Irish Wolfhound puppies

About the Irish Wolfhound

The Irish Wolfhound was bred in Ireland to run down wolves and elk, then nearly died out before being rebuilt in the nineteenth century from deerhound and mastiff stock. They are the tallest recognised breed, standing 76 to 81 cm and weighing 47.6 to 54.4 kg, in a harsh shaggy coat with a beard and heavy eyebrows. The disposition is the opposite of the outline: quiet, gentle and rarely inclined to bark, rated 1 out of 5 for noise, and inclined to follow their people from room to room.

Adult exercise is moderate, long steady walks rather than distance running, but growing puppies need their joints protected and lead manners taught while they are still liftable. The coat needs a thorough brush once a week and does not blow out seasonally. The hard part is the arithmetic: a lifespan of 6 to 8 years, giant sized food and veterinary costs, and annual heart checks recommended for the breed. Let a young Wolfhound finish growing before you ask them to run hard, because owners who rush it regret it most.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Irish Wolfhound puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A giant breed puppy at eight weeks is already heavy and will keep growing for up to two years. Controlled growth matters more here than in any other size class, so a large breed specific puppy food and no overfeeding. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Inherited eye disease, screened under the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme
• Dilated cardiomyopathy, screened by echocardiogram and Holter monitor, and tracked by the breed's own health group scheme
• Gastric dilatation volvulus, a surgical emergency, risk rises with a deep chest, signalled by retching without producing vomit and a swollen abdomen
• Osteosarcoma, detected by radiographs of a persistently lame limb
• Hip dysplasia, assessed by joint examination and hip radiographs
• Elbow dysplasia, assessed by clinical evaluation for lameness plus imaging

Your Irish Wolfhound puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Giant for a Irish Wolfhound.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 47.6 to 54.4 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 48 inch (48 x 30 x 32 in, 122 x 76 x 81 cm) for an adult of up to 54.4 kg, the largest size in the chart, which tops out at 49.9 kg, so measure the dog before you buy; chew toys made for large breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Do slow feeder bowls work? Choosing one for a puppy that gulps
• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other giant breeds

More on the Irish Wolfhound

Previous: Irish Water Spaniel · Next: Italian Greyhound

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from Irish Wolfhound breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/irish-wolfhound/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Camillo 60, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.