Are Irish Wolfhounds Good Dogs? What Science Says

Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022

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Introduction to the Temperament of the Irish Wolfhound

The are many descriptions of the temperament of the Irish Wolfhound out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.

In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the Irish Wolfhound based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the Irish Wolfhound breed.

We obtained our description of the temperament of Irish Wolfhound by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.

The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.

Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the Irish Wolfhound.

The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.

The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.

The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:

  1. Aggression towards stranger
  2. Aggression towards its owner
  3. Aggression towards other dogs
  4. How well they get along with other dogs
  5. Fear of strangers
  6. Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
  7. Fear of other dogs
  8. Separation anxiety
  9. Clinginess
  10. Trainability/ Stubbornness
  11. Prey drive
  12. Excitability
  13. Touch sensitivity
  14. Energy level

In this article, we will discuss the score of the Irish Wolfhound for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the Irish Wolfhound.

The summary table below shows the score of the Irish Wolfhound for the different behavioral characteristics.

High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.

Behavior Score
Owner Directed Aggression 7.2 percent
Stranger Directed Aggression 6.6 percent
Prey Drive 53.5 percent
Stubbornness 44.7 percent
Energy Level 30.0 percent
Stranger Directed Fear 3.5 percent
Excitability 26.0 percent
Dog Rivalry 22.1 percent
Attachment Attention Seeking 21.1 percent
Nonsocial Fear 18.7 percent
Dog Directed Fear 17.6 percent
Separation Related Behavior 16.6 percent
Touch Sensitivity 16.6 percent
Dog Directed Aggression 10.3 percent

Note that with proper training, you can better your Irish Wolfhound`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your Irish Wolfhound, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.

I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.

Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Irish Wolfhound.

See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.

Are Irish Wolfhounds Aggressive Towards Strangers?

Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.

Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.

Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.

Irish Wolfhounds are not aggressive towards strangers.

This is because the Irish Wolfhound ranks very low for aggression towards strangers.

The Irish Wolfhound ranks number 122 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.

This information is based on what 26 Irish Wolfhound owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Wolfhound in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Wolfhound has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 6.6 %.

Other dog breeds that are not aggressive towards strangers just like the Irish Wolfhound are listed in the table below

Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank Breed Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score
119 Keeshond 10.7 %
120 Black and Tan Coonhound 9.6 %
121 Samoyed 6.9 %
122 Irish Wolfhound 6.6 %
123 Greyhound 2.5 %
124 Siberian Husky 0.0 %

The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:

  1. American Eskimo Dog
  2. Dachshund
  3. Miniature Pinscher
  4. Dachshund (Miniature)
  5. Miniature Schnauzer

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:

  1. Siberian Husky
  2. Greyhound
  3. Irish Wolfhound
  4. Samoyed
  5. Black and Tan Coonhound

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most stranger-aggressive breed to the least stranger-aggressive breed.

Temperament of the Irish Wolfhound

Are Irish Wolfhounds Aggressive Towards their Owners?

Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.

Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.

A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.

Irish Wolfhounds are not aggressive towards their owners.

This is because the Irish Wolfhound ranks very low for aggression towards its owner.

The Irish Wolfhound ranks number 103 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.

This information is based on what 26 Irish Wolfhound owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Wolfhound in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Wolfhound has an owner-directed-aggression score of 7.2 %.

Other dog breeds that are not owner-aggressive just like the Irish Wolfhound are listed in the table below

Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank Breed Owner-Directed-Aggression Score
100 German Shorthaired Pointer 7.7 %
101 Boston Terrier 7.6 %
102 Bernese Mountain Dog 7.3 %
103 Irish Wolfhound 7.2 %
104 Australian Shepherd 7.0 %
105 Brittany 6.9 %
106 Doberman Pinscher 6.7 %

The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:

  1. Pekingese
  2. Basenji
  3. Australian Silky Terrier
  4. Lhasa Apso
  5. Alaskan Husky

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:

  1. Chinook
  2. Pointer
  3. Irish Water Spaniel
  4. Rhodesian Ridgeback
  5. Italian Greyhound

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most aggressive to their owners to the ones that are least aggressive to their owners.

Are Irish Wolfhounds Aggressive Towards other Dogs?

Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.

A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs

A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.

Irish Wolfhounds are not aggressive towards other dogs.

This is because the Irish Wolfhound ranks very low for aggression towards other dogs.

The Irish Wolfhound ranks number 121 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.

This information is based on what 26 Irish Wolfhound owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Wolfhound in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Wolfhound has a dog-directed aggression score of 10.3 %.

