Large breed
Irish Wolfhound Puppies
Originally used as a war dog to drag men down from their chariots and horses, as well as for hunting purposes, the Irish Wolfhound is known to be the tallest of all dog breeds. The breed has however adapted into a loving and obedient family companion today, and the Irish people cannot love it less. Discover more about our Irish Wolfhound puppies for sale below!
We do not have Irish Wolfhound puppies on the floor today. Tell us what you are looking for and we will let you know the moment one arrives, or help you find a breed that suits your home just as well.
- Exercise 60 min a day
About the Irish Wolfhound
The Irish Wolfhound is a majestic breed known for its gentle demeanor and impressive stature, making it a wonderful companion for many families. With origins tracing back to ancient Ireland, these noble dogs were originally bred to hunt game, including wolves, and their size certainly reflects that history. Today, they are cherished not only for their physical presence but also for their loving and affectionate nature, making them particularly well-suited for families with young children.
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While they might be large in size, Irish Wolfhounds often have a calm disposition, thriving as part of a family unit. They generally get along well with other dogs and can coexist peacefully with cats, thanks to their gentle temperament. Their affectionate nature makes them great companions, though they do appreciate having space to stretch out, so while a spacious home is ideal, they can adjust to apartment living if given ample outdoor time for exercise.
In terms of exercise, Irish Wolfhounds do require regular activity but are not overly energetic, making them suitable for moderate walks or play sessions. Grooming is fairly simple; a weekly brushing is usually sufficient to maintain their coat, and while they do shed, it is manageable with routine care. When it comes to training, they are intelligent and typically responsive, although they can display a certain independence that requires patient and positive reinforcement techniques. If you are looking for a gentle giant to add to your family, the Irish Wolfhound may just be the perfect match for you.
Irish Wolfhound breed profile
Every score below is set by our team for this breed. Higher is simply more of that trait, not better or worse.
Temperament
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Affection Very affectionate
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Playfulness Calm
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With strangers Friendly
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Territorial Somewhat
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Prey drive Low
Family & other pets
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Young children Excellent
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Older children Excellent
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Other dogs Sociable
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Cats With introductions
Energy & exercise
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Energy Moderate
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Mental stimulation Moderate
Training
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Trainability Willing learner
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Intelligence Bright
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Stubbornness Biddable
Care & upkeep
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Shedding Moderate
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Drooling Some
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Barking Occasional
Home life
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Apartment living Prefers a house
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Time alone A few hours
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Cold weather Comfortable
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Warm weather Needs shade
A good match for
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First-time owners Manageable
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Senior owners Good
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Running partner Moderate
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Hiking Moderate
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Therapy work Possible
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Guarding Low
Living with a Irish Wolfhound
Breed History
The Irish Wolfhound has always been a highly valued dog in all of its history. They originated from Ireland and were originally allowed to be owned by only the rich and noble Irish men. The breed was used as a war dog for the purpose of pulling riders off their war chariots and horses.
They were also used as hunting dogs, and they hunted games as big as boars, elks, and wolves. At a time, the breed started to reduce in number and would have gone to extinction, but for the activities of Major H. D. Richardson who started to breed Irish Wolfhounds in the 1800s with breeding programs based on Glengarry Deerhounds.
In 1885, the Irish Wolfhound Club was founded by Captain George Augustus Graham, who was another Irish Wolfhound advocate. The breed was recognized by England’s Kennel Club in 1925 and 1927, the Irish Wolfhound Club of America was established. Today, the breed is recognized as number 77th in AKC’s list of 155 breeds and varieties in America.
Temperament
Although they come in huge sizes and have a history of violence, the Irish wolfhound is a calm, gentle and dignified breed with high intelligence and a huge passion for human company. They are also very sensitive to their owners’ attitude towards them.
For this, it is important to consciously train the breed with constant positive reinforcements like rewards and praises.
Harsh treatment towards this breed often makes them shut off. You might want to spend a lot of your time with the Irish Wolfhound if you own one, seeing that they value this kind of relationship.
Environment
Not minding their huge size, the Irish Wolfhound is mostly a house dog. They are more relaxed and enjoy better health in a yard with enough space to run, alongside firmly built fence to stop them from chasing other animals.
They also enjoy staying indoors, especially in the company of their owners and family. However, it is not advisable to live with them in houses that have stairs as they might damage their joints while running the stairs, plus, it could be difficult to carry them down the stairs in cases of emergency because of their huge size and weight.
Space, where they can easily run around, is crucial to their mental and physical health, and they might be negatively affected if they do not have this space.
Exercise
Irish Wolfhounds do well with about 20 minutes of playtime every day in an open space where they can be free to run around.
It is, however, important to keep this playtime an hour before, or two hours after their mealtime. This is to help them minimize the risk of having bloats or gastric torsions.
Daily walks to nearby destinations, about an hour or two is also recommended, but while at it, it is a must to use leeches, so as to prevent the dog from chasing other animals and injuring them or itself.
Irish Wolfhounds are naturally a huge breed and they require frequent exercise to keep fit. It is however advised not to overdo exercises so that it does not lead to joint-related conditions.
Grooming
The Irish Wolfhound needs frequent grooming to keep it healthy and in good shape at all times. It has a rough and hard coat and sheds consistently round the year calendar.
You need to brush them weekly to help keep the coat clean and healthy. They do not require baths too frequently and can go for one year with just two to three baths.
Our Irish Wolfhound puppies for sale come from either USDA licensed commercial breeders or hobby breeders with no more than 5 breeding mothers. USDA licensed commercial breeders account for less than 20% of all breeders in the country.
The unregulated breeders who are selling outside of the USDA regulations and without a license are what we consider to be “Puppy Mills.” We are committed to offering Irish Wolfhound puppies who will grow up to become important members of your family. We only purchase puppies from the very best sources, and we stand behind every puppy we sell.
Caring for a Irish Wolfhound
- Grooming
- Weekly brushing
- Grooming cost
- Average
- Monthly food
- Average
- Outdoor space
- A yard is recommended
- Allergy friendly
- Not considered hypoallergenic
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Irish Wolfhounds require frequent exercise?
Yes. Irish Wolfhounds require consistent exercise to stay healthy.
How long should Irish Wolfhounds exercise time last?
About 40 minutes to 1 hour every day is ok.
Are Irish Wolfhounds heavy?
Yes. Because of their build and size, the Irish Wolfhound is quite heavy.
Are Irish Wolfhounds suitable for apartment living?
An apartment is not the most suited environment for the Irish Wolfhound.
Are Irish Wolfhounds friendly to humans?
Yes. Irish Wolfhounds are quite friendly and obedient to humans.
Do Irish Wolfhounds live long?
Unfortunately, the Irish Wolfhound does not live really long.
How long do Irish Wolfhounds live?
The average life expectancy of the Irish Wolfhound is about 6 to 8 years.
Are Irish Wolfhounds prone to any health challenge?
Yes. They are prone to some health issues, but these issues can be managed.
Can Irish Wolfhounds be used as guard dogs?
No. They do not do well as guard dogs.
How often do Irish Wolfhounds feed?
Two times every day is perfect.
If what you want is a strong and powerful but yet calm and loving dog breed to keep you company, the Irish Wolfhound is exactly for you.
