Great Dane vs Irish Wolfhound
The two published breed profiles side by side: size, energy, grooming, lifespan, temperament ratings and health.
| Great Dane | Irish Wolfhound | |
|---|---|---|
| Size class | Giant | Giant |
| Adult weight | 49.9 to 79.4 kg | 47.6 to 54.4 kg |
| In pounds | 110 to 175 lb | 105 to 120 lb |
| Adult height | 71 to 81 cm | 76 to 81 cm |
| Energy | High | Moderate |
| Grooming | Low | Moderate |
| Coat | Short smooth | Medium wiry |
| Shedding | Moderate | Moderate |
| Lifespan | 7 to 10 years | 6 to 8 years |
| Good with children | Fine with supervision | Fine with supervision |
| Good with other dogs | Fine with supervision | Usually good |
| Country of origin | Germany | Ireland |
The main differences
- The Great Dane is the bigger dog: 49.9 to 79.4 kg against 47.6 to 54.4 kg for the Irish Wolfhound.
- The Great Dane needs more exercise: high energy against moderate for the Irish Wolfhound.
- The Irish Wolfhound takes more grooming (moderate) than the Great Dane (low).
- The Great Dane usually lives longer: 7 to 10 years against 6 to 8 years.
Temperament
Great Dane: The easygoing Great Dane is a dependable, friendly and patient giant that is gentle with children and eager to please their people.
Irish Wolfhound: Gentle, kind and friendly in nature, and of great power, activity, speed and courage. The tallest of the recognised breeds, and a vulnerable native breed in the UK.
Health worth asking about
Conditions each breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable: it means ask the breeder for the parents' test results.
Great Dane
- Bloat and gastric torsion, a risk shared by deep chested breeds
- Hip dysplasia, which breeding stock should be hip scored by x-ray before mating
- Cardiac disease and autoimmune thyroiditis, found on a cardiac examination with echocardiography and on a thyroid blood panel
- Panosteitis and other growth related bone problems in fast growing puppies, diagnosed on examination and radiographs
Irish Wolfhound
- 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
Common questions
Which is bigger, the Great Dane or the Irish Wolfhound?
The Great Dane. Adults weigh 49.9 to 79.4 kg, against 47.6 to 54.4 kg for the Irish Wolfhound, going by the published breed profiles.
Which lives longer, the Great Dane or the Irish Wolfhound?
The published life expectancy is 7 to 10 years for the Great Dane and 6 to 8 years for the Irish Wolfhound. These are typical ranges across the breed, not a promise about one dog.
Is the Great Dane or the Irish Wolfhound better with children?
They score the same: fine with supervision with children. Any dog needs supervising around young children, whatever their breed rating.
Related comparisons
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
Every figure on this page comes from the two breed guides, which cite:
- 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
- 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