The Irish Wolfhound

One of the most well known domestic dogs is the Irish Wolfhound, which was originally a sight hound. Its namesake comes not from its look, but the reason for which it was bred-the hunting of wolves. They are arguably the tallest known breed of dogs. The theories and places of its origins are unclear, but it is generally accepted that the Irish settlers brought them along with them in as early as 3500 BC. They were called ‘Cu Faoil’ by the Irish, and were originally reared as dogs of war. They also served the additional purpose of guarding homes and protecting livestock. Known for its big size, their standard height among breeders is 85-95 cm (35-36 inches) for males, and 50-80 cm (30-34 inches) for females. A general weight for them would be 46-70 kg (101-154 pounds) for both males and females.

Contemporarily, an Irish Wolfhound is a family dog. It is good-natured, tolerant, kind, considerate, and can be relied upon to be left alone with children. They have a strong sense of faithfulness towards their master, and are also distinguished and enthusiastic. It is not in its nature to be a guard dog, but it can become one as it looks uninviting merely because of its large size. Ironically though, they have a welcoming disposition towards family and strangers alike, so using it as a watchdog is not advisable. But when they sense their master to be in danger, they become very aggressive. They are also known to be largely delicate, and in order to thrive, they need a cheerful atmosphere, supportive approach, and a somewhat lenient trainer.

The duration of an Irish Wolfhound’s life is not much – a mere five or ten years. They are susceptible to a lot of diseases, the major ones among them being cancer of the bone, dilated cadiomyopathy, and a gastric torsion, which strikes all dogs with deep chests. Intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, a genetic disorder, also affects them. Interestingly, the Irish Wolfhound club of Ireland, established in 1925, has laid down a code of ethics for the handling and care of the breed. One of them is that all owners are advised get their dogs checked shunts of the liver before selling one and before buying one. Others are that the dog owners must be in strict charge of their dogs.

An Irish Wolfhound starts to resemble a full blown adult at the age of eight months only. This leads to a lot of pressure on them by their masters, which consequently causes limbs which are outstretched, and therefore damaged. In order for an Irish Wolfhound to be definitely ready for strenuous activities such as running, one must wait till it reaches at least 18 months of age. The only food it must receive is proper dog food, and no other forms of supplements must be given to it. It must be fed adult dog food only when it turns an adult, and never before that, as it can reduce the speed at which they grow.