Breed profile
Irish Wolfhound
Explore the care, lifestyle and household factors that matter before making a commitment.
SizeGiant
ExerciseModerate
GroomingModerate
ChildrenModerate
BarkingLow
HealthVery high
What this means
Source-linked data has been researched to help you make an informed decision about life with this breed.
Read how evidence is handledAt a glance
Key facts
Size classGiant
Adult weight48 to 55 kg
Exercise needModerate
Energy levelModerate
BarkingLow
Grooming effortModerate
Health burdenVery high
Breed profile
Life with this breed
Home and lifestyle
- Flat suitability
- Poor fit
- Alone tolerance
- Moderate
- Energy level
- Moderate
- First-time owner fit
- Possible
Care and training
- Minimum daily exercise
- 120 minutes
- Mental stimulation
- Moderate
- Trainability
- Below average
- Grooming effort
- Moderate
- Professional grooming
- Low maintenance
- Shedding
- Moderate
Household fit
- Children
- Moderate
- Dogs
- Moderate
- Cats
- Limited
- Prey drive
- Very high
- Visitors
- Moderate
Health and evidence
- Health burden
- Very high
- Heat tolerance
- Moderate
- Cold tolerance
- Moderate
Health-burden evidence confidence: Medium.
Recorded health considerations
- Dilated cardiomyopathy
- Bone cancer (osteosarcoma)
- Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (GDV)
- Liver shunt
These are breed-level considerations, not a diagnosis or a guarantee that an individual dog will be affected.
Children and pets need supervision and careful introductions. Individual behaviour varies.