With many dog breeds, you get a choice of colours and the Irish wolfhound is no different. When it comes to this breed, there are a variety of colour combinations to choose from, meaning you’ve got options if you happen to come across different breeders with colours of all kinds available.
In this guide, we’ll look at some of the common colours for the Irish wolfhound.
The Irish Wolfhound is a majestic breed known for its towering height and gentle nature. The most common coat colours include brindle, grey, and fawn, with brindle being particularly popular.
In addition to these, Irish Wolfhounds can also come in shades like black, white, and red, often displaying unique patterns. Breeders typically adhere to breed standards that emphasise these traditional colours, making less common variations rarer. Regardless of colour, Irish Wolfhounds are cherished for their loyal and calm temperament, making them excellent companions and family pets.
Irish Wolfhounds come in a variety of colours. If you’re looking for a specific coloured dog, here are your colour choices:
Grey is considered one of the most common colours that you can get in this dog breed. However, you may find black markings around the ears and muzzle.
This is a distinguished solid colour but may be peppered with white marks on both their chest and paws. The top coat may grey slightly as they age but their undercoat remains black.
The red wolfhounds can be any shade of red, whether it’s fawn, cream or auburn.
Pure white colours are rare and therefore are highly sought-after if they are bred.
Brindle is a colour that’s as clear as a puppy, but the top coat can end up gradually getting darker. The undercoat remains striped. Their main background colours can also vary from light grey to wheat.
Blue wolfhounds are typically grey but with a bluish tint.
Sable is a colour that starts with the root being light and the ends being darker in colour.
Black and tan are considered an old colour combination in the 1930s but have since been lost over time.
The Irish wolfhound has plenty of colour options, although not all are recognised by the kennel club.
There are several Irish wolfhound colours that are recognised by the Australian National Kennel Council, as well as the American Kennel Club. These are grey, brindle, black, red, fawn, pure white, wheaten and steel grey. So whether you opt for one recognised by this council or not, the Irish wolfhounds won’t be any different in their loving personality and great temperament as large breed dogs.
The type of colour you choose for this giant breed largely depends on what’s available. You may have an idea of which colour you want through sites like the Irish Wolfhound Club. However, that colour might not be common with the breeders you’re looking at.
Not everyone is fussed by the colour of the Irish wolfhound’s coat, but if you are, it’s best to look for breeders who specialise in certain colours. It may be worth looking at the breed standard for an Irish wolfhound and making a choice based on what is given by other owners and the professional advice of breeders.
It’s funny to think that giant breeds could still be as small as most average puppies are. It’s worth noting that from the first few months as a puppy, the coat on this breed will be a softer coat and, therefore, more easily manageable.
Over time, the shaggy coat will start to appear, and the coat colour will change slightly as the adult coat comes through. With this wolf hunter dog type, most will start to grey slightly or perhaps have white markings in areas of the body.
As they become adult dogs, the Irish wolfhound originally used for hunting wolves will develop a wiry coat that’s a world away from the soft coat it had as a puppy. As such, they require more maintenance to keep this longer coat in good condition.
Irish wolfhounds require a lot of care and attention, especially with them being such big dogs. Large breeds often come with more health concerns. They’re outdoor dogs, meaning they need plenty of exercise and an environment catering to their size.
When you’re looking to adopt a dog or buy one, it’s important to always look at the breed’s needs and whether they’ll adapt to your lifestyle and surroundings. The Wolfhound is not the most adaptable breed, and as such, it’s important to consider whether or not it’s the right fit for you.
However, like other dogs, the Irish Wolfhound has a wonderful temperament, and it’s a shame that they are a short-lived breed with a life expectancy of only a few years. No matter their colour, they’ve got a lot of love to give to their companions!
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