The Irish Staghound Breed is a mix between the Irish wolfhound and the Staghound. The parent breeds are purebred dogs. The Irish Staghound is a large-sized dog, It makes a great hunting dog and a good companion. They are known for being loyal, friendly, intelligent, patient, and generous. The breed is also very Calm, affectionate Tenacious, and courageous. The dog is also very intelligent and has low training requirements.
Irish Staghound Highlights at a glance
Average height: 24 to 34 inches
Average weight: 65 to 150 pounds
Average size: Large-Giant sized
Major health concerns: Heart problems, Osteosarcoma, Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia
Coat type: Smooth, Wiry, Rough
Coat colors: Black, silver, Gray, White, Brown and Yellow
Grooming needs: Minimal
Safe for children: Yes
Shedding: Minimal
Brushing requirements: Minimal (at least two times a week)
Good with other dogs: Yes
Sensitive to touch: Average
Barking: Average
Good pet: Yes, when trained and socialized at an early stage
Suitable for first time dog owner: Yes
Suitable for apartment: No
Training: Easy to train
Good with other pets: Below average
A tendency to gain weight: Normal
Average lifespan: 8 to 12 years
Hypoallergenic: No
Good tolerance to heat and cold: Average tolerance
Tolerance to isolation: No
A wanderer or roamer: Average
Irish Staghound Breed history
The Irish Staghound is as a result of a mix between the Staghound and the Irish wolfhound. To know more details about the Irish Staghound we look at the breeding history of the parent breeds.
Irish wolfhound
The Irish wolfhound has been there for many years. The dog was originally known as the Cu which is the Gaelic word for a wolf dog.
Pretty much like the Australian staghound, the Irish wolfhound enjoys worldwide recognition following 1897 where the breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club as a hound. The dog is also recognized by the FCI group. The dog was also used as a war dog. It was accepted by the England’s kennel club in in 1925.
Staghound
This dog was originally bred in the 1600s. This was done by the original settlers and they were used for hunting purposes. The dog was also used in coyote coursing as part of the entertainment. The dog is very strong, agile and has a lot of strength. The dog is known as accepted by the American Kennel Club or the FCI group.
The Appearance
The Irish Staghound is a large sized dog. The appearance of the dog depends on the parent breed that it has taken after the most. The weight and the size of the dog will vary. If the dog takes after the Irish wolfhound, it will likely be giant like in size and have a weight of 90 to 150 pounds and a height of 28 to 35 pounds. If they take after the Staghound parent, it is likely that they will have a large sized body with an a weight of 65 to 72 pounds and a height of 26 to 32 inches.
Generally, it weighs about 45 to 150 pounds and has a height of 24 to 34 inches tall. The dog has long legs and it is very strong. The ears can be folded, it can also have erect ears depending on the parent breed that they have inherited after.
Their body is usually muscular and they have a long muzzle. The dog can have a coat that is smooth, wiry or rough. The type of coat also depends on the genes that are more dominant.
The coat also comes in multiple colors like blue, brindle, black, brown, silver, white as well as yellow. The rough coat allows the dog to survive better in climates that are cold and the smooth coat is good for climates that are warm.
The Temperament
The Irish Staghound has a gentle and kind temperament. It is very affectionate as well as calm. It is also obedient, polite and loyal to the owners. The dog makes a great companion, however, it requires a lot of attention from the owners.
It will not tolerate very well to being left alone for long periods of time. The dog loves to be around the owners and it is very loyal as well as devoted to the owners. The dog needs to be exercised a lot in order to ensure that it becomes a great companion.
The dog can also take on the other traits from the parent breeds like alertness which makes it a great watchdog. Its alertness does not make it a good guard dog because it is not protective of the owners. The dog is also bold and tenacious.
The Irish Staghound is also very friendly and likes to please the owners. The dog is reserved around the strangers and therefore need to be socialized early so that they can be adjusted. The dog is very playful and energetic and will need to be exercised a lot so that it can release the energy.
The breed is also very thoughtful, generous and has a calm personality. It is very intelligent as well as obedient to the owners. They are also sensitive and will require a lot of social interaction. The dog barks occasionally but it is very alert. They do not have any aggressive traits in them and they have a low potential of biting someone.
However, because of their hunting traits they can nip, chew or try to herd people. They also love to wander and roam around. The dog can also inherit the prey drive instincts from the parent breeds whereby they have an impulse to chase as well as catch small animals like cats.
Because he is highly sensitive, the dog will need to be trained at a young age and positive reinforcements should be used when training him. There are a lot of factors that affect that can affect the temperament of your dog such as training, socialization and heredity factors. A dog with a nice temperament is the one that is very playful and not aggressive.
Exercise requirements
Just like any other dog, the Irish Staghound breed needs to be exercised every single day. The dog is very playful, active and it has high energy. Exercises are very important because they ensure that your dog stays fit and healthy.The dog has high energy and loves to run around. You need to ensure that you are firm and consistent when it comes to exercising your dog.
Daily exercises are very important in ensuring that your dog stays matured both physically as well as mentally. It also ensures that it does not become stressed or gain unhealthy weight.
In your exercise routine, you can include exercises like Jogging and hiking. The dog loves to run around and as high energy, therefore, it will give you a great jogging partner. Because it likes to run around, it will need to stay in a place that it can comfortably run around. This dog is a great friend for a person that loves to go around jogging or cycling. The dog should not be over exercised until it gets older.
