The Irish Wolfhound Italian Greyhound Mix, is a mixed breed dog resulting from breeding the Irish Wolfhound and the Italian Greyhound. Both of these dogs can be friendly but personalities differ, so you never know. The Irish Wolfhound is known for being thoughtful, generous, and patient. All dogs need proper socialization and that will be a big factor in how they interact with others. What does this mixed breed look and act like? Is it more like the Irish Wolfhound or the Italian Greyhound? Those are the questions we will try and answer below. Continue reading below to see pictures, videos, and learn more about the beautiful Irish Wolfhound Italian Greyhound Mix.
While we really recommend that you acquire all animals through a rescue, we understand that some people might go through a breeder to get their Irish Wolfhound Italian Greyhound Mix puppy. That is, if they have any Irish Wolfhound Italian Greyhound Mix puppies for sale.
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All hybrid or designer dogs are tough to get a good read on as there isn’t much history to them. Breeding specific dogs like this has become common in the last twenty years or so even though I am sure that this mixed breed found it’s share of dogs to the shelter due to accidental breeding. We will take a closer look at the history of both parent breeds below. If you are looking at breeders for new, designer dogs please beware of Puppy Mills. These are places that mass produce puppies, specifically for profit and don’t care at all about the dogs. If you have a few minutes, please sign our petition to stop puppy mills.
Irish Wolfhound History
The Irish Wolfhound is a large and powerful breed. They are a tall dog and were originally used in war to drag men off horses and chariots. Due to their size they were also used to help hunters. They were typically used with big game such as deer, boar, and wolves. They are typically used as family companions today. This dog is routinely mentioned in Irish folklore. They were typically prized for their ferocity and bravery. Under Irish law only kings and nobles were permitted to own the Irish Wolfhound, with the number of dogs owned being tied to the prestige of the title of the individual. They were such great dogs that they were common gifts between rulers. They are a relatively common breed in the United States ranking 77 among 155 breeds.
Italian Greyhound History
The Italian Greyhound also known as the Italian Sighthound was a favorite companion of Italian women. It is an old breed that has more than likely been around for over two thousand years. They are seen in artifacts in modern day Turkey and Greece that have them dating back that long ago. Due to its physical strengths and characteristics it was more than likely used as a hunting companion as many dogs have been over the years. It was a favorite among aristocrats in Italy. It was almost lost during the World Wars (like many breeds were), due to the fact that breeding dogs simply took a backseat.
Irish Wolfhound
Height: 30 - 32 inches at the shoulder
Weight: 120 - 155 lb.
Lifespan: 6 - 8 years
Italian Greyhound
Height: 13 - 16 inches at the shoulder
Weight: 17 - 22 lb.
Lifespan: 10 - 12 years
The Irish Wolfhound and the Italian Greyhound are both loyal and affectionate. They are also very charming, so watch out! This dog will require a good training regimen as they can get excited. They are very loyal to their family. One of the best things you can do for any breed is to socialize it as much as possible. Please use positive reinforcement, it goes a long way! She should be rather affectionate and love being with you, she can also be stubborn so keep that in mind.
All dogs have the potential to develop genetic health problems as all breeds are susceptible to some things more than others. However, the one positive thing about getting a puppy is that you can avoid this as much as possible. A breeder should absolutely offer a health guarantee on puppies. If they won’t do this, then look no more and don’t consider that breeder at all. A reputable breeder will be honest and open about health problems in the breed and the incidence with which they occur. We obviously recommend that you look for a reputable animal rescue in your area to find your new mixed breed. Health clearances prove that a dog has been tested for and cleared of a particular condition.
The Irish Wolfhound mixed with the Italian Greyhound might be prone to joint dysplasia, VWD, PRA, osteosarcoma, among others.
Note that these are just common problems in both breeds.
What are the grooming requirements?
Even if you know the breed, sometimes it is hard to tell if it will be a heavy shedder or a light shedder. Either way, Get ready to invest in a good vacuum if you want to keep your floors clean! Give them baths as needed, but not so much that you dry out their skin.
What are the exercise requirements?
Plan on taking them for extremely long walks and hikes to keep their energy level down. This mix will more than likely have a high energy level. This exercise will keep them from being destructive. A tired dog is a good dog. A tired dog is a good dog though. Never tie your dog up outside - that is inhumane and not fair to him.
What are the training requirements?
This is an intelligent dog that will be a little bit challenging to train. They are going to want to take the alpha position and need someone with a firm, strong, hand that can let them know their place. The best thing you can do is break the sessions into shorter daily sessions to keep their attention span higher. It might have a prey drive and be disposed to running for and chasing small prey, but if handled properly this can be managed. All dogs respond best to positive reinforcement. So make sure to praise her when she does well. She is an intelligent dog who loves to please, and loves a physical challenge. The more exercise she gets the easier she will be to train. Proper socialization is imperative to all dogs and puppies. Make sure to take her to the park and doggy day care to get her around as many people and dogs as possible.
"A lot of times diet is done on a per-dog basis. Each one is unique and has different dietary requirements. Most dogs in the U.S. are overweight. A mix like this one that is prone to hip and elbow dysplasia should really be on fish oil and glucosamine and chondroitin supplements as soon as possible. A good diet to look into is Raw Food Diet. A raw food diet will be especially good for the Wolf background.
Overfeeding any dog is not a good idea as that can really exacerbate health problems such as elbow and hip dysplasia.
I good diet to look into is Raw Food Diet. A raw food diet will be especially good for the Wolf background."