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> Index of every page on this site: [llms.txt](https://www.pedibase.com/llms.txt)
+8
Dogs
# The Irish Wolfhound: temperament, price, health, and breeders
Ireland
A noble and sensitive giant, made for space and active family life.
Size GiantLife expectancy 6–10 yearsBudget ≈ €183/monthPuppy €1,100 – €1,300
[Find a breeder 15](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-irish-wolfhound) [ Compare with other breeds](https://www.pedibase.com/en/compare-dog-breeds?races=irish-wolfhound)
The right choice?
## Is this breed right for you?
[Find your ideal breed with our online quiz!](https://www.pedibase.com/en/choose-your-dog)
Families and children Very good
Daily exercise needs High
Apartment living Limited
First-time owners Fair
Other pets Fair
Tolerance of being alone Fair
Guarding instinct Fair
Strengths and weaknesses
- Gentleness at home: Despite his impressive size, he is generally calm and affectionate with his family.
- Noble presence: His elegant appearance and extraordinary size make him a very striking companion.
- Good hardiness: The breed is generally robust when it benefits from monitoring suited to its giant format.
- Needs space: He does not cope well with a life that is too confined and does not thrive in an apartment.
- Strong hunting instinct: His tendency to chase can make recall and living with small animals more difficult.
- Giant dog health: His size exposes him to joint, digestive and cardiac risks that require real vigilance.
Who is it for?
Ideal for
- Active families with space: It is better suited to a household able to offer long outings and a spacious environment.
- Giant dog enthusiasts: Its size and specific needs require owners prepared to manage an extraordinary breed.
- Life in a fenced house: A house with a large secure garden suits its daily balance much better.
Not recommended for
- Apartment living: The lack of space and the constraints of everyday urban life suit him poorly.
- Very novice owners: His training, size, and chase instinct require a minimum of experience and consistency.
- Households with small unaccustomed animals: His strong hunting instinct can make certain cohabitations risky without rigorous management.
Meet the breed
## What does it look like?
1,75 mHuman
81 cmIrish Wolfhound
- Height at the withers
- 71–90 cm
- Weight
- 40–68 kg
- Coat
- Medium-long, hard and rough
- FCI group
- 10
- Origin
- Ireland
- Grooming
- Moderate grooming needs
## Photos and videos
See the Irish Wolfhound in photos and videos: coat colors, size, and distinctive expressions.
Origins
## Where does it come from?
The Irish Wolfhound descends from ancient large-sized sighthounds bred in Ireland by the Celts. It was long used for hunting wolves and deer, before declining with the gradual disappearance of this game in Europe. The breed was revived in the 19th century, then structured by the creation of its club in 1885 before its definitive recognition by the FCI in 1955.
Appearance
## What does it look like?
The Irish Wolfhound is a giant, powerful and elegant dog, more massive than the Scottish Deerhound. Its body is long and sturdy, with a deep chest, a strong and muscular neck, an elongated head carried high and a long slightly curved tail. Its coat is harsh and rough, with a more pronounced wire-haired appearance above the eyes and under the jaw.
Temperament
## Temperament and personality
Peaceful and affectionate at home, the Irish Wolfhound remains energetic, determined and very much a hunter outdoors. It is generally gentle with its family, rather sociable with humans, but its chasing instinct can complicate living with certain small animals.
Affectionate Sociable
Living together
## Living with children and other pets
This large sighthound needs space, long and regular outings and a calm environment to remain balanced. He appreciates the company of his family, does not tolerate a life that is too confined and thrives more in a house with a well-fenced garden than in an apartment.
Training
## Training and socialization
The education of the Irish Wolfhound must begin early, with firmness, patience and consistency. It is a sensitive dog that responds better to positive reinforcement than to constraint. Recall and the management of its hunting instinct must be worked on from the youngest age to obtain a reliable companion that is pleasant to live with.
Budget
## Price and budget for the Irish Wolfhound
The Irish Wolfhound remains an uncommon breed whose purchase price mainly reflects the quality of the breeding, the seriousness of the selection and the health monitoring of the breeding dogs. Its large size also implies significant maintenance expenses over time.
[See cost breakdown](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/irish-wolfhound/price)
Health
## Health at a glance
The Irish Wolfhound is generally hardy and robust, but its large size requires particular vigilance regarding the musculoskeletal system, the heart and the digestive system. Like many giant breeds, it requires serious veterinary monitoring and careful management of exercise, growth and meals.
[Prevention and things to watch for](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/irish-wolfhound/health)
Nutrition
## Feeding your pet well
The Irish Wolfhound needs a high-quality diet, adapted to its age, its activity and its very large size. Dietary management is particularly important during growth, in order to support development without promoting excessive weight gain or growth that is too rapid.
[Our feeding advice](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/irish-wolfhound/food)
Did you know?
## Fun facts and popularity
The Irish Wolfhound is often cited among the largest dogs in the world. Despite its impressive size, it is known for its gentleness at home, which gives it an image of a calm and noble giant among sighthound enthusiasts.
FAQ
## Frequently asked questions about the Irish Wolfhound
Answers to common questions from future owners before their new companion arrives.
### Can the Irish Wolfhound live in an apartment?
It adapts poorly to apartment living. Its very large size and need for space make it more comfortable in a house with a well-fenced garden and serious daily outings.
### Is the Irish Wolfhound easy to train?
It is not the easiest breed for a beginner. It is sensitive, sometimes independent, and requires early, consistent, positive training, with serious recall work.
### Does the Irish Wolfhound get along with other animals?
Living together can be delicate with small animals due to its strong hunting instinct. Early socialization helps, but caution is still necessary depending on the individual.
## Find a Irish Wolfhound breeder
The areas where Pedibase lists the most Irish Wolfhound breeders, along with their litters and typical prices.
[Irish Wolfhound breeders in Pays de la Loire3](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-irish-wolfhound/pays-de-la-loire) [Irish Wolfhound breeders in Grand Est3](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-irish-wolfhound/grand-est) [Irish Wolfhound breeders in Occitanie3](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-irish-wolfhound/occitanie)
### Irish Wolfhound breeders by country
[87 breeders of Irish Wolfhound in Germany](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-irish-wolfhound/germany) [15 breeders of Irish Wolfhound in France](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-irish-wolfhound) [8 breeders of Irish Wolfhound in Italy](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-irish-wolfhound/italy) [7 breeders of Irish Wolfhound in Austria](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-irish-wolfhound/austria) [5 breeders of Irish Wolfhound in Denmark](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-irish-wolfhound/denmark) [5 breeders of Irish Wolfhound in the United Kingdom](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-irish-wolfhound/united-kingdom) [3 breeders of Irish Wolfhound in the Netherlands](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-irish-wolfhound/netherlands) [1 breeder of Irish Wolfhound in Belgium](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-irish-wolfhound/belgium) [1 breeder of Irish Wolfhound in Switzerland](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-irish-wolfhound/switzerland)
[All breeders of Irish Wolfhound in France](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-irish-wolfhound)
## Ready to welcome a Irish Wolfhound?
Find a registered, verified breeder near you and meet your future companion with confidence.
[View breeders](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-irish-wolfhound)
## Discover other breeds
[Scottish Deerhound
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/scottish-deerhound)
[Italian Greyhound
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/italian-greyhound)
[Greyhound
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/greyhound)
[Whippet
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/whippet)
[Afghan Hound
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/afghan-hound)
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