HoundIreland

Irish Wolfhound

The tallest breed, and a gentle one.

Weight: 90–120+ lbs
Height: 30–35 in
Lifespan: 6–8 yrs

In short

The Irish Wolfhound is a Hound breed from Ireland, an ancient war and hunting dog used against wolves and elk; adults weigh about 90–120+ lbs, stand 30–35 in and live 6–8 years. It is the tallest AKC breed, gentle in nature, with a short life driven by heart disease and bone cancer.

Is it right for you?

A great match if you…

want a calm, gentle giant
have a big fenced yard for galloping
can give time and budget to giant-dog care

Think twice if you…

can't face a 6–8 year lifespan
have cats outdoors or small pets
live in a small home or apartment

The daily plan

Exercise: 60–90 min
Training: 2–3 × 5–10 min
Treat limit: 205–225 kcal

At a glance

TrainabilityWilling learner6.5/10

EnergyModerate4.0/10

Calm at homeCalm indoors9.5/10

SheddingSheds seasonally6.0/10

What sets it apart

01
Tallest AKC breed
Males stand at least 32 in at the shoulder, so countertops and car space become real issues.
02
Rough, wiry coat
A harsh coat with longer eyebrows and beard, sturdy but lower-maintenance than it looks.
03
Sighthound frame
Long legs and a deep chest built to run down prey, so they chase anything that moves.

Size & coat

Specification	Male	Female
Weight	120–150 lbs	105–125 lbs
Height	32–35 in	30–32 in
Lifespan	6–8 yrs
Coat	Rough, wiry, harsh coat with longer hair on the face

Side profile 30–35 in at the shoulder

Back in stock soon

Personality

Wolfhounds are calm, dignified and quietly affectionate, often described as gentle when stroked and fierce when provoked. Indoors they lounge a lot and take up the whole sofa. Expect a sensitive dog that wilts under harsh handling.

With kids

Patient and gentle with kids, though their size can knock small children over. Supervise toddlers.

With other pets

Usually good with other dogs. Can live with cats raised alongside, but outdoor cats and small animals trigger prey drive.

With strangers

Friendly or politely aloof with strangers. Not a guard dog despite its size.

Alone time

Generally tolerates moderate alone time as an adult once exercised.

Training

Wolfhounds are gentle but independent sighthounds, so they learn best with calm patience and food. They respond poorly to repetition and pressure.

How often

2–3 sessions a day of 5–10 minutes each, ending each one on a win.
Socialize early (8–16 weeks)

Between 8–16 weeks, focus on calm exposure to cats and small animals plus handling and car travel. Lifting a giant dog later is hard, so practice ramp and car work early.
Self-control

A “leave it” and calm leash walking past moving animals matter most. Build distance first, then reward the dog for looking back to you.
What it works for

Food works best. Use small, high-value pieces within 10% of daily calories, freeze-dried liver being one option, and keep sessions relaxed.

Exercise

Wolfhounds need daily walks plus a chance to gallop safely in a fenced area. Adults are calm indoors once exercised.

Exercise a day 60–90 min

CouchModerateAthlete

Good outlets

Fenced free-running
Long, steady walks
Lure coursing for mature adults

Brain work

Sniff walks
Food puzzles
Basic tricks

Best home

Needs room and ideally a large, fenced yard; a cramped apartment is a poor fit.

Watch for Avoid forced running while puppies grow and exercise around meals because of bloat risk; never let them run free in unfenced areas.

Feeding

Adult maintenance for a typical Irish Wolfhound (90–120 lbs) lands around 2,025–2,250 kcal a day. Feed to body condition, not the bag's chart alone, and keep treats inside the 10% rule.

