Irish Wolfhound

Irish Wolfhounds have a calm, intelligent, and usually friendly nature. Irish Wolfhounds can be seen as being sensitive dogs, this implies that a reward-based approach to training is important to help further bond the dog to the family. Irish Wolfhounds also bond with people in animal assisted-therapy dogs.

Participation in dog sports such as lure coursing, racing, running, tracking, agility, rally and standard obedience as sport can help to provide physical and mental stimulation while helping the Irish Wolfhound bond with its family.

Irish Wolfhound History:

The breed has records dating back as far as the first century, with some people commenting that their origins may go back even further. In Ancient Rome, Irish Wolfhounds were exhibited to the amazement and terror of Romans as the dogs could only be transported in cages. They were excellent boar hunting dogs due to their great size, speed and intelligence.

The Irish Wolfhound is thought to have been introduced to Ireland by the Celts, who commonly referred to them as the “Cu Faoil.” They were bred by the Celts as war dogs to knock armored knights from their horses and also they were trained to be highly skilled wolf hunters. The wolf no longer exists in Ireland today which shows that the training of the breed was so successful. In the 19th century, their numbers diminished. Captain Graham, a Scottish officer, has been given credit with a breeding effort that saved the Irish Wolfhound from extinction in the late 19th century, which is when the modern traits of the breed were established.