The intelligent Irish Wolfhound

The Irish Wolfhound is one of the tallest breeds in the world, often reaching the height of a small pony (which translates to around 7 feet tall when balancing on their hind legs).

Brendan, the Irish Wolfhound with his owner and breeder Frank Winters (who is 6'1").

The Irish Wolfhound's name originates from its wolf-hunting prowess, rather than from its appearance, as the uninitiated might assume. Despite this wiry-haired hound's sometimes intimidating looks, they are known for their sweet-temper and friendly and patient demeanor. Because they tend to greet everyone as a friend, it's best not to rely on them as a serious watch dog. However, their giant presence alone may serve as a significant-enough deterrent to ne'er-do-wells. Intelligent, willing and eager to please, they are unconditionally loyal to their family.

Share pictures of your happy hounds in our new Irish Wolfhound gallery!

The Irish Wolfhound was originally bred as a "war dog," and was trained to drag men out of chariots and off horseback. Their graceful but powerful gait also made them excellent hunting dogs, which were frequently used to hunt the Irish elk and wolves. It's said that when the last of the wolves in Ireland was killed (the elk had become extinct long before), the breed dwindled and almost died out.

In the middle of the 19th century, Captain George Augustus Graham undertook the Irish Wolfhound's resuscitation, which he did by collecting what he considered to be the last specimens of the breed and crossing them with the deerhound, Great Dane, Borzoi and Tibetan Mastiff to regain the size and type of the original hound. Graham founded the Irish Wolfhound Club in 1885. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1897 and the Irish Wolfhound Society was founded in 1981.

Just as with other dogs, early socialization is critical for the development of a well-mannered, well-adjusted hound. And although they are exceptionally gentle and good-natured around children, the same can not always be said about their behavior around animals, including house pets. Anyone who cannot accept the possibility of their dog chasing, catching and potentially killing a field rabbit or other small animal should probably not choose to adopt a wolfhound or other hunting-type dog. This being said, there are, of course, exceptions to every rule.

Here is one story from IrishWolfhounds.org that I found particularly endearing:

"When the pack was let out for a run, they would all hurtle off across the fields after rabbits but Goldie would follow slowly in the rear looking for the rabbits that had simply "gone to ground." When she found one, she would push it with her nose and, if it didn't move, she would then stamp her forefeet on either side of it. If it still stayed still, she would go off and look for another one. If it ran she would chase it, but never attempt to grab it. When we had a particularly bad bout of myxomatosis in the local rabbit population, she would pick up the sick rabbits and carry them to her bed. She had a very soft mouth and they were completely unharmed. We often found her lying beside the bed with four or five rabbits sitting in it."

The Irish Wolfhound is relatively inactive indoors and does best with a large yard and daily walks. This giant breed is often slow to mature in both body and mind, taking about two years before a dog is considered fully grown. While it is important to exercise a growing pup, strenuous activities may be too taxing for a young dog's body.

The Irish Wolfhound, mascot of the Irish Guards with the Queen Mother.

Irish Wolfhounds don't typically live very long lives. Estimations vary between 5 and 10 years, but some may live as long as 12 or 13 years. Dilated cardiomyopathy and bone cancer are the leading cause of death and like all deep-chested dogs, gastric torsion (bloat) is also common.

This is a very old breed. They were held in such high esteem that Irish Wolfhounds were often given as royal presents and battles were even fought over them. Like the nobility they served, the hounds were often bejeweled with chains and collars studded with precious gem stones and metals. There is indication that they existed as early as 600 BC when the Celts sacked Delphi. Survivors left accounts of the fierce Celts and the huge dogs who fought at their side. They were also mentioned by Julius Caesar in his treatise, The Gallic Wars. The Roman Consul, Quintus Aurelius, is said to have received seven of them as a gift to be used for fighting lions, bears, that "all Rome viewed with wonder."

The Wolfhound is sometimes regarded as the national dog breed of Ireland, but no breed has ever been officially adopted as such. The Wolfhound was historically a dog that only nobles could own and was taken up by the British during their rule in Ireland, making the dog unpopular as a national symbol. However, more recently the Irish rugby league accepted the nickname the Wolfhounds, and in 2010, the Irish Rugby Football Union, which governs rugby union, changed the name of the country's A (second-level) national team to the Ireland Wolfhounds.