Your love for the Irish wolfhound pushes you to adopt a canine.
However, you aren’t sure if the breed is hypoallergenic because a family member is allergic to dogs.
The best way to calm your fear is to research more on the breed to find out if your family will be comfortable adopting the dog.
Are Irish wolfhounds hypoallergenic?
The Irish wolfhounds aren’t 100% hypoallergenic, but their shedding is minimal compared to other breeds.
With regular grooming and a monthly bath, wolves can live among people with dog allergies.
The Irish wolfhound is generally a greyhound built with a sizeable stocky physique yet fast and can kill large animals.
Despite their imposing height and build, Irish wolfhounds are friendly and loyal.
This article will discuss Irish wolfhounds to find out more about their shedding, personality and if they can live among people with dog allergies.
The History of the Irish Wolfhound
The Irish Wolfhound is one of the tallest dog breeds, and its imposing presence is inspiring.
It was used by the Irish during the war to fight enemies by dragging them off their horses.
Besides their tallness and sturdy body, the Irish wolfhounds are swift, and that’s why they’re part of games of speed.
Royal families adopted it because of its fame and speed in hunting Irish elk and wolves.
By the end of the 17th century, the breed almost became extinct after Oliver Cromwell issued the order to kill them.
As a result, the Irish wolves lost purpose, and their numbers declined fast.
However, in the 19th century, the dog breed was recreated by captain George Augustus Graham for people who still loved it.
The few Irish wolfhounds that remained were used for specimens and then crossed with other breeds like the Great Dane, Scottish Deerhound, and mastiffs.
Achieving the ancient bloodline was impossible, but the creation brought forth the Irish Wolfhound and was recognized in 1925 by the Kennel Club.
Since then, Irish wolfhounds have managed to penetrate private homes, perhaps because of their gentle and loving nature towards people.
Living Irish wolfhounds and personality
Irish wolfhounds have a big personality of gentleness, nobility, obedience, sociability, and sensitivity.
Besides their swiftness and hunting nature, they’re slow in the house.
These endearing characteristics mask a natural hunter who can chase prey anytime, meaning Irish wolfhound owners must be vigilant outdoors.
Wolfhounds love to chase running animals.
If this happens, calling them back might turn futile as their obedience switch doesn’t function at that juncture.
Their imposing size is enough to scare intruders, but they don’t do well as protection dogs.
They make good models for children at home and other dogs if you train them early.
A prospective Irish wolfhound owner needs to consider space because the dog is huge and needs sufficient room to stretch.
If you take a wolf out for a daily walk, it will remain calm and content around your house.
Think through issues like; can it fit in your car?
Do you have the stamina to control such a giant dog?
Will you be able to pick your wolf up if he gets sick or hurt?
And can you afford to feed it properly?
Irish Wolfhound Shedding
Irish wolfhounds lose about 1.5 pounds of fur every month, which is way below other breeds like Scottish deerhound and the great Dane shed.
Wolfhounds love the cold weather because their double thick and coarse coat protects them, and they don’t shed often.
Dogs that shed a lot of hair are more likely to affect people with allergies because more dander (microscopic skin flecks) is attached to the hair.
Since Irish wolfhounds shed minimum fur, there’s also less dander on the coat.
Dog fur is lightweight and can float in the air for long, but regular grooming or brushing reduces the amount of skin floating around.
Tips to Reduce Shedding in Irish wolfhounds
Wolfhounds are loyal, protective, and territorial, and most pet parents keep them as home guards or hunting dogs.
Their aggressive nature towards other animals is undeniable from their physical appearance.
- Frequent grooming – Regular brushing your dog prevents excess shedding because of their dry coat. Frequent brushing removes loose fur and spreads oil across its coat evenly, meaning shedding will be minimal.
- Quality diet – Feeding your Irish wolfhound a balanced canine diet will reduce hair shedding. Dry skin triggers your wolf to shed more, but your dog will do fine with a well-rounded meal and a frequent bath.
A high-quality diet contains antioxidants and Omega 3 fatty acids, not forgetting regular exercise like walking or playing with toys.
Avoid overdoing the bath; more than once a month might cause skin dryness leading to more shedding.
Facts about the Irish wolfhounds
- Irish Wolfhounds aren’t overly active but are too huge to live in an apartment.
- You must take it out on a walk for a minimum of 40 minutes daily on a leash and have a high fence in your yard. The fence will prevent it from chasing prey outside the yard. Avoid electric fences because the desire to pursue might overcome the temporary shock.
- Its gentle personality means it gets along with everyone, and with good training, it can be gracious with other dogs.
- They live for 6 to 8 years, meaning if you want to adopt a long live breed, the Irish wolfhound is not your choice.
- Wolfhounds are average shedders and need grooming every two weeks.
- Don’t let children ride it because its joints aren’t strong enough to support weights.
- Wolfhounds love being around their owners and playing outside.
Are Irish wolfhounds hypoallergenic?
Although Irish wolfhounds aren’t 100% hypoallergenic, they don’t shed a lot.
For this reason, they’re safe for a person with dog allergies to be around because dander and saliva are what trigger/cause allergies.
Dander is microscopic skin flecks shed by furry animals that can remain in the air for long or get stuck on fabric or furniture because they’re lightweight.
Hair that falls off carries allergens that can be airborne, and that’s how allergic people get affected.
Irish wolfhounds are friendly, loving, and always willing to embrace or lick your face anytime.
Conclusion
Although Irish wolfhounds aren’t hypoallergenic, they shed much less fur than other dog breeds meaning little dander.
They have a thick double coat that sheds a little, and you can control how much dander lies around by regular grooming.
Therefore, if your lifestyle can accommodate the Irish wolfhound, it’s now time to bring it home.
Don’t worry too much about allergies because if you take great care of this enormous dog, your family will be safe, and you’ll love it more.
Unfortunately, handicapped dogs are much more likely to be ignored when a family is picking out their new pet. Handicapped pets need more care than non-handicapped pets, so it is understandable why they are often harder to rehome.
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