Is an Irish Wolfhound the right dog for you?
They are most definitely "people" dogs
IRISH WOLFHOUNDS, GIANTS OF THE DOG WORLD
Irish Wolfhounds are the tallest and heaviest members of the hound group and are classed as a giant breed.
Adult male Wolfhounds can grow to around 900mm/35.5inches at the shoulder and weigh up to 90kg.
AFFECTIONATE PEOPLE DOGS
They are most definitely "people dogs". They do not enjoy being left alone for long periods and, despite their giant size, are much better suited to living in the house as part of the family than in an outside kennel.
They are human companions, who have a need to be with their owners as often as possible so leaving a Wolfhound at home all day whilst their owners are out at work is not ideal. The mournful howls of a lonely hound will disturb the entire estate, not just next door neighbours, and may make you most unpopular!
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EVERYTHING WILL CHANGE
When you welcome a Wolfhound into your life, everything changes. Your house, your car and your lifestyle will be rearranged around them. Coffee tables become pointless items of furniture from which everything gets knocked off. Food cannot be left on worktops and has to live at cupboard height. Even then, nothing is sacred to a hound hell-bent on self-service, standing nearly six feet on its hind legs.
ARE THEY REALLY GENTLE GIANTS?
Wolfhounds are kind and tolerant, but do not be misled by the gentle giant image.
Young hounds can be extremely boisterous, and a small child is easily knocked flat and badly hurt without the dog meaning any harm. Never leave the two unsupervised.
Wolfhounds have no idea how big they are - they believe they're a lap dog and that welcoming tail of theirs can catch child and adult alike a tidy wallop.
QUICK LEARNERS
As for trainability, do not expect a Border Collie. The Wolfhound is a sighthound, bred to hunt independently and at speed, not to take direction from a handler.
That said, they are perfectly capable of learning the basics, and because they bond so strongly with their owner, they are willing and quick to pick things up. They should come when called, stop when told, sit and lie down on command, and walk well on a lead.
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The caveat is instinct. A hound who has locked onto something moving may simply stop hearing you, however good their recall is at home. Secure fencing and sensible judgement about where you let them off matter more than any amount of obedience work.
SENSITIVE BY NATURE
They are sensitive dogs. Shouting rarely achieves anything, and physical punishment has no place in training a Wolfhound at all. Obedience work is perfectly possible; it simply asks for patience and consistency rather than force.
As a general rule, Wolfhounds do not make good guard dogs. Their size and deep bark may deter a stranger who does not know the breed, but most are friendly sorts who will greet an intruder with a wagging tail and a lick. They are certainly not candidates for patrolling business premises.
FRIENDLY
Wolfhounds are usually friendly towards other dogs, although because of their size this is not always reciprocated. They enjoy the companionship of other animals and can be disarmingly gentle with the tiniest of creatures.
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Remember though, that this is a sighthound - the instinct to chase anything that runs is strong, and a hound in pursuit is not listening to you.
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An animal that they live happily alongside at home may be a different proposition entirely when it bolts across a field.
Keep them on a lead around livestock, without exception. Loose stock and a running Wolfhound is a combination that ends badly for the animal, expensively for you, and sometimes fatally for the hound.
ATHLETIC HEALTHY BREEDS
Like any dog, a Wolfhound will need veterinary attention from time to time. Because of their size, almost everything costs more, from anaesthetic to medication, so good insurance is less a luxury than a necessity. Take it out early, while the dog is young and nothing is yet on record as pre-existing.
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Wolfhounds are athletic and can clear a low fence without much effort. Three feet will not contain a determined hound. Fence to 6 feet where you can, check the boundary for gaps and gates that do not latch properly, and remember that a hound who has spotted something on the other side will try harder than one who has not.
