"I’m a giant teddy bear!"
Irish Wolfhounds are giant, sweet dogs who are very affectionate toward their owners. They thrive on human companionship and use their big size to eat human food off the counter. Unfortunately, their lifespan is very short.
Despite their fearsome sounding name, Irish Wolfhounds are not aggressive. In fact, they are gentle and affectionate toward their owners. But just because the Irish Wolfhound is not aggressive, doesn't mean they won’t take every opportunity to grab food.
Irish Wolfhounds have a shaggy, rough coat that should be brushed twice a week to remove tangles and any dead hair. They shed moderately throughout the year and are pretty easy to groom for being so huge.
Irish Wolfhounds prefer a home with a safely fenced-in yard where they can run and play, but they need to live inside with their humans. They also need to be allowed on your furniture or be provided with a soft spot to sit, as it is detrimental to their health if forced to spend most of their time on hard surfaces. If they are raised around cats and other small dogs, Irish Wolfhounds can get along with them, but they shouldn’t play together outside. Irish Wolfhounds get along well with children, but they are so big that they aren’t always the best fit for toddlers.
Irish Wolfhounds enjoy the chase and are excellent competitors in the doggie sport of lure coursing. They like long walks where they can explore their surroundings, but they especially appreciate an opportunity to run around in a safe, enclosed area. Irish Wolfhounds can be happy with varying amounts of exercise, but it’s important to make sure you give them enough to keep their weight in check.