainstay of many royal courts, and at one time, the law stated that only royalty could possess these lovable, giant dogs. These dignified canines were often given as royal gifts; Sweden, Denmark, and Spain all received gifts of Irish Wolfhounds by other royal families. These hardworking and courageous dogs were used for hunting – and not just the boar or wolf but also stag and elk. In feudal times, they were trained to pull men off horseback and out of chariots on the battlefield. The breed almost became extinct in the eighteenth century; however, Captain George Graham was able to find a few of the Wolfhounds, crossbreed them with Scottish Deerhounds, the Tibetan Borzi, a Pyrenean Wolfhound, and a Great Dane. This produced the noble dog we know today.

Irish Wolfhound Breed Appearance

The Irish Wolfhound can reach seven feet in height when standing on their hind legs, although having them produce this pose is highly discouraged. On all fours, they are the size of a small pony. Their big head is long, and so is the muzzle. This extra-large canine has small ears that lay back against the head; an excited Wolfhound will prick them up. A striking dog with a coat that is shaggy and wiry, the hair on the head of this imposing dog is longer over the eyes and under the jaw. The coat usually feels rough to the touch. An Irish Wolfhound may be gray, brindle, red, black, white, or fawn colored; however, gray is the most common color.

Appearance of Irish Wolfhound
Eye Color Possibilities
brown Irish Wolfhound eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black Irish Wolfhound nose
Black
Coat Color Possibilities
black Irish Wolfhound coat
Black
gray Irish Wolfhound coat
Gray
red Irish Wolfhound coat
Red
cream Irish Wolfhound coat
Cream
fawn Irish Wolfhound coat
Fawn
silver Irish Wolfhound coat
Silver
brindle Irish Wolfhound coat
Brindle
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Irish Wolfhound wiry coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Irish Wolfhound Breed Maintenance

An Irish Wolfhound is definitely not an apartment dog. They require daily exercise. A fenced-in yard is necessary so that they can get adequate exercise. This breed is not prone to a lot of shedding; they are considered an “average” shedder. It is recommended that you regularly brush the coat (perhaps every week) and every six months, you or your groomer should pluck the coat in order to remove excess dead hair. The nails and teeth should not be neglected; a large dog should have their nails trimmed often as it is much easier to trim bit by bit. While one must be careful about feeding an Irish Wolfhound puppy – growth formula is never a good idea for this breed when very young – it is important to feed your Irish Wolfhound puppy a high-quality food. Stay away from high-protein formulas as well.

Brushes for Irish Wolfhound
Pin Brush
Pin Brush
Slicker Brush
Slicker Brush
Deshedder
Deshedder
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Irish Wolfhound requires weekly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Irish Wolfhound Temperament

Although they are giant dogs, the Irish Wolfhound is not necessarily a good guard dog. They are very sweet, patient, kind, and highly intelligent. An Irish Wolfhound might be able to ward off any would-be mischief makers because of their size but they will not be aggressive toward strangers. They are very eager to please their owners and are incredibly loyal. For the first two years of their lives, they are quite clumsy. They often take at least two years to mature. Because of this, extra time should be taken with your puppy in order to build their confidence. It is also recommended that you leash train your strong and forward pup at a young age, teaching them, before they get too strong, to walk beside you and not pull the leash. Athletic yet gentle, they do best with a firm, consistent handler. They get along with other dogs well, and children too. An amicable canine, they are one of few that gets along with virtually any other animal. 

Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
15 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
60 minutes
activity minutes

Irish Wolfhound Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
4.5 cups
cup per day cost cup per day cost cup per day cost cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$3.00 - $3.50
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$90.00 - $105.00
food bag monthly cost

Irish Wolfhound Height & Weight

6 Months
Sketch of Irish Wolfhound at six months
Male Irish Wolfhound size stats at six months
Height: 28.0 inches Weight: 90.0 lbs
Female Irish Wolfhound size stats at six months
Height: 25.0 inches Weight: 65.0 lbs
12 Months
Sketch of Irish Wolfhound at 12 months
Male Irish Wolfhound size stats at 12 months
Height: 29.0 inches Weight: 110.0 lbs
Female Irish Wolfhound size stats at 12 months
Height: 27.0 inches Weight: 90.0 lbs
18 Months
Sketch of Irish Wolfhound at 18 months
Male Irish Wolfhound size stats at 18 months
Height: 32.0 inches Weight: 120.0 lbs
Female Irish Wolfhound size stats at 18 months
Height: 30.0 inches Weight: 105.0 lbs

