The availability and demand for the Irish Wolfhounds in India are mediocre at best. These dogs are mostly found in metropolitan and big cities only and that too solely with large-scale and reputed breeders. These canines have an average tolerance to hot climatic conditions and high temperatures and that’s why they may not comfortably reside in places with such conditions and India is one of those places as for most of the year, the temperature remains fairly high in the country which is not suitable for an Irish Wolfhound. Also, these dogs prefer open and capacious habitation to reside in and they don’t adjust well to apartments or small houses. But, if they remain properly exercised and are receiving both physical and mental stimuli on a regular basis, then they can be recommended for an apartment life. Hence, potential owners who want to raise this towering breed as their pet should have the proper knowledge about the needs and requirements of these pooches so that they can make a well-informed decision.
The Irish Wolfhounds are quite famous for their massive size, inner power and overall built. These canines are immensely strong and muscular but still, they possess a hint of grace and elegance in their movements and motion. The official standards for the Irish Wolfhounds are given as follows:
The average weight of these massive canines is around 50-75 Kilograms when they fully grow up. And, the average height for these pooches is somewhere between the range of 30-35 inches (at the shoulders).
| Â
GENDER |
WEIGHT |
HEIGHT |
|
MALE |
50-75 kg |
32-35 inch |
|
FEMALE |
50-75 kg |
30-35 inch |
The Irish Wolfhounds have a rough and hard coat which is moderate in length. The coat is quite wiry and comparatively long over the eyes and the underjaw but is evenly spread over the rest of the body.
The Irish Wolfhounds possess a fairly sturdy, strong and powerful body. They have a well arched, muscular and long neck which sits on their well-built shoulders. The chest area is wide and very deep and the back region is reasonably long and muscly. Their tail is moderately thick, slightly curved, long and is very well feathered. The forelegs and hind legs are straight, strong, robust and are known to provide the required balance to the overall body.
They have a long but not too broad head. The eyes are dark and round and the ears are small and are Greyhound-like in carriage.
They have a well-made jaw region and a long and moderately pointy muzzle which is very well covered with wiry and long strands of hair.
Don’t let the gigantic size of these canines fool you into thinking that these pooches are in any way domineering or overbearing in nature. That cannot be further from the truth as the Irish Wolfhounds are immensely gentle and dignified canines who are extremely loyal to their owners and family members and are highly sweet-tempered and good-natured. They are very thoughtful and caring towards their loved ones and are known to be friendly and kind to strangers as well. They may seem a bit reserved when they are in the company of someone new but after spending some time, these canines can get comfortable and uninhibited with them too. They get along very well with other dogs and are happy to make new friends. Also, training these canines is not that hard, especially if an experienced and knowledgeable dog owner/trainer is involved. Various temperament traits of these canines are listed below:
One of the tallest and largest dog breeds present today in the entire world, the Irish Wolfhounds are the pride of Ireland. These canines are immensely powerful, muscular and well-built. And, apart from being highly strong and sturdy, they are very agile and swift as well which helps them to run down and overpower large games or preys.
But, as the saying goes “don't judge a book by its coverâ€, these canines also shouldn’t be judged solely based on their physical appearance and stature. They are very kind-hearted and considerate in nature who love their housemates with all their heart. They can be highly protective of their loved ones and are known to defend and guard them against any possible harm or danger. They are also tremendously gentle and careful with small kids and are happy to play numerous games with them.
The Irish Wolfhounds are extremely patient and calm as well and they enjoy resting quietly beside their owners and close ones. But, as these pooches become closely attached to the people they are raised with, thus they can become frustrated and destructive if they are left alone for long periods of time. These canines are also not highly territorial in nature or great guard dogs. They are known to protect individuals or their family members rather than the house or the property. They are very trainable as well and can learn various commands and skills. But, they are still not highly recommended to novice or first-time dog owners as it requires a certain amount of experience and knowledge to train and handle such large-sized breeds. But for an adept and skillful dog owner, the Irish Wolfhounds can be a treat as these Gentle Giants know how to fill their owners’ lives with fun, joy, happiness, and pleasure.
The Irish Wolfhounds are divided into different types on the basis of the several colors which their coat can be found in. These different colors are:
|
Adaptability |
*** |
Sensitivity Level |
**** |
|
Affection Level |
***** |
Potential for mouthiness |
*** |
|
Apartment-Friendly |
** |
Drooling Potential |
* |
|
Barking Tendencies |
** |
Energy Level |
*** |
|
Friendly towards dogs |
***** |
Health Issues |
***** |
|
Friendly towards other animals |
*** |
Intelligence |
**** |
|
Child Friendly |
***** |
Playfulness |
*** |
|
Exercise Needs |
*** |
Shedding Level |
*** |
|
Grooming Needs |
*** |
Social Needs |
*** |
|
Good for novice owners |
** |
Stranger Friendly |
*** |
|
Trainability |
*** |
Watchdog Ability |
* |
|
Tolerates Heat |
** |
Tolerates Cold |
**** |
The Irish Wolfhounds should be given a nutrition-rich dog food that contains all the essential elements that a large-sized breed such as this might require to properly develop and grow. But, it is important to note that, to avoid the risk of bloat in these canines, arduous exercise sessions are not recommended before or after feeding time.
These canines require a moderate amount of exercise on a regular basis to remain fit and healthy. They should be taken to long walks or jogging sessions but only in a properly fenced area or on a leash. They love to play various games with their family members and that also contributes to their exercising needs. Regular exercise not only keeps these pooches physically but mentally healthy as well and thus it should be taken a tad more seriously by the owners.
Their training should begin at a young age as it can be a bit difficult to train them once they fully grow up. These dogs respond well to firm but gentle training methods. They are fairly intelligent and sharp as well which certainly helps them to learn new commands quickly. Also, early socialization and obedience training is very important for these canines.
These canines mostly shed on a seasonal basis and that too in a limited manner. Their grooming needs are fairly manageable as their coat is needed to be brushed only once or twice per week to look tidy. They require occasional baths and brushing of teeth to remain neat and clean. And, their nails should be trimmed on a regular basis as overly long nails can be painful for the canines.
Health-related problems which are commonly seen in the Irish Wolfhounds are as follows:
The Irish Wolfhounds are required to be taken to a vet’s clinic on a regular basis (once every month) for normal check-ups and consultation.
The Original Irish Wolfhound is speculated by a lot of people to be quite an ancient breed which came into existence as early as 393 A.D. These dogs were of great size (they stood six feet at the shoulders) and they possess great strength and power. They were used as war dogs and for hunting purposes. They helped the hunters to hunt various animals like wolves, boars, and elks.
But as time passed by, most of the wolves and elks in Ireland were hunted and they were close to becoming extinct. And because of that, the need for the Irish Wolfhounds reduced and subsequently their numbers declined in a major way.
If it weren’t for Major H. D. Richardson and Captain George Augustus Graham, this breed would surely have been disappeared from the face of the earth in the 18th century. Graham, in 1862, started crossing the remaining Irish Wolfhounds with various breeds like the Tibetan Borzoi, the Pyrenean wolfhound, the Scottish Deerhounds, and the Great Dane. And, it took around 23 years to fully restore this breed. The result of this breeding was the modern-day Irish Wolfhounds who were not as tall and strong as their ancestors were but these newly formed canines were extremely gentle, kind and less domineering in nature. And, in the year 1897, these modern Irish Wolfhounds were finally recognized by the AKC.