Other dog breeds that are not dog-aggressive just like the Irish Wolfhound are listed in the table below

Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank Breed Dog-Directed-Aggression Score
118 Bearded Collie 15.2 %
119 Eurasier 13.2 %
120 Keeshond 13.2 %
121 Irish Wolfhound 10.3 %
122 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 9.3 %
123 Black and Tan Coonhound 6.3 %
124 Pointer 0.0 %

The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:

  1. American Eskimo Dog
  2. Parson Russell Terrier
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Pit Bull mix
  5. Dachshund

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:

  1. Pointer
  2. Black and Tan Coonhound
  3. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
  4. Irish Wolfhound
  5. Keeshond

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most aggressive to other dogs to the ones that are least aggressive to other dogs.

Personality of the Irish Wolfhound

Are Irish Wolfhounds Afraid of Strangers?

Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.

Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.

Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.

Irish Wolfhounds are not fearful of strangers.

This is because the Irish Wolfhound ranks very low for fear of strangers.

The Irish Wolfhound ranks number 123 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.

This information is based on what 26 Irish Wolfhound owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Wolfhound in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Wolfhound has a stranger-directed-fear score of 3.5 %.

Other dog breeds that are not stranger-fearful just like the Irish Wolfhound are listed in the table below

Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank Breed Stranger-Directed-Fear Score
120 Giant Schnauzer 5.7 %
121 Siberian Husky 4.9 %
122 Norwegian Elkhound 4.0 %
123 Irish Wolfhound 3.5 %
124 Old English Sheepdog 0.0 %

The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:

  1. Dachshund (Miniature)
  2. Chinese Crested
  3. American Eskimo Dog
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Chihuahua

The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:

  1. Old English Sheepdog
  2. Irish Wolfhound
  3. Norwegian Elkhound
  4. Siberian Husky
  5. Giant Schnauzer

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of strangers to the ones that are least fearful to strangers.

Are Irish Wolfhounds Afraid of Other Dogs?

Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.

A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.

Irish Wolfhounds are not fearful of other dogs.

This is because the Irish Wolfhound ranks very low for fear of other dogs.

The Irish Wolfhound ranks number 105 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.

This information is based on what 26 Irish Wolfhound owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Wolfhound in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Wolfhound has a dog-directed-fear score of 17.6 %.

Other dog breeds that are not other-dog-fearful just like the Irish Wolfhound are listed in the table below

Dog-Directed-Fear Rank Breed Dog-Directed-Fear Score
102 Redbone Coonhound 20.9 %
103 Irish Water Spaniel 20.1 %
104 Scottish Terrier 19.7 %
105 Irish Wolfhound 17.6 %
106 German Wirehaired Pointer 17.5 %
107 Great Pyrenees 16.8 %
108 Gordon Setter 16.6 %

The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:

  1. Dachshund (Miniature)
  2. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Chihuahua
  5. Lhasa Apso

The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:

  1. Giant Schnauzer
  2. Ibizan Hound
  3. Eurasier
  4. Kuvasz
  5. Borzoi

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of other dogs to the ones that are least fearful of other dogs.

Is the Irish Wolfhound a good pet

Do Irish Wolfhounds Have Non-Social Fears?

Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.

Irish Wolfhounds are a little bit fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.

This is because the Irish Wolfhound ranks low for non-social fear.

The Irish Wolfhound ranks number 94 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.

This information is based on what 26 Irish Wolfhound owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Wolfhound in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Wolfhound has a nonsocial-fear score of 18.7 %.

Other dog breeds that are a little bit nonsocial-fearful just like the Irish Wolfhound are listed in the table below

Nonsocial-Fear Rank Breed Nonsocial-Fear Score
91 Belgian Malinois 19.7 %
92 Labrador Retriever 19.7 %
93 Vizsla 19.4 %
94 Irish Wolfhound 18.7 %
95 Weimaraner 18.4 %
96 Chesapeake Bay Retriever 18.3 %
97 Pointer 17.9 %

The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:

  1. Australian Silky Terrier
  2. Dingo
  3. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  4. English Bulldog
  5. Italian Greyhound

The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:

  1. Giant Schnauzer
  2. Siberian Husky
  3. Irish Setter
  4. Kuvasz
  5. Borzoi

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations to the ones least fearful of unfamiliar situations.

Do Irish Wolfhounds Get Along Well With Other Dogs?

Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.

These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.

Irish Wolfhounds are not competitive when dealing with other dogs.

This is because the Irish Wolfhound ranks very low on dog rivalry.

The Irish Wolfhound ranks number 107 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.

This information is based on what 26 Irish Wolfhound owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Wolfhound in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Wolfhound has a dog-rivalry score of 22.1 %.

