Getting a new pet is an exciting time for any household, and when it comes to getting a dog, there are a lot of breeds to choose from. Part of understanding what breed would suit your lifestyle best, is recognising the history of how a breed came about, and what to expect from the modern version of that breed. Irish Wolfhounds can make great pets but there are several things to consider about the breed before deciding if getting one would be a good idea for your circumstances.
Breed History
Irish Wolfhounds are referred to as an ancient breed, with their origins dating back centuries. Reference to the breed even goes back millennia, however they nearly became extinct in the 17th century. As a giant breed dog, they were utilised as a sighthound for hunting of large prey including wolves and elk. They were also used in battle and were capable of pulling men off horseback. This history created the breed’s motto and earned them a reputation as “gentle when stroked, fierce when provoked”.
As their target prey were hunted to extinction, and with the departure of key chieftains and their hounds from Ireland, breed numbers subsequently plummeted. Today’s Irish Wolfhounds have descended from crossbreeding with other hounds and crosses in the 19th century. Modern dogs are the tallest hound breed in the world, and they are the tallest dog breed in the UK.
Irish Wolfhounds as Pets
With a weight range of 40-55kg depending on the sex, a height at the shoulders of 81-86cm, and a long body with a muscular neck, they take up a lot of space even at rest. Although they are generally gentle-natured, their stature could make them unintentionally destructive around the house if they bang into things. Although generally good with children, this size also means they need supervision when around young children to prevent accidental injury.
Personality and exercise
Despite their historical purpose, individuals of this breed are typically calm and relaxed. This can at times make them appear quite lazy, but as a dog bred for endurance running, they need a lot of exercise and physical stimulation. It is widely recommended to aim for around two hours of mixed exercise each day, which can be split into multiple sessions. This need to exercise means they need plenty of space to explore and bounce around, including the ability to get off lead and run. For this reason, they are best suited to larger properties with a decent area of secure outdoor space.
With early socialisation, Irish Wolfhounds do well with both people and other dogs. Their loyal nature can make them quite attached to their owners, and if left alone for too long, they can become destructive out of frustration. They don’t typically bark though so aren’t usually a disturbance for neighbours.
Because of their high prey drive, it is not recommended to have one share a household with small pets. Cats may be tolerated if introduced when young, but otherwise owners should be very wary of having these two pets together. As with any dog, training from a young age is important to mitigate any behavioural issues, and this is none-more-so than with giant breeds whose size can present a problem even for the friendliest individual. It is therefore recommended that owners of this breed have experience with dogs and familiarity with training of giant breeds.
Prospective owners should also consider the upkeep of such a large breed
Having wiry fur and a dual coat, they shed year-round, although this is not as severe as some other long-haired breeds. With colour varieties including grey, black, white, and brindle, their shed fur will be noticeable against many household colour schemes. To maintain their coat, they should be brushed at least once a week.
Large size also means higher costs of both maintenance care and health care. Daily food costs will be higher than that of smaller breeds, regardless of the food type offered. Preventative health care, such as flea and worm products, as well as most veterinary medicines are dosed according to an individual’s weight. The higher the weight, the higher the dose requirement which corresponds to higher fees.
Breed Health
As with most recognised breeds, Irish Wolfhounds are prone to several health conditions. These, along with the dog’s size, result in an average lifespan of less than 8-10 years. Although many individuals can live very healthy lives, it is important to be aware of these potential health problems if choosing to own this breed.
Heart Disease
Studies have identified between 12-44% of Irish Wolfhounds will develop dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in their lifetime. This condition affects the heart muscle, and is characterised by an enlargement of the organ, and a thinning of the muscle wall. Unlike in other breeds, DCM in these wolfhounds is usually identified in the upper left chamber (atria) as opposed to the lower left chamber (ventricle). It is usually associated with a type of arrhythmia (abnormal heartbeat) called atrial fibrillation.
Symptoms of this disease can be very subtle in the beginning. Affected dogs may appear to be just not themselves and owners may not quite be able to put their finger on what is wrong. As the heart struggles to compensate, exercise intolerance can develop. If heart failure occurs, dogs can develop breathing difficulties, lose weight, and start coughing.
Breeders should not breed from individuals with evidence of DCM at a pre-breeding screen. The Irish Wolfhound Club advocates a minimum assessment in any breeding dog before each breeding attempt, as well as annual screening of all dogs from two years old. This minimum screening involves a vet listening to the dog’s heart with a stethoscope (auscultation), performing an electrocardiogram (ECG; measuring the electrical impulse conduction across the heart), and an echocardiogram (an ultrasound that assesses blood flow, muscle contraction, and output of the heart).
For some clinics, these tests may involve referral to a larger veterinary centre or specialist facility. Even without access to an ultrasound, an ECG can be quite sensitive to changes, detecting abnormal conduction before DCM has developed. 30% of all wolfhounds will show abnormalities, with 50% of dogs by 7 years of age showing detectable changes in conduction across the heart muscle.
