The Top Speeds of the Irish Wolfhound

Irish wolfhounds are the tallest of dog breeds. They are the giants of the sighthounds, a group of hunting breeds that also includes the greyhound, borzoi (or Russian wolfhound) and saluki. Like its peers, this enormous and calm dog is immensely swift, having been bred as a long-distance hunting hound.

  1. Description

    • Irish wolfhounds are impressive animals: A typical male may stand 6 or 7 feet when reared on hind legs and weigh 175 pounds. Like all canids, females are smaller but still amazingly hefty: They often weigh 120 pounds. They sport a rough, ragged coat that is most commonly hued gray but sometimes black, white, brindled or rufous. A prominent ruff marks their muzzle. The American Kennel Club relays an aphorism regarding the wolfhound's generally mild demeanor but ferocious hunting potential: "Gentle when stroked, fierce when provoked."

    Speed

    • It is not easy to ascertain the top speed of a dog, but Irish wolfhounds are believed to be comparable to other sighthounds, such as greyhounds or borzoi. The breed's long legs and lean, muscular build suggest its running potential. They may course at speeds of between 30 and 40 miles per hour.

    History

    • Irish wolfhounds were used to hunt gray wolves in Great Britain.

      Irish wolfhounds are among the oldest extant dog breeds: They have been recorded in literature and art for more than 2,000 years. Irish wolfhounds were bred to hunt such large, fleet prey as gray wolves and deer. These giant dogs played an important hand in the extermination of the wolf from Ireland, likely realized by the early 1700s. The Celts also employed the Irish wolfhound in warfare; the Romans, suitably impressed, incorporated them into their arena spectacles alongside lions, bears and other exotic fauna. The original breed nearly faded to oblivion with the disappearance of large quarry from Ireland, but a Scot, Captain George Augustus Graham, helped ensure its vitality in the late 1800s by cross-breeding remnant animals with borzoi, mastiffs, Scottish deerhounds and other strains.

    Canine Speed

    • Wild canids like painted dogs employ a coursing method to dispatch large prey.

      While the speed of sighthounds like the Irish wolfhound is a product of selective breeding, it stems from the natural coursing abilities of wild canids like wolves, dholes and African wild dogs (also called painted dogs). These large, pack-hunting carnivores evince the lean, rangy look of the wolfhound, in stark contrast to the muscular, stocky build of the big cats --- the other major guild of big, carnivorous, terrestrial mammals. A lion or jaguar aims to stalk close to a prey animal using camouflage and stealth then dash upon it with formidable acceleration. A wolf or wild dog, by contrast, tends to course its prey: It sparks a herd of hoofed mammals to flight then trails it with dogged endurance. An animal that falters because of illness, physical injury or some other unlucky reason is often the one to be targeted by the pursuing canids.