Other dog breeds that are not competition-driven just like the Irish Wolfhound are listed in the table below

Dog-Rivalry Rank Breed Dog-Rivalry Score
104 Bouvier des Flandres 22.6 %
105 Weimaraner 22.4 %
106 Havanese 22.1 %
107 Irish Wolfhound 22.1 %
108 Lagotto Romagnolo 21.7 %
109 Eurasier 21.6 %
110 Redbone Coonhound 21.5 %

The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:

  1. Miniature Pinscher
  2. Parson Russell Terrier
  3. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  4. French Bulldog
  5. Treeing Walker Coonhound

The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:

  1. Chinook
  2. Saint Bernard
  3. Norwegian Elkhound
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Scottish Terrier

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.

The Irish Wolfhound. Is it aggressive?

Are Irish Wolfhounds Easy to Train?

Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.

Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.

Irish Wolfhounds are a little bit easy to train.

This is because the Irish Wolfhound ranks low for trainability.

The Irish Wolfhound ranks number 91 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.

This information is based on what 26 Irish Wolfhound owners reported on the trainability of their Irish Wolfhound in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Wolfhound has a trainability score of 55.3 %.

Other dog breeds that are a little bit easy to train just like the Irish Wolfhound are listed in the table below

Trainability Rank Breed Trainability Score
88 Fox Terrier (Toy) 55.9 %
89 Alaskan Husky 55.8 %
90 Maltese 55.6 %
91 Irish Wolfhound 55.3 %
92 Tibetan Terrier 55.2 %
93 Shih Tzu 54.6 %
94 Siberian Husky 54.3 %

The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:

  1. Belgian Tervuren
  2. Belgian Malinois
  3. Border Collie
  4. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
  5. Irish Water Spaniel

The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:

  1. Dingo
  2. Treeing Walker Coonhound
  3. Basenji
  4. Afghan Hound
  5. Pekingese

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are easiest to train to the ones that are most difficult to train.

Learn more about how intelligent the Irish Wolfhound is and how the intelligence of the Irish Wolfhound affects its trainability in this article on how smart the Irish Wolfhound is.

Do Irish Wolfhounds Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?

Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.

Irish Wolfhounds are somewhat into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.

This is because the Irish Wolfhound ranks average for small-pet-chasing.

The Irish Wolfhound ranks number 54 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.

This information is based on what 26 Irish Wolfhound owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Wolfhound in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Wolfhound has a chasing score of 53.5 %.

Other dog breeds that are somewhat into chasing after smaller pets just like the Irish Wolfhound are listed in the table below

Chasing Rank Breed Chasing Score
51 American Pit Bull Terrier 54.7 %
52 Pit Bull 54.4 %
53 Cocker Spaniel (English) 54.3 %
54 Irish Wolfhound 53.5 %
55 Dalmatian 53.1 %
56 American Staffordshire Terrier 51.3 %
57 Greyhound 50.9 %

The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:

  1. Basenji
  2. Dingo
  3. Ibizan Hound
  4. Parson Russell Terrier
  5. Borzoi

The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:

  1. Pug
  2. Bulldog
  3. Shih Tzu
  4. Bernese Mountain Dog
  5. Great Pyrenees

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.

Things to know before getting the Irish Wolfhound

Do Irish Wolfhounds Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?

Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.

These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.

Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.

Irish Wolfhounds are not attachment/attention-seeking.

This is because the Irish Wolfhound ranks very low for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.

The Irish Wolfhound ranks number 113 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.

This information is based on what 26 Irish Wolfhound owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Wolfhound in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Wolfhound has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 21.1 %.

Other dog breeds that are not attachment/attention-seeking just like the Irish Wolfhound are listed in the table below

Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank Breed Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score
110 Samoyed 24.7 %
111 Bull Terrier 23.3 %
112 Great Pyrenees 21.6 %
113 Irish Wolfhound 21.1 %
114 Cairn Terrier 21.0 %
115 Greyhound 19.8 %
116 Afghan Hound 18.4 %

The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:

  1. Poodle (Toy)
  2. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  3. Australian Silky Terrier
  4. Australian Cattle Dog
  5. American Eskimo Dog

The dog breeds that are aloof are the:

  1. Norwegian Elkhound
  2. Borzoi
  3. Kuvasz
  4. English Setter
  5. Chow Chow

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.

Do Irish Wolfhounds have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?

Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.

These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.

They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.

Irish Wolfhounds are not prone to developing separation anxiety.

This is because the Irish Wolfhound ranks very low for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.

The Irish Wolfhound ranks number 110 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.

This information is based on what 26 Irish Wolfhound owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Wolfhound in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Wolfhound has a separation anxiety score of 16.6 %.