Top Irish Wolfhound Breeders

Check out who made our list for the most reputable Irish Wolfhound breeders of 2024.
Top Irish Wolfhound breeder The Hounds of Carroy Irish Wolfhounds
The Hounds of Carroy Irish Wolfhounds
Mariposa, California
Top Irish Wolfhound breeder Sunstag Irish Wolfhounds
Sunstag Irish Wolfhounds
Silverado, California
Top Irish Wolfhound breeder Sarken Kennels for Irish Wolfhounds
Sarken Kennels for Irish Wolfhounds
Tullahoma, Tennessee
Top Irish Wolfhound breeder Mount Olymups Irish Wolfhounds
Mount Olymups Irish Wolfhounds
Carson City, Nevada
Top Irish Wolfhound breeder Rysheron Irish Wolfhounds
Rysheron Irish Wolfhounds
Phelan, California
Top Irish Wolfhound breeder Timbercreek Irish Wolfhounds
Timbercreek Irish Wolfhounds
Blue Rapids, Kansas
Top Irish Wolfhound breeder Kerryarc Irish Wolfhounds
Kerryarc Irish Wolfhounds
Sacramento, California
Top Irish Wolfhound breeder Windy Ridge Irish Wolfhounds
Windy Ridge Irish Wolfhounds
Winterset, Iowa

Irish Wolfhound Owner Experiences

16 Months
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Irish Wolfhounds have a varied range of personalities and are most often noted for their personal quirks and individualism.[20] An Irish Wolfhound, however, is rarely mindless, and despite its large size is rarely found to be destructive in the house or boisterous. This is because the breed is generally introverted, intelligent, and reserved in character. An easygoing animal, the Irish Wolfhound is quiet by nature. Wolfhounds often create a strong bond with their family and can become quite destructive or morose if left alone for long periods of time. An Irish Wolfhound is not a guard dog and will protect individuals rather than the house or the owner’s possessions. However independent the wolfhound is, the breed becomes attached to both owners and other dogs they are raised with and is therefore not the most adaptable of breeds. Bred for independence, an Irish Wolfhound is not necessarily keen on defending spaces. A wolfhound is most easily described by its historical motto, “gentle when stroked, fierce when provoked”.[21] They should not be territorially aggressive to other domestic dogs but are born with specialized skills and it is common for hounds at play to course another dog. This is a specific hunting behavior, not a fighting or territorial domination behavior. Most Wolfhounds are very gentle with children. The Irish Wolfhound is relatively easy to train. They respond well to firm, but gentle, consistent leadership. However, historically these dogs were required to work at great distances from their masters and think independently when hunting rather than waiting for detailed commands and this can still be seen in the breed.[22]
6 years, 10 months ago
6 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walk
Tug-of-war
Run
Play
Fetch
He was the biggest dog I've ever seen before. With long legs and crazy hair. I loved it! I'm a sucker for big dogs. He was nothing but nice to me. In the beginning of the walk, he pulled a little bit but, after a while he slowed down and started to relax. He wasn't phased by other dogs or small animals. Not even by humans, he just decided to go wherever he wanted to without any distractions. He sat at every crosswalk and just kind of moved along. Such a good and trained dog. It made my experience with him a lot easier. After the walk, we got back to the house and i put a few ice cubes in his water. He loved the refreshing taste of it! couldn't stop licking the ice cubes.
6 years, 10 months ago
7 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walk
I walked a set of irish wolfhound brothers and they were fantastic. Their face seems to never lose this calm smile and their gait seems to match this quiet happiness they exude. Like many long-legged and calm dogs, I'd suggest that they lumber everywhere they go. There is no rush. Nothing is urgent. Everything is a-okay. We didn't do much more than lumber around the neighborhood. The boys were primarily interested in the stroll and casually gazing at the world around us. Even when a squirrel ran across our path (and startled itself), the dogs barely glanced down at it. They're really beautiful dogs that inspire a meditative outlook on life. I'd walk these boys anytime as a way of breaking up my day, slowing things down, and giving them a little extra excitement in their day.
6 years, 10 months ago
Motley
4 Months
1 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
cuddle
Tug-of-war
Walk
Motley is a riot. He's very loving and completely uncoordinated at this age. He's very playful, but like a toddler, he plays and plays and plays, then falls asleep in the middle of it. He currently likes to steal stuff off the end table, shred paper and cardboard, and bring rocks in from the yard. He's eating 3 times per day. It's interesting though - he eats then wanders away then comes back and eats then wanders away. He's been very easy to train. He knows sit, wait, watch me, and is learning shake. He likes to sleep all twisted up.
6 years, 3 months ago
Rocky
2 Years
6 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
We got him at 1year old from a shelter, & he is a mix. He was very neglected, being left in the basement mostly, in his first year of life. At first he was very rough in play & would not listen to anything. We had a trainer for a couple of sessions & he was so easy to train. He is very smart & a fast learner. He has been so loving & adaptable to our crazy household of six! He loves traveling with us. He loves everyone, whether other people or dogs! He is pretty quiet most of the time. He is not a licker or a drooler. He is a crazy shedder though & since his hair is wiry it is not easy to get up. Seriously this boy is the best dog for our family... God knew just what we needed❤️
5 years, 7 months ago
Book me a walkiee?
Pweeeze!
Sketch of smiling australian shepherd