Irish Wolfhound

The Irish Wolfhound has a lengthy ancestry, having been used to hunt large game for hundreds of years. Back in Roman times, there were accounts of large Greyhound-like dogs in Ireland, with ownership of these dogs reserved for the high born. In 391 AD, a Roman statesman wrote a letter of thanks to his brother for the gift of seven Irish hounds, noting that “all Rome viewed them in wonder.”

These imposing Irish dogs were prized in battle, as guardians of property and livestock, and as hunters of deer, elk, boar, and as their name attests, wolves. They became so popular overseas that in 1652 Oliver Cromwell issued a declaration prohibiting their exportation. But by the late 1700’s, when wolves and other big-game animals of Ireland were finally hunted to extinction, the dogs themselves soon followed suit. By 1836, the breed was included on a list entitled “Notices of Animals which have disappeared from Ireland.”

Fortunately, in 1862, former British army captain George Augustus Graham began scouring the country for remaining specimens of Ireland’s national hound. In order to revive the breed, Graham crossed the Irish Wolfhounds he found with Scottish Deerhounds, making it his life’s work to protect, standardize, and promote the breed.

Early settlers in Australia most likely transported some of these huge Irish hounds to their new country, where survival often depended on hunting, and in 19th century Irish Wolfhound crosses were used as kangaroo-hunting dogs. During the past twenty years many imports have come to Australia and played their part in the development of the breed. There are currently three Irish Wolfhound clubs in the states of NSW, Victoria and South Australia.

Irish Wolfhounds love to rumble and run, and do require a fair amount of exercise every day. Adult dogs should be walked for 30 minutes a day, and as a large, galloping hound that can cover a lot of ground in a short time, they ideally need an open space away from traffic and livestock for free running exercise. Hilly areas are good for younger dogs to help with muscle development and strengthening of ligaments and joints.

Plenty of rest is also necessary for this breed, and particularly for puppies. However, wolfhounds can easily become “couch potatoes” if you let them, and when at home may spend most of their day lying at the back door.

Patience, consistency and kindness are essential when training a hound and the puppy will soon learn what is expected. Obedience classes are a great way to help you train your puppy and also provide him or her with valuable socialisation opportunities. Training with a professional trainer is highly recommended. Irish Wolfhounds prefer a gentle and soft handler that will guide them to do the right thing, and they respond best to encouragement and food rewards. They have a very sensitive side that doesn’t go at all with shouting or roughness.

Owners need to work on developing a quiet temperament in their dog from a young ageand to avoid rough play with pups and young adults as this could become a problem when the animal becomes fully-grown. Teaching them to walk nicely on lead is a must from puppyhood; once an adult, it will be hard to control the enormous Wolfhound who decides to pull you down the streets.

The Irish Wolfhound has similar grooming requirements to any other rough-coated dog: regular brushing, bathing when required, and occasionally stripping out the dead hair. Daily brushing for 10 minutes with a stiff brush will maintain a clean and healthy coat.

Large dogs require good bedding and a trampoline or hammock-type of bed is recommended to protect the Irish Wolfhound’s joints, especially the elbows.