Bone and Joint Disease
Giant breed dogs are at risk of developmental joint disease due to the rate of their growth and the stress on their bones during this period. Nutrition, genetics, and exercise strain all contribute to these problems. As much as this breed needs a lot of exercise when fully grown, growing animals need their exercise modulated to manage the strain and wear and tear on the developing skeleton. It is also important to provide correctly balanced nutrition to optimise bone structure and muscle function.
Two variants of one such developmental condition seen in this breed are osteochondrosis (OC) and osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD), both of which relate to cartilage malformations. With growth, immature cartilage is converted to bone. OC refers to the failure of this cartilage to correctly convert to bone. OCD occurs when this cartilage becomes separated from the associated bone, causing a painful spur or flap. Shoulders and elbows are the most commonly affected joints although it can also be seen in the back leg. Lameness and reluctance to walk, run or play can be seen with this condition.
Sadly, Irish Wolfhounds have a 27 times higher risk of developing bone cancer (osteosarcoma) than the average dog. This condition has been demonstrated to account for up to a fifth of this breed’s demise. Usually occurring in the long bones of the legs, this cancer can spread to the lungs. Symptoms include pain in the affected leg, a firm swelling, or in extreme cases, a broken bone resulting from an unstable bony structure.
Other Health Risks
Like other large breeds, Irish Wolfhounds are at risk of developing a twisted stomach, known as gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV). This condition is most likely to occur when an individual exercises after eating a large meal. With the stomach swollen with food, its weight swings around its anchor points while the dog moves around, causing it to twist on itself. This prevents the stomach emptying, causing a painful bloat. It also compromises the blood supply to the stomach wall, creating tissue death which is both painful and deadly. Splitting meals across the day, and staggering exercise away from mealtimes can lower the risk of this occurrence.
Adults of this breed are predisposed to a degenerative eye condition known as generalised progressive retinal atrophy (GPRA). The retina at the back of the eye degrades due to an inherited gene mutation passed on from both parents. Initially, low light blindness occurs, before progressing to daylight blindness. Although a DNA test for this breed is not currently available, prospective breeding dogs can be screened for the condition by a veterinary ophthalmologist (eye specialist).
Another inherited condition is a portosystemic shunt (PSS) which affects the liver function of growing puppies. While a puppy foetus is developing in the womb, they have a blood vessel which bypasses the liver, due to the placenta doing the job of blood filtering instead of the liver. After birth, this vessel should close off, allowing blood to flow through the liver. A failure of this closure is a PSS. When the liver can’t filter blood, toxins build up in the body causing ill health. Symptoms can be vague, appearing as a general failure to thrive. Vomiting and diarrhoea may occur, and neurological signs such as disorientation or seizures can develop. Treatment requires specialist surgery to correct the shunt.
Conclusion
Although the listed health predispositions can sound off-putting, the gentle and social nature of Irish Wolfhounds can produce an excellent and loving pet for the right owner with the space to accommodate one. Experience with larger breeds and their needs is beneficial, as is an open awareness of the costs of owning a giant dog breed. For advice on nutrition and health care, your veterinary team can discuss what is best for your dog’s individual needs. Choosing a breeder that follows recommended health monitoring is also advisable, and if you take the step to own one, maintain regular health checks with your vet to aid early disease detection.
Further Reading:
Irish Wolfhound – The Kennel Club
Irish Wolfhound – American Kennel Club
Heart Testing Recommendation for Irish Wolfhounds – Irish Wolfound Foundation
Fousse, S., Tyrrell, W., Dentino, M., Abrams, F.L., Rosenthal, S.L., and Stern, J.A. (2019) ‘Pedigree analysis of atrial fibrillation in Irish wolfhounds supports a high heritability with a dominant mode of inheritance’. Canine Genetics and Epidemiology, 6(11).
Momen, M., Kohler, N.L., Binversie, E.E., Dentino, M., and Sample, S.J. (2021) ‘Heritability and genetic variance estimation of Osteosarcoma (OSA) in Irish Wolfhound, using deep pedigree information’, Canine Medicine and Genetics, 8(1), pp. 9.
Urfer, S.R., Gaillard, C., and Steiger, A. (2007) ‘Lifespan and disease predispositions in the Irish Wolfhound: a review’, The Veterinary Quarterly, 29(3), pp. 102-11.
Vollmar, C., Vollmar, A., Keene, B.W., Fox, P.R., Reese, S., and Kohn, B. (2019) ‘Dilated cardiomyopathy in 151 Irish Wolfhounds: Characteristic clinical findings, life expectancy and causes of death’, Veterinary Journal, (Mar) 245, pp. 15-21.
Vollmar, C., Vollmar, A., Keene, B., Fox, P.R., Reese, S., and Kohn, B. (2019) ‘Irish wolfhounds with subclinical atrial fibrillation: progression of disease and causes of death’, Journal of Veterinary Cardiology. (Aug) 24, pp. 48-57.
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