Other dog breeds that are not prone to develop separation anxiety just like the Irish Wolfhound are listed in the table below

Separation-Related-Behavior Rank Breed Separation-Related-Behavior Score
107 Cairn Terrier 17.9 %
108 Rottweiler 17.3 %
109 English Setter 16.6 %
110 Irish Wolfhound 16.6 %
111 Collie 16.5 %
112 Golden Retriever 16.0 %
113 Schipperke 15.8 %

The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:

  1. Treeing Walker Coonhound
  2. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Miniature Pinscher
  5. Australian Silky Terrier

The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Borzoi
  3. Giant Schnauzer
  4. Eurasier
  5. Bernese Mountain Dog

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.

Temperament Profile of the Irish Wolfhound

Are Irish Wolfhounds Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?

Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.

These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.

Irish Wolfhounds are not touch-sensitive.

This is because the Irish Wolfhound ranks very low for touch sensitivity.

The Irish Wolfhound ranks number 108 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.

This information is based on what 26 Irish Wolfhound owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Wolfhound in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Wolfhound has a touch-sensitivity score of 16.6 %.

Other dog breeds that are not touch-sensitive just like the Irish Wolfhound are listed in the table below

Touch-Sensitivity Rank Breed Touch-Sensitivity Score
105 Collie 17.4 %
106 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 17.0 %
107 Rottweiler 16.8 %
108 Irish Wolfhound 16.6 %
109 Akita 16.4 %
110 Airedale Terrier 16.2 %
111 Chinook 15.8 %

The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:

  1. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  2. Miniature Pinscher
  3. Pekingese
  4. Australian Silky Terrier
  5. Chihuahua

The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Borzoi
  3. Pointer
  4. Gordon Setter
  5. Portuguese Water Dog

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.

Are Irish Wolfhounds Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?

Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:

  • going for walks
  • car trips
  • sound of the doorbell
  • arrival of visitors, and
  • the owner arriving home

Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.

Irish Wolfhounds are not hyper (excitable).

This is because the Irish Wolfhound ranks very low for excitability.

The Irish Wolfhound ranks number 108 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.

This information is based on what 26 Irish Wolfhound owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Wolfhound in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Wolfhound has an excitability score of 26.0 %.

Other dog breeds that are not excitable just like the Irish Wolfhound are listed in the table below

Excitability Rank Breed Excitability Score
105 Akita 27.8 %
106 Lhasa Apso 27.4 %
107 Siberian Husky 26.3 %
108 Irish Wolfhound 26.0 %
109 Norwegian Elkhound 25.3 %
110 Lagotto Romagnolo 24.5 %
111 Bullmastiff 24.2 %

The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:

  1. Australian Silky Terrier
  2. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  3. American Eskimo Dog
  4. Parson Russell Terrier
  5. Miniature Schnauzer

The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:

  1. Borzoi
  2. Samoyed
  3. Great Pyrenees
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Anatolian Shepherd

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.

The Irish Wolfhound

Are Irish Wolfhounds Playful? What is the Energy Level of Irish Wolfhounds

Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.

Irish Wolfhounds are not energetic.

This is because the Irish Wolfhound ranks very low for energy level.

The Irish Wolfhound ranks number 109 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.

This information is based on what 26 Irish Wolfhound owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Wolfhound in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Wolfhound has an energy-level score of 30.0 %.

Other dog breeds that are not energetic just like the Irish Wolfhound are listed in the table below

Energy-Level Rank Breed Energy-Level Score
106 Standard Schnauzer 31.9 %
107 Dachshund (Miniature) 30.5 %
108 Tibetan Terrier 30.0 %
109 Irish Wolfhound 30.0 %
110 Basset Hound 29.2 %
111 Mastiff (English) 29.0 %
112 Chinook 28.0 %

The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:

  1. Belgian Malinois
  2. Belgian Tervuren
  3. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  4. German Shorthaired Pointer
  5. Ibizan Hound

The dog breeds that are laziest are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Anatolian Shepherd
  3. Greyhound
  4. Great Pyrenees
  5. Pekingese

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.

Conclusion on Irish Wolfhound Temperament

The temperament of your Irish Wolfhound comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your Irish Wolfhound is exposed to.

You cannot change your Irish Wolfhound`s gene but you can change the things you expose your Irish Wolfhound to.

Exposing your Irish Wolfhound to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your Irish Wolfhound to what you desire.

Again, with proper training, you can better your Irish Wolfhound`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.

I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.

Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Irish Wolfhound.

If you think the Irish Wolfhound is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much Irish Wolfhounds cost and Irish Wolfhound puppy buying guide.

Also, see our list of reputable Irish Wolfhound breeders in the United States and the prices of their Irish Wolfhound puppies.