How to Groom an Irish Wolfhound

The Irish wolfhound is an enormous dog, reaching up to 35 inches in height. Although they have an imposing, one might say frightening, physical presence, they are kind, gentle, unflaggingly loyal to their owners and good with children. Irish wolfhounds need weekly general grooming and a full grooming every 8 to 10 weeks. Read on to learn more.

Things You'll Need

• Slicker brush
• Metal combs
• Natural bristle brush
• Hand stripping knife
• Thinning shears
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Bathe your Irish wolfhound using a shampoo that is rich in protein.

2. Shape beard and whiskers to be square and full.

3. Remove stray hairs on the head and ears either by using scissors or by hand stripping. Scissoring is more common and requires less expertise.

4. Brush and comb the dog regularly.

5. Pluck the coat once or twice per year, as needed, to get rid of extra dead hair that has not shed naturally.

Tips & Warnings

• Whisker removal is optional.

• Irish wolfhounds shed an average amount of hair.

• Irish wolfhounds have a life expectancy of around 6 to 8 years.

• Irish wolfhounds are descendants of the Cu, which was a large dog with a shaggy coat that was used for hunting elk, wolves and wild boar in Scotland and Ireland. After the last wolf was killed in Scotland in the early 1700s, the breed soon disappeared from the area for many years.

• Irish wolfhounds are often afflicted with cardiomyopathy, bone cancer, bloat, PRA, Von Willebrands and hip dysplasia.

• Don't over-exercise these dogs when they are puppies. They get as much activity as they need on their own.

• Don't get water in the dog's ears while bathing. Use cotton balls to prevent this from happening.