I fell in love with a dog at the shelter a few weeks ago who was described on the SPCA website as an “Irish wolfhound” mix. Like Irish wolfhounds, this dog was quite tall and lanky, but that was where the similarities ended. I found the description a bit humorous, since it’s not like there are a ton of Irish wolfhounds roaming the countryside and impregnating strays. These dogs are still fairly rare in the United States, even though most people could probably correctly identify one. Wolfhounds don’t look like a lot of other breeds.
The Irish wolfhound’s claim to fame is that of the tallest dog breed. They don’t necessarily weigh the most, but they are very leggy. With this height, unfortunately, comes a tragically short lifespan. Your average wolfhound will live to be seven or eight years old.
Like many giant breeds, Irish wolfhounds have a history of being very gentle and mild-mannered indoors. They can be spirited puppies, however, and prospective owners are cautioned about keeping breakable items scattered around the house. I love the look of this breed, but its comparative rarity and short lifespan lead me to think that it might not be the best for us at this time. But how great would it look to have one of these gorgeous giants on your hearth? Or waiting for you at the farm gate? I can imagine it now…
Irish wolfhound links:
Doggerel 
Thank you..really informative!!
These are BIG adorable dogs! Love em! Love that B&W photo too!
There was in Irish Wolfhound in one of our obedience classes. Every time we weren’t actively doing anything, he was lying down- and this was a puppy- like 6 or 7 months old. But he was beautiful and a calming influence on all the dogs around him.
Oh, but never trust shelter breed listings. My lab/pit was listed as a collie/pit – there was no collie in the dog whatsoever. And my current smooth fox mix was listed as a JRT/ACD mix. JRT is logical (and could be true), but there is no Heeler in him.