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If you’ve been hunting for a large breed of dog but haven’t found the right one yet, we’ve got just the pup for you—say hello to the adorable and fun Irish Wolfadoodle! This hybrid breed is a bit of a rarer one, so you may be unfamiliar with them. These large pups are incredibly friendly, though, and make fantastic pets for most people (provided you have a large enough home and yard for them).
If a gentle giant of a dog who is incredibly clever and a touch stubborn sounds right up your alley, keep reading. We have everything you should know about this dog breed, including what their personality is like and more!
Breed Overview
Colors:
White, silver, gray, blue, red, black, cream, brindle
Suitable for:
People with kids, singles, people who have homes with plenty of space
Temperament:
Gentle, clever, stubborn
As you probably guessed from this breed’s name, these dogs are indeed Doodles. To be precise, they’re a mix of the Irish Wolfhound and the Poodle, which makes for a fascinating combination. These pups are some of the friendliest around and incredibly smart, as well, so they make fantastic playmates and pets!
Irish Wolfadoodle Characteristics
Irish Wolfadoodle Puppies
Surprisingly, the Irish Wolfadoodle is still a relatively rare hybrid dog, considering its parent breeds are the ever-popular Poodle and the Irish Wolfhound, one of the older dog breeds around. So, you may have a bit of a difficult time locating a breeder who breeds these. When you find a breeder, ensure they are reputable and follow responsible breeding practices.
When you get your Irish Wolfadoodle, you’re in for a world of fun. The breed’s personality depends partially on which parent breed it takes after more, but overall, these pups will be loving and active. They tend to grow quickly, so don’t get used to their initial small size!
Irish Wolfadoodle Origin & History
No one is quite sure where the Irish Wolfadoodle originated or when, but we do know about their parent breeds.
The Irish Wolfhound may date as far back as ancient Rome, as there is mention of large dogs being gifted from the ancient Irish in 391. These canines spent time in royal courts throughout history and were known for being hunters, protectors, and warriors. The Irish Wolfhound known today came about via the selective breeding of the Pyrenean Wolfhound, Great Dane, Tibetan Borze, and Scottish Deerhound.
The Poodle is another older canine breed, dating back to at least the 17th century. Though typically associated with France, the breed is thought to have originated in Germany. This dog breed has worked a variety of jobs, from aiding in hunts to being circus performers, though these days, they’re best known as lovable companions.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Irish Wolfadoodle 🧠
The Irish Wolfadoodle’s temperament can vary somewhat, depending on which parent breed it takes after the most. Overall, though, this breed is known to be loving, affectionate, friendly, gentle, and loyal. They make absolutely fantastic companions for almost anyone (provided the person has enough room to home one of these large pups!). These canines are also incredibly smart, which makes them quick to learn new things and easier to train. However, that same intelligence means these dogs need plenty of mental stimulation lest they become bored. Also, watch out for this breed’s stubborn streak; you never know when that will show up!
Though loyal, protective, and large, this breed isn’t an excellent guard dog. They tend to be either super friendly or incredibly shy around strangers, so they won’t be very good at scaring anyone off. Their size can be intimidating to some people, though, so that alone may make people think twice about messing with them.
You never know precisely what you’ll get with the Irish Wolfadoodle, though, so be prepared for some surprises!
Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪
These dogs are excellent for families, as they’re gentle and non-aggressive. However, due to their size, they should never be left unsupervised with children. If the dog and children are playing and things get a bit wild, the dog could accidentally knock over a child. So, either always keep a close eye on the Irish Wolfadoodle when they’re around kids or put off getting one of these dogs until the children are older and bigger.
Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽
The Irish Wolfadoodle can get along well with other dogs as long as the breed is properly trained and socialized. However, because of the breed’s family background acting as hunters, these dogs do have a prey drive, so they may not do well with animals smaller than them, whether that’s small dogs, cats, or rodents. Again, training and socialization will help immensely in keeping them from chasing smaller animals, but there’s still a risk. There’s also the risk an Irish Wolfadoodle could inadvertently harm a smaller animal during play due to how large the breed is.
Things to Know When Owning an Irish Wolfadoodle:
There’s much more you should know before adopting one of these canines, such as what possible health conditions they could face, how much exercise they require daily, and how much grooming they need. Here’s a look at all that and more!
