Irish Wolfhounds.

All I know about them is they are blooming expensive to buy, and they do not live that long. I had rough coated lurchers which usually have a bit of deerhound in them, a lot cheaper to buy and live to about 12. The other dog I would pass on is a great dane. My neighbour had several, each one was a moster of a puppy, chewing and generally eating anything it could reach, which was a lot. They only have a couple of years as a half sensible adult, then they die.
 
honetpot said:
All I know about them is they are blooming expensive to buy, and they do not live that long. I had rough coated lurchers which usually have a bit of deerhound in them, a lot cheaper to buy and live to about 12. The other dog I would pass on is a great dane. My neighbour had several, each one was a moster of a puppy, chewing and generally eating anything it could reach, which was a lot. They only have a couple of years as a half sensible adult, then they die.
Click to expand...

yeah I know how much they are, I wasn’t expecting such a price tag, I think I am still leaning towards getting one this summer to be honest. They seem like such lovely dogs and from all I’ve heard I’m becoming even more set on it.
I do love Great Danes as my close friend has them, she has had one after the other for years, such beautiful characters. I asked her not so long ago actually about how she copes with them having such a short lifespan and she said that losing them is hard but you go in to it knowing they don’t live as long as other dogs and she just adores the breed.
i just couldn’t cope with the shedding, even though they have short hair there’s a lot of it lol Xx
 
Huge (massive) and you need the space for them indoors and out. Mostly nice natured, but I’d never trust them around small furries (and I’d include dogs in that). We have one near us that’s generally a nasty b*tch to other dogs and has mauled several smaller dogs. I know you should never generalise but I head in the opposite direction if I ever see one (as I do with greyhounds (I have a small dog)).

As with other dogs of a similar size - you may get 7 or 8 years of their company.

Edt, if you can’t cope with shedding, how will you cope with such a large, hairy and at times, very mucky dog?
 
Amymay said:
Huge (massive) and you need the space for them indoors and out. Mostly nice natured, but I’d never trust them around small furries (and I’d include dogs in that). We have one near us that’s generally a nasty b*tch to other dogs and has mauled several smaller dogs. I know you should never generalise but I head in the opposite direction if I ever see one (as I do with greyhounds (I have a small dog)).

As with other dogs of a similar size - you may get 7 or 8 years of their company.

Edt, if you can’t cope with shedding, how will you cope with such a large, hairy and at times, very mucky dog?
Click to expand...

oh gosh! That’s the first negative thing I’ve heard about them. We do have a lot of space outside, all our fields are dog proofed, not the biggest house mind but it’s not cramped.
my jack Russel was mauled by two grey hounds. She never fully mentally recovered from it. It was a shock as I’ve only ever met friendly greyhounds. There were two off the lead though and my JR was on the lead and I think pack instinct comes in sometimes. Xx
 
Amymay said:
Huge (massive) and you need the space for them indoors and out. Mostly nice natured, but I’d never trust them around small furries (and I’d include dogs in that). We have one near us that’s generally a nasty b*tch to other dogs and has mauled several smaller dogs. I know you should never generalise but I head in the opposite direction if I ever see one (as I do with greyhounds (I have a small dog)).

As with other dogs of a similar size - you may get 7 or 8 years of their company.

Edt, if you can’t cope with shedding, how will you cope with such a large, hairy and at times, very mucky dog?
Click to expand...

Wolfhounds don’t shed the same. You brush out the loose fur, you’ll get a bit around. We have a warm water hose to wash paws and legs, then we dry with a towel, never a muddy paw or boot in my house! Lol We have to because of our location else it’d be mud city lol xx
 
Lovely dogs. Horrors as puppies but calm down nicely by 1/2. Need a lot of training but their size means most people do it. Dim but sweet with humans. Rarely live more the 7. Incredibly expensive to treat vet wise. Size alone means even basic things like skin or gi upset cost a fortune. They need to have stomachs tacked to try and prevent bloat/GDV as it's rampant in them. Tend to die of heart issues (dcm)that can be slowed with meds that cost a massive amount due to size.
Splenic and bone tumours are another common issue. Arthritis usually starts kicking in from about 5 or so-again size makes them expensive to manage that. Not a healthy breed to be honest. Temperament wise though I've found them much steadier friendlier and less nervy then the Danes.

A lot of the ones I've met have a very high prey drive. Have heard a few horror stories of them taking out smaller dogs in "play". They are a popular cross for pig hunting here in Australia.
The cross breeds do seem to live longer.

I'd go deerhound over irish wolfhound personally. Similar look shape and temperment.smaller size so they tend to live a lot longer.
 
My parents had 2 (one after the other. The first died following a GDV op at about 2, the second was pts due to a bone tumour at 8. She’d also had GDV but pulled through. Both lived with small dogs, sheep, chickens and cats. I’d have another but haven’t the space. The second wasn’t great with small dogs on walks and would run up to people. I think my parents were so paranoid about not over walking her as a pup she missed out on socialisation. They now have 35kg scruffy lurcher who I do suspect has some wolfhound in him who has a fantastic temperament and is really easy.
 
