Do Irish Wolf Hounds make good pets?

Question

I have a friend who has an Irish Wolf Hound. My friend cannot look after him any more due to ill health and wants to know if I can look after it for him.

I've had a dog before but never anything this big. The animal is quite docile and fairly old- is there anything in particular to look out for, behaviour-wise, with this dog?

I know it has been well-looked after and I would continue to do so; I have been told they eat a lot but I can cope with this. I would be able to take him out for a walk twice a day for an hour max. each time, and he'd have a garden to play in during the day.

Answer 1

they make good pets if you are able to provide from them they are a very large breed and need lots and lots of exercise and plenty of room. I know someone who had to give away her wolf hound because it got to big

Answer 2

Actually huge breeds don't need a lot of exercise. You'll be surprised how little exercise a wolfhound or great dane actually need. They are so big they can't take a lot of exercise. They make great apartment dogs if you can believe that.

As for feeding them, make sure you feed them in a couple of meals during the day rather than one big meal. Deep chested dogs can develop "bloat" if they eat too much (or exercise immediately after eating). Bloat is a condition that comes on very quickly, is extremely painful and many dogs die from it within hours.

The worst thing about a wolfhound is it's life expectency. The bigger the dog, the shorter the life. A typical lifespan is only 8 years old for an Irish wolfhound.

The only Irish wolfhound I ever knew was one the the sweetest animals alive. I am not aware of any behavior problems that run in this breed but if I were concerned about the behavior of a particular animal, I would ask the previous owner.

Good luck to you and the dog.

Answer 3

Irish wolfhounds are generally well tempered, gentle tolerant animals. They don't need to growl at a stranger, all they have to do is stand up to gain respect ;-)

I first encountered the breed at a dog show. I'd seen the pictures. I wasn't prepared for the reality of their size.

When I talked to an owner, she couldn't say enough about how much she loved the dog. The only problem, she said, is that they don't live very long. six or seven years for dogs, ten to eleven for bitches. Generally, it's their heart that gives out.

If you are going to adopt, make sure that you and the current owner understand the age issue, and decide in advance what needs to be done if the dog should become gravely ill. You shouldn't have to accept responsiblility, or worse, blame, for putting the animal down when the time comes.

Answer 4

Irish Wolfhounds-

Care Required- Regular and thorough grooming with a brush and comb will keep the coat in good condition. About once or twice in the year pluck the coat to remove excess dead hair.

Character- They are friendly, gentle dogs that are kind to children, unconditionally loyal to their owner and family, pliable though not slavishly so, and calm.

Training- The Irish Wolfhound is relatively easy to train. Teach it not to pull on the leash, because when it goes after something it can be strong enough to drag you along side with him. These dogs grow quickly and high quality food is essential. Let the dog decide how much exercise it wants.

Exercise- These dogs adapt to your family circumstances and will not misbehave if the odd week passes and fewer chances to exercise.They need to be the center of a family and will be Unhappy in a kennel.

Answer 5

Irish wolfhounds are great dogs to have however are a huge responsibility.
Behaviour wise despite their size if they have been raised and socialised properly are very docile, gentle dogs.
As the dog is older there may be a few health problems that can occur like with all dogs, i suggest asking your friend alot of questions and spending alot of time with the dog before he comes to stay with you.
There are many many online resoures about this breed and dog care in general.
http://www.irishwolfhounds.org/
This site may be able to offer some more specific details about the breed.
Good luck =)

Answer 6

People often make the mistake of thinking that because the wolfhound is so big it needs loads of exercise, not true. It is possible to over exercise a wolfhound. They actually have quite small hearts compared to their size and are known to suffer from heart defects.They do not live to great ages and a wolfhound of ten tears would be considered to be quite elderly. They do make wonderful pets and are generally very placid. Also beware of over feeding. If you are going to take on this dog i would suggest you get expert advce. If the animal is elderly you may find yourself with expensive vet bills.

Answer 7

They are the tallest of the dog breeds, and as far as I'm concerned, one of the cutest dogs on earth! Those faces just melt me. From everything I've heard, they're very good natured dogs and from what you say, its already an adult so you don't have to worry about more growth. You're very lucky to have been given this opportunity to become a companion to such a magestic breed of dog. Remember though, if he's fairly old, don't over exercise him, like all seniors, he'll tire easily. You'lll get to know his pace. You should ask your vet about the best food to give him, I'm guessing a senior formula would be best, considering his age and health. Congratulations and good luck.

Answer 8

The only thing with them is that they really need their exercise and generally they will eat til the burst! Don't forget they can get up really high so all foodstuff should be put away.

The ones I have known have been really friendly and gentle.

So best of luck.

Could you have a trial run for a couple of weeks so you are really sure? If it is not used to being left alone it may get distressed - but leaving it with toys and some treats - best in a treat ball might help.

Answer 9

They are great dogs.

The only thing to bear in mind is despite their bulk they are technically sighthounds-like greyhounds-and so often have a fairly high prey drive.Therefore they cannot always be trusted off the lead.

Don't panic though their preydrive is far lower than most sighthounds.

Answer 10

Irish and russian wolfhounds are alright but they need a lot of exercise.