The Irish Wolfhound, or Cú Faoil, is one of the oldest breeds of dog and is thought to have been brought to Ireland in approximately 3500B.C. According to historians, the dog was first presented in Ancient Rome. It is believed that during the early days of the breed, many Romans found the dogs so frightening that the Irish Wolfhounds were kept and transported around the city in cages.

Original Purposes

This seems like a far cry from the breed that we are familiar with today, but Wolfhounds were originally designed as a war dog. However, they went on to be used for other purposes, including guard dogs and fighting for sport. Additionally, it is commonly supposed that Irish Wolfhounds were used in deer coursing, but this is a misconception. In fact, apparently they were no good as coursing dogs. However, their swiftness and alertness made them perfect boar and wolf hunters, which, perhaps unsurprisingly, is how the breed acquired its name.

Temperament of the Modern Irish Wolfhound

Today, far from the fear that struck the hearts of the Ancient Romans, the Irish Wolfhound is believed to be among the most passive and gentle of dogs. It is a wonderful family pet that is good with other animals and children. Additionally, the Irish Wolfhound is known for its loyalty, affection, patience and devotion.

Although at some points in history it has been used as a guard dog, unlike many breeds, the Irish Wolfhound doesn’t make a very good watchdog, because it is often friendly towards strangers. That said, an Irish Wolfhound would protect its home and family in times of real danger.

Size and Appearance

The Irish Wolfhound is one of the largest breeds of dog. In fact, on average they are the tallest breed. A male can grow to between 33 and 36 inches in height. Females, on the other hand, are generally smaller and are 30 to 34 inches in height. In addition, a fully-grown Wolfhound will weigh between 101 and 154lbs.

Irish Wolfhounds grow very rapidly. In fact, a puppy that is 10-weeks-old can gain up to a pound in weight each day. At the age of 8 months, a Wolfhound appears to be fully-grown, which causes some owners and trainers to overstretch the dog’s young joints and limbs with strenuous training. Therefore, owners should bear in mind that although the dog may appear to be fully-grown, the dog should reach 18 months of age before it is ready to undergo adult training.

Training an Irish Wolfhound

Because the Irish Wolfhound can become extremely large, it is important to ensure that he, or she, is obedience trained. Obviously, a dog of large proportions can wreak havoc if not trained properly. That said, it’s not hard to train an Irish Wolfhound, because they are very receptive dogs that are always eager to please their owners. In fact, the Irish Wolfhound is something of a ‘big softie’, subsequently, a calm sense of authority and quiet instruction should be adequate when training your Wolfhound. Shouting should be avoided, as the Irish Wolfhound can be extremely sensitive.

Life Expectancy and Health Problems

Tragically, these peculiar-looking, but lovable dogs typically have a very short life. In fact, the average lifespan is a little under 6 ½ years. Usually, they can be expected to live between 5 and 10 years.

Unfortunately, the short life of an Irish Wolfhound is caused by numerous medical conditions that are inherited. Some of the many health issues that a Wolfhound can suffer from include gastric torsion, intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, dilated cardiomyopathy and bone cancer.

However, despite its comparatively short life, the Irish Wolfhound can bring a great deal of love and companionship to the lives of its owners.