Feeding Requirements
The Irish Staghound needs to have at least four to eight cups of high quality dry dog food. This food needs to be divided into two meals every single day. There are many factors that will determine the amount of food that you need to give you dog. The food will depend on the health condition, how active your dog is, the age as well as on the size. Dogs that are highly active will require more food than those that are less active.
You should ensure that the food is of igh quality because this will help to ensure that your dog is well nourished and healthy. Do not give the dog food at any time of the day rather give him at specific times of the day. This ensures that he does not become overweight. Clean water supply is also essential in ensuring your dogs health.
Living Conditions
The Irish Staghound adapts well in spacious environments. The dog is very large in size and needs to stay in a space where it is comfortable. It is also very active and energetic, it suits well in homes with a backyard where it can roam around freely. The Irish Staghound is a good choice in a home that is very active.
The dog adapts well in cold weather conditions as well as hot weather conditions. A house that has a fenced yard is very good for the dog to ensure that it does not go around chasing other animals due to its prey drive instincts. Ensure that he is in a house that does not have a fence because this can cause his joints to be damaged.
Behavior with Children and Other pets
The dog is very gentle when it comes to children. They can easily play with children and run around with them. However, they are large in size and they should not be left alone with toddlers because they can knock off young kids accidentally or injure them unintentionally. They are great dogs for homes that have that have children. The children also need to be taught on how they can treat the dogs. The children should not bite the dogs ears or pull the dogs tails.
The dog also needs to be socialized and trained while it is still young so that it knows how to interact with children. The Irish Staghound makes a great companion. The dog accepts other dogs properly as long as it has been socialized properly. It has problems when it comes to accepting other pets like cats, rabbits and other small animals. This is because the dog can have a prey drive instinct and many end up chasing animals like cats.
Grooming Requirements
The grooming requirements of the Irish Staghound breed are very minimal. The dog has coats that do not shed a lot and require low maintenance. If the dog inherits the coat that is rough or wiry, they will not need to be brush a lot. The coat will need to be brushed on weekly basis in orde to ensure that it stays healthy and free of tangles. The dog also sheds seasonally.
Brush the dog’s teeth. The dogs teeth need to be brushed for at least two to three times in a week. This helps to remove build up of bacteria and tartar that can be inside the teeth. This also helps in preventing gum diseases and reducing bad breath.
Trim the nails. The dog’s nails need to be trimmed at least once or twice in a month when they get long. Long nails can be very painful for the dog and can cause other problems. You should be cautious when cutting the dogs nails because they have blood vessels in them and cutting too far can cause bleeding.
Check your dogs ears. The dogs ears need to be checked for infections on weekly basis. They also need to be cleaned to prevent infections. Cleaning can be used using a damp cotton ball. You can also make the grooming to be positive for your dog by including rewards and treats. Check for any signs of infection on the skin, in the mouth, ears and eyes, this can include checking for redness, inflammation or tenderness.
Training Requirements
Just like any dog, it is essential to train the Irish Staghound at a young age. This ensures that the dog can have time to practice all the things that he has been trained.
The Irish Staghound is intelligent and obedient, therefore, it does not require a lot of training. The dog will be easy to train and will easily adapt to your training sessions.
Training should be done in a good manner and harsh methods should not be used. Training is also very important because it helps to ward off unruly behaviors like barking, aggressiveness, chewing and destructiveness that your dog may develop if left untrained.
The training given to your dog can also be determined by factors like age and health condition. When the dog is still young, you should ensure that the training sessions are kept short and simple. This can increase as your dg gets older.
The dog also needs to be trained mentally. This can be by using toys and playing games that can help to stimulate his mind. You can also enroll the dog in puppy training classes, this allows him to socialize and interact with the other dogs.
Take him to the park for walks so that he can see new people and see a different environment. When training the dog, you should use positive reinforcement techniques whereby you will reward the dog and give him treats to motivate him. You should be consistent and firm in the training.
The Health Concerns
The Irish Staghound is a very healthy dog, however, it will still experience some health problems and you need to be aware of the potential health conditions that you need to take note of. You should also ensure that your dog comes from a reputable breeder who can provide you with all the necessary informations on the health of the parent breeds. The Irish Staghound can have health problems like Hip dysplasia, Elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism, Bloat and von willebrand’s disease.
Hip Dysplasia
The dog inherits this condition from the parent breeds. This happens when the bone on the hip joint is displaced. Dos with this condition can experience pain and can sometimes become lame. You can also see other signs like discomfort when your dog has this disease. The dog can also develop arthritis as it gets older. This condition can also be made worse due to certain environmental factors like the diet or injuries.
Elbow Dysplasia
This condition is also very common in the dog, it mostly happens in dogs that are large in size. This condition can also cause pain, your dog may fail to walk and it can cause lameness in other conditions.
Heart Disease
This breed can also experience heart problems. They can experience heart failure which happens due to dilated cardiomyopathy. Signs of this condition include loss of weight, loss of appetite as well as depression.
Osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma is a condition that affects large as well as giant dogs. This condition affects the bones. The dogs that have this condition experience lameness as the first sign. Osteosarcoma can also be caused by cancer therefore, it is important to take your dog for X-rays so that you are able to know what the cause of the lameness is.
Conclusion
The Irish Staghound is a mix between the Staghound and the Irish wolfhound. This a large to giant sized dog. The dog can inherit traits from either of the parents and because of this it is difficult to determine the temperament as well as the physical traits of the dog. The dog does not require a lot of training and the grooming requirements are low. They are known for being affectionate, calm, loyal, sweet, patient, generous and courageous. The dog also loves to play and does not do well with staying alone for long periods of time. They need to be socialized at a young age to ensure that they do not develop unruly behaviors.
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