Food & Diet Requirements 🦴
Like all dogs, the Irish Wolfadoodle will require high-quality dog food containing a lot of protein. Look for a dog food that has real meat as the first ingredient, as well as one that is specially formulated for large breed dogs. Dogs of this size can be prone to hip dysplasia, and what they eat can affect whether they develop this condition. Large breed-specific foods are designed to help prevent this ailment. Plus, dog food formulated for larger dogs will have all the nutrients an Irish Wolfadoodle needs, unlike regular dog food or food made for smaller breeds.
Be aware that these canines eat quite a lot due to their size! Talk with your vet about how much your Irish Wolfadoodle should eat each day. This amount will likely change as they transition from puppyhood to adulthood, too, so be sure to check in again with your vet about the amount of food you’re serving them when this transition occurs.
Exercise 🐕
Though they can certainly be active at times (especially when they’re puppies!), the Irish Wolfadoodle isn’t overly active, like some breeds that enjoy running for miles at a time. As such, these pups will only need about a half hour of exercise a day. This should be done outside due to their large size; a quick game in the house won’t be enough to meet this breed’s exercise needs.
Just ensure you aren’t overexerting your Irish Wolfadoodle. Too much exercise for larger breeds can lead to joint issues, especially if it occurs when the dog is young. So, keep any exercise quick, like a short walk or a run through the backyard.
Training 🦮
Training an Irish Wolfadoodle isn’t something you can skip out on. This breed may be exceptionally friendly, but an overly exuberant or out-of-control pup could cause damage due to their size. Luckily, this breed is intelligent, so training them should be easier. However, they’re also known for having a stubborn streak, which may appear during training sessions and complicate things.
Being consistent, firm, and positive will go a long way during training. Always use positive reinforcement and ensure everyone in your household follows the same rules for interacting with the dog during training.
Don’t skip out on the socialization, either! The earlier you begin introducing your Irish Wolfadoodle to new people and animals, the better they’ll do with interactions as adults.
Grooming ✂️
The sort of grooming an Irish Wolfadoodle requires can vary depending on which coat they inherit from their parent breeds. Most of these dogs, though, need to be brushed twice or thrice weekly. If you have a dog prone to getting tangles and mats in their hair, brush them more often. Keeping their hair trimmed can help with tangles and mats.
Bathing, preferably with an oatmeal shampoo, should be done once every 6 to 8 weeks unless your Irish Wolfadoodle has done something to become exceptionally dirty.
It’s vital to ensure that your pup’s ears are kept clean and dry to avoid ear infections. Keeping the hair trimmed in the ear may help the ears to stay clean. Besides keeping the ears clean and dry, you want to ensure you trim your dog’s nails once a month and brush their teeth often.
Health and Conditions 🏥
Because this is a newer hybrid breed, we’re still learning what health issues these dogs could be likely to develop. Though the breed so far seems fairly healthy, there are a few issues they could potentially inherit from their parent breeds.
Male vs Female
There are no major differences between males and females of this breed other than the difference in how much it costs to get them fixed. Occasionally, males may be slightly larger than females, but this isn’t always the case. Any personality differences in this breed depend on whether they take after the Irish Wolfhound or Poodle more rather than whether a dog is male or female.
3 Little-Known Facts About the Irish Wolfadoodle
Want to know even more about these adorable pups? Here are a few more things you might not have known.
1. This breed is not recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC).
As a hybrid breed, these dogs aren’t recognized by the AKC. However, they are a member of the International Designer Canine Registry (IDCR) and the Designer Breed Registry (DBR).
2. The Irish Wolfadoodle isn’t hypoallergenic.
Some mistakenly believe this breed is hypoallergenic, but the fact is there are no 100% hypoallergenic dogs. However, they may be low shedding.
3. These dogs aren’t big barkers.
While they may be a bit more vocal if they take more after the Poodle, overall, the Irish Wolfdoodle isn’t big on barking. So, you shouldn’t have many issues with these pups barking at every little thing they hear or see.
Final Thoughts
If you have a large enough home and heart, the Irish Wolfadoodle could be the perfect breed for you. This adorable mix of Irish Wolfhound and Poodle is friendly, playful, intelligent, and just a touch stubborn. They make fantastic companions for almost anybody, including families, so if you’re thinking about getting a new dog, maybe consider this one!
Featured Image Credit: (L) Francine parent, Shutterstock | (R) Linas T, Shutterstock
