I will not attempt to force you to read the nitty gritty details of the background and conformation standards of Irish Wolfhounds.  All of that can be found on the websites of either the Irish Wolfhound Club of America (IWCA) or the American Kennel Club (AKC).  Suffice it to say, they are FABULOUS and we love them to pieces.  Here's the honest truth about Irish Wolfhounds.

Every day an Irish Wolfhound will get a bee in their bonnet and all hell will break loose as they run circles through your house, skidding into walls and leaping over furniture.  With luck, you'll be able to redirect their sillies outside.  After they get their sillies out, they're couch potatoes for much of the rest of the day.

Irish Wolfhounds believe they are lap dogs.

Irish Wolfhounds beg and when they beg, they are looking you right in the eye (or mouth as the case may be).  Their eyes are so deep and soulful that they are nearly impossible to resist.

Most Irish Wolfhounds are not easily trained.  They want to please you but it takes much repetition over weeks and weeks and sometimes months to get them to understand exactly what it is that you want them to do.

Irish Wolfhounds take counter-surfing to new heights.  They can quite easily surf the top of your refrigerator.

It takes quite a bit of labor intensive grooming to maintain an Irish Wolfhound's scruffy appearance.  Irish Wolfhounds must be hand-stripped.  It can take several days to fully groom them properly.

Irish Wolfhounds detest having their facial furnishings brushed or combed.

Irish Wolfhounds shed.  Thankfully, they do not shed as much as other double-coated breeds.

Irish Wolfhounds are extremely sensitive and they will remember bad experiences forever.

Irish Wolfhounds are velcro dogs who always want to be where you are.  They are always under-foot in the kitchen.  They will also habitually stop sideways and block your passage in hallways.

Irish Wolfhounds are creatures of routine.  If you change their routine, they become confused.

Irish Wolfhounds have perpetual staining around their always drippy beards.  Many rub and break off their facial furnishings.

Irish Wolfhound puppies grow very rapidly which dramatically shortens the time you have to train them to walk nicely on a leash.  The power behind an adult Irish Wolfhound pulling on a leash can cause serious injury to the person doing the walking.

An Irish Wolfhound can take over 3 years to mature fully, both physically and emotionally.  Puppy damage can get extensive by the mere size and strength of the innocent puppy doing the damage.

Irish Wolfhounds are relatively quiet and make miserable guard dogs.

CONSIDER SERIOUSLY IF THIS IS THE RIGHT BREED FOR YOU AND YOUR LIFESTYLE!