Your Guide to Deerhound Irish Wolfhound Health Nutrition and Training

Deerhound Irish Wolfhounds are massive dogs with a lifespan of around 6-8 years on average. They can grow up to 35 inches tall and weigh between 100-150 pounds.

Their size requires careful consideration when it comes to feeding them. Deerhound Irish Wolfhounds need a balanced diet that includes protein-rich foods like chicken, beef, or fish. A good quality dog food should be their main staple, with occasional treats in moderation.

Regular exercise is crucial for these gentle giants. They require daily walks of at least 30 minutes, and they love to run around off-leash when possible. This helps keep them physically fit and mentally stimulated.

Training a Deerhound Irish Wolfhound requires patience and consistency. They are intelligent dogs that respond well to positive reinforcement techniques like clicker training or reward-based learning.

The Irish Wolfhound can reach an impressive seven feet in height when standing on their hind legs, although having them produce this pose is highly discouraged.

Their big head is long, and so is the muzzle, with small ears that lay back against the head; an excited Wolfhound will prick them up. The coat usually feels rough to the touch and can be gray, brindle, red, black, white, or fawn colored; however, gray is the most common color.

The Irish Wolfhound is the tallest of all dog breeds, even taller than the Great Dane, with males measuring a minimum of 32 inches from paw to shoulder. They are also much heavier in weight, weighing an almighty 120 pounds.

Both breeds will fully mature and stop growing at around the age of three years old. Their bones and joints will strengthen at around the age of 10 months, so it is particularly important during this period that they are not over-exercised.

The Irish Wolfhound's coat takes 13 recognized colors, including brindle, whereas the Scottish Deerhound’s coat takes four recognized colors. The grey color is the most recognizable and most popular color of them all for both breeds.

Deerhounds and Irish Wolfhounds have large appetites, which means they require a different balance of nutrients compared to smaller-breed dogs.

To minimize bloating and stomach problems, it's essential to feed your Deerhound or Irish Wolfhound smaller, more frequent meals. This can help prevent these issues altogether.

As a dog owner, it's essential to be aware of the potential health issues that can affect your furry friend.

Deerhounds are predisposed to an aggressive type of bone cancer and heart disease, which is why regular check-ups with your veterinarian are crucial.

Giant breeds like Great Danes are susceptible to heart problems, bloat, hip dysplasia, bone cancer, and elbow dysplasia. These conditions can be devastating for both dogs and their owners.

Overbite is another issue that has been noticed in these breeds, which can lead to a range of dental problems if left untreated.

Breeders have made significant efforts to reduce the incidence of inherited disorders like liver and eye conditions through routine screening and careful breeding programmes.

Large breed dogs have different nutritional needs compared to smaller-breed dogs.

This is because they require a balance of nutrients including minerals and vitamins that are tailored to their size.

Deerhounds, being one example of a large breed dog, can benefit from smaller, more frequent meals to help prevent bloating and stomach problems.

These gentle giants are true gentlemen, with a temperament that's courageous but not aggressive, loyal but not overly clingy, and alert but dignified.

They're close and affectionate with their family, but indifferent to strangers, making them terrible guard dogs who'd let intruders stroll in without so much as a bark. They prefer to be in company and can suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for too long.

As they mature into calm adults, typically taking several years, they become comfortable companions for children, but it's essential to supervise interactions due to their massive size. They're social animals who crave human interaction and enjoy the company of other dogs, making them great pets in a dog-friendly household.

The Irish Wolfhound is a sweet and patient breed that makes a great family pet. They are highly intelligent and eager to please their owners.

These gentle giants can be quite clumsy when they're young, taking at least two years to mature. It's essential to leash train them from an early age to prevent pulling on the leash as they grow stronger.

Despite their size, Irish Wolfhounds aren't aggressive towards strangers and are actually quite indifferent to them. They would rather let intruders wander in than bark a warning to alert their owners.

On the other hand, Deerhounds are quiet and reserved hounds that can be very demonstrative with family and friends. They have a gentle sense of humor and are usually aware of their size around smaller animals or children.

Both Irish Wolfhounds and Scottish Deerhounds are known as true gentlemen - courageous but not aggressive, loyal but not clingy, and alert but dignified in their reactions. They make terrible guard dogs because they wouldn't even bark to alert their owners to potential threats.

These breeds crave human interaction and can suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for too long. They prefer the company of other dogs and would do well with a furry companion to keep them company while you're away.

Training your Scottish Deerhound requires a fun and engaging approach, as they have short attention spans and can get bored with repetitive tasks.

You'll want to focus on basic obedience skills like recall, lying down when asked, and walking on a loose lead. Avoid teaching them to jump up, as their size can be intimidating to others.

Early socialization is crucial for these independent creatures, who are more interested in chasing rabbits than listening to commands. You can teach them to be comfortable with other dogs of all shapes and sizes, but don't expect them to be calm around cats!

It's essential to leash train your Deerhound from an early age, as they're strong pups that need to walk well on the lead. If you plan on crate training, make sure to use a crate designed for giant breeds.

While Scottish Deerhounds are generally easy to train due to their loyal nature and eagerness to please, be patient with them, as they can be stubborn and independent. They're also slow to mature, so training will take some time.

A fenced-in yard is necessary for an Irish Wolfhound so they can get adequate exercise.

Both Deerhounds and Irish Wolfhounds are not heavy shedders, but you should still expect to find wiry hairs on your sofa and clothes. They will only require brushing once or twice a week to keep their long wiry hair healthy and tangle-free.

Both Scottish Deerhounds and Irish Wolfhounds can adapt to apartment living, but they need a large one where they can spread their legs.

You'll have to consider your lifestyle and preferences when deciding between these two breeds. They both require regular exercise, so if you're an active person who enjoys outdoor activities, either breed might be suitable.

Deerhounds are more intelligent than Wolfhounds, but they also need more stimulation and exercise. This means you'll need to provide them with plenty of mental and physical challenges to keep them happy and healthy.

Irish Wolfhounds make better family pets due to their gentler nature. However, they do have a stronger prey drive, which can be a challenge if you have small children or other pets in the household.

Ultimately, choosing between these two breeds comes down to your personal preferences and what works best for your lifestyle.

An Irish Wolfhound is definitely not an apartment dog. They require daily exercise and a fenced-in yard to get adequate exercise.

You'll need to brush your Irish Wolfhound's coat every week, and pluck it every six months to remove excess dead hair. Don't neglect their nails and teeth - trimming them often will make life easier for everyone involved.

The Scottish Deerhound has a similar grooming schedule: brushing once or twice a week is sufficient to keep its long wiry hair healthy and tangle-free. You'll need to be prepared for finding wiry hairs on your sofa and clothes, even if they don't "blow their coat" in shedding season.

Both Irish Wolfhounds and Scottish Deerhounds are great at being low-maintenance when it comes to grooming - but that doesn't mean you won't find hair everywhere! Neither breed is hypoallergenic, so families with dog allergies should think twice before bringing one home.