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As dog breeds go, the Irish Wolfhound is both the tallest know breed of dog and one of the oldest breeds, dating back as far as 600 A.D. Like the name implies, the breed originated in Ireland and was originally bred to be hunting and war dogs. They were used to hunt wolves and wild hogs, and were also trained to take mounted soldiers down from their horses in war times. The Irish Wolfhound almost became extinct as a breed in the 19th century due to a ban that allowed only royalty to own the dogs. Captain Graham re-introduced the breed, however, by crossing it with Great Danes and other breeds. This saved the Wolfhound from extinction.

Despite their size and heritage, the Irish Wolfhound has a very easy-going and friendly personality. They make wonderful pets, are good with children, and are also good with most other animals. If you have other small animals for pets - such as cats or toy breeds of dogs - they might be tempted to chase them, and could hurt them; they were originally bred to be hunters, remember, and these smaller pets could be considered prey by an Irish Wolfhound. They do not make good guard dogs, however; they tend to be much to friendly for this sort of work! The breed's large size can make them rather intimidating, however.

Irish Wolfhounds tend to have a rather short lifespan, on average only living 6 to 8 years. They are also a rather expensive dog to purchase and care for; most pups bought from reputable breeders sell for figures nearing $1000 each. Any medications, feed, or other necessities will be more expensive due to the larger quantity required for this very large breed of dog. These things should be taken into consideration when deciding if this breed is right for your family and home.

On average, Wolfhounds weigh between 105 and 130 pounds and reach heights of 30 to 32 inches tall. They would not be a good choice for apartment living as they need a large yard to run and exercise. It is recommended to feed adult Wolfhounds twice a day, and they can eat quite a bit. However, it is not a good idea to supplement a pup's meals as this can increase their rate of growth to an unhealthy rate.

As a breed, the Irish Wolfhound is not without its problems. There are several different diseases and health problems they are prone to. One of the biggest problems with this breed is Heart Disease and heart failure. The breed is also prone to bone cancer. Some of the other health problems that plague the breed are Bloat and Gastric Torsion, Von Willebrands

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