Puppy (to 12 mo)

Daily calories: 2,550–2,800 kcal
Protein: 26–30%
Fat: 16–20%
Treat limit, all treats: 255–280 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 13–14 pieces a day

Adult Maintenance

Daily calories: 2,025–2,250 kcal
Protein: 24–28%
Fat: 14–18%
Treat limit, all treats: 205–225 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 10–11 pieces a day

Active / Working

Daily calories: 2,800–3,075 kcal
Protein: 26–30%
Fat: 18–22%
Treat limit, all treats: 280–310 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 14–15 pieces a day

Senior

Daily calories: 1,775–1,975 kcal
Protein: 24–28%
Fat: 12–16%
Treat limit, all treats: 180–200 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 9–10 pieces a day

Compare every life stage

Life stage	Daily calories	Protein	Fat	Treat limit (all treats)	Saylor's liver, suggested / day
Puppy (to 12 mo)	2,550–2,800 kcal	26–30%	16–20%	255–280 kcal	13–14 pieces
Adult Maintenance	2,025–2,250 kcal	24–28%	14–18%	205–225 kcal	10–11 pieces
Active / Working	2,800–3,075 kcal	26–30%	18–22%	280–310 kcal	14–15 pieces
Senior	1,775–1,975 kcal	24–28%	12–16%	180–200 kcal	9–10 pieces

The treat limit is the 10% rule for every treat combined. Saylor's liver is suggested at about 2% of daily calories, as a small topper: liver is very rich in vitamin A, so it should not become a staple. Check with your vet if your dog has a health condition or a special diet.

Health & grooming

Dilated cardiomyopathy, bone cancer, bloat, liver shunt and pneumonia are the main concerns. Choose a breeder who screens hearts and check any lameness quickly.

Watch for	Ask the breeder or vet for	When
Dilated cardiomyopathy	Echocardiogram by a veterinary cardiologist	Yearly in breeding dogs
Liver shunt	Bile acid test in puppies	Once, before going home
Hip dysplasia	OFA or PennHIP hip evaluation	Once, in breeding dogs (ask the breeder)
Elbow dysplasia	OFA elbow evaluation	Once, in breeding dogs
Inherited eye disease	Eye exam by a veterinary ophthalmologist (ACVO)	Yearly while breeding

Official health tests for breeding dogs

The OFA's CHIC program asks Irish Wolfhound breeders to test for these. Ask to see the results before you buy a puppy.

Elbow evaluation
Eye exam (ophthalmologist)
Hip evaluation
Heart exam

Also recommended

Serum Bile Acid Test

See the full list on OFA.org

Grooming Low to moderate year-round

Brush weekly and hand-strip or tidy the coat every few months. Trim nails every 1–2 weeks, check ears weekly and brush teeth several times a week.

History

Ancient

Ancient war hound

Large hounds of this type appear in early Irish law and legend, valued for war and for hunting wolves and elk.
1700s–1800s

Near extinction

After wolves disappeared from Ireland in the 1700s, the breed dwindled almost to nothing.
1860s onward

Revival

Captain George Graham rebuilt the breed from remaining dogs, and the AKC recognized it in 1897.

Questions owners ask

Are Irish Wolfhounds easy to train?

Moderately. Wolfhounds are gentle but independent, so they learn best with calm, short, food-based sessions. Recall is unreliable around moving animals.

Are Irish Wolfhounds good with kids and other pets?

Usually yes with kids and dogs. They are gentle and patient, but cats and small pets can trigger prey drive unless raised together.

How much exercise does an Irish Wolfhound need?

About 60–90 minutes a day, including walks and safe fenced running. Avoid forced exercise while they grow.

Do Irish Wolfhounds shed?

Yes, lightly to moderately. A weekly brush and occasional tidying keep the wiry coat neat.

What health problems do Irish Wolfhounds have, and how long do they live?

Heart disease, bone cancer, bloat, liver shunt and pneumonia are the main concerns. Irish Wolfhounds typically live 6–8 years.

Is an Irish Wolfhound good for apartments or first-time owners?

Not for apartments. First-time owners can manage the gentle temperament, but the size, costs and short lifespan are a serious commitment.

Freeze Dried Beef Liver Dog Treats

Back in stock soon

We're restocking. When it's back, a Irish Wolfhound needs only 10–11 pieces a day, well inside the 205–225 kcal treat limit.

See the product

Where the Irish Wolfhound ranks

Health tests follow the OFA's CHIC program. The treat limit is 10% of daily calories for all treats combined. Every dog is different, so use this as a starting point and ask your vet about yours.