19. Irish Wolfhound

Like so many large dogs in the world, the Irish Wolfhound is also a gentle giant. This sweet-tempered and kind dog is unconditionally loyal to their master and human family. Despite their formidable size, they don’t make good watchdogs because they are friendly towards everyone.

Additionally, the Irish Wolfhound gets along well with other dogs and animals and is great with kids. They tend to be a bit clumsy and mature slowly, so you might end up with a giant puppy for years. These darling dogs are easy to train and eager to please their owners.

They are excellent runners and require daily physical exercise. Although they don’t need excessive amounts of physical activity, they are still not suitable for apartment life. The Irish Wolfhound needs a lot of space to run and will do best with at least a large yard. Further, have in mind that they might not fit in small cars.

Their name originated from their use as wolf hunters and according to the American Kennel Club this breed is a very old one:

‘’One of the earliest recorded references to Irish Wolfhounds is in Roman records dating to 391 A.D. Often used as royal gifts, they hunted with their masters, fought beside them in battle, guarded their castles, played with their children, and lay quietly by the fire as family friends. They were fierce hunters of wolves and the oversized Irish elk, so good that their prey disappeared from Ireland and the hounds fell upon hard times. By the 19th Century there were few IWs left in Ireland.’’

Unfortunately, they have a relatively short lifespan; their average life expectancy is only seven years. They are prone to several health problems, including cardiomyopathy, bone cancer, bloat, PRA, Von Willebrands, and hip dysplasia.

The Irish Wolfhound is one of the tallest dog breeds in the world, as well as one of the most expensive ones. According to the Irish Wolfhound Club of America, ‘’the IW is a fairly expensive dog to properly maintain. Any medications required (including heartworm preventative) will be two to three times as much in quantity as for the average dog, and the diet should be a quality one (what you think you would save buying cheap kibble you’ll pay over and over again with an unhealthy hound and vet bills). And of course there will be the bigger vehicle, the oversized sofa …’’