Aru said:
Lovely dogs. Horrors as puppies but calm down nicely by 1/2. Need a lot of training but their size means most people do it. Dim but sweet with humans. Rarely live more the 7. Incredibly expensive to treat vet wise. Size alone means even basic things like skin or gi upset cost a fortune. They need to have stomachs tacked to try and prevent bloat/GDV as it's rampant in them. Tend to die of heart issues (dcm)that can be slowed with meds that cost a massive amount due to size.
Splenic and bone tumours are another common issue. Arthritis usually starts kicking in from about 5 or so-again size makes them expensive to manage that. Not a healthy breed to be honest. Temperament wise though I've found them much steadier friendlier and less nervy then the Danes.

A lot of the ones I've met have a very high prey drive. Have heard a few horror stories of them taking out smaller dogs in "play". They are a popular cross for pig hunting here in Australia.
The cross breeds do seem to live longer.

I'd go deerhound over irish wolfhound personally.
Click to expand...

we do have all of our pets insured. I had heard of twisted gut as my friend had a horse with it. Thankfully she was saved with surgery. I had no idea there was a procedure to prevent this! Thank you for replying. Much to think about.
We have a lot of land, enough to walk the dogs and it’s all dog proofed but will be checking all the fencing before getting a new pup although, We always take our pups to socialise with puppy classes and my husbands hobby is training his dogs.
I think we are quite set on one at the moment but it won’t be until summer so I’ve still got time to think about it. Xx
 
I've had wolfhounds on and off since I was a kid, and they are lovely, goofy dogs. We call them the heartbreak hounds because they don't live long and get very nasty diseases. I loved ours, but will never have another: too big, too expensive, a bit dim and will break your heart.

Oh, and the last one had absolutely zero recall, in fact when we asked him to come he'd look at us, wag his tail, and bugger off in the opposite direction.
 
Lovely dogs, big goof balls. Short lived with health problems as mentioned - go for a litter with health screened parents (PM me breeders if you want, we don't have any litters due soon but I know of a few). Ours are excellent with other dos but are raised with terriers and spaniels so might just be well socialized. Your need a big estate or 4x4 for transport and food/vet bills are relatively more expensive because there is more dog. We don't do gastropexy unless they under go GA anyway, then it is done. I know a specialist small animal surgeon who breeds them who does gastropexy and splenectomy on all the ones she keeps....it's a choice.

They take up a lot of space in the house and can be destructive as puppies accidentally - 36" and 70kg of dog jumping up at a door can be...interesting. We needed a new door.... The current youngster has also dented the corner of a wall. And eaten a hole in hardwood floor boards. And eaten a couch. And a chair leg. Also, when a puppy accident occurs it's more like a small flood than a puddle!
 
They are beautiful dogs and the ones I have met have wonderful natures, but as has been said time and again they don't live very long and do suffer from multiple serious health issues. I have a FB friend in the US who breeds crossbreeds that look and act like wolfhounds but who are much longer lived and suffer with far fewer health issues. I would imagine it would be fairly expensive to bring one over from the US though.

Another friend waited years for his wolfhound and it was absolutely heartbreaking that he died suddenly within the first year of owning her. His family have kept her and she is a beautiful, gentle dog. Good with their children and cats.

If you do decide to go ahead then we need copious photos! :)
 
I love Wolfhounds but opted for Great Danes. Reasons being
A) Danes tend to live longer
B) I have parrots and small furries and Wolfhounds are not known to be trustworthy with such things
C) Sighthounds are harder to train and have rubbish recall at times
D) GD tend to have a lower incidence of inherited conditions

That all said, obviously any giant breed can have heart and joint problems (Wolfies are also prone to liver shunt) and don't have a long life span compared to small breeds.
All giant breeds are absolute dickheads like teenage lads on lager til they mature though ????
 
Dwyran_gold said:
My husband has always wanted one. I’ve researched a lot about the breed and they do seem like a great family dog! I was planning on getting another dog and looking around to find the best fit for our family. Anybody have any experience with them? We have a littleish cottage but with plenty of grounds and dog proofed fields. We have a pointer and a jackapoo at the moment, along with a teenager and a toddler. How are they with smaller dogs? I read they are great with children and that’s important.
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

we had one a few years ago. rescued her at 6. she lived to ten and a half. lovely gentle kind dog. great with kids. took uo the entire sofa!
 
I used to have a St Bernard. Similar height and a bit heavier to the wolfhound.

Brilliant fun! Loved the very bones of her.

With a giant dog you just get used to putting valuables higher up, not leaving food anywhere, dealing with slobber, and everything being hairy. It also takes an age to get anywhere as everyone wants to stop for a talk and a stroke.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top