Irish Wolfhound Prices In Australia

When purchasing any dog, whether it’s as a rescue or a puppy, it’s important to understand the costs that come with it. A dog like an Irish Wolfhound is a big one, and the commitment to this breed, despite it only living for a couple of years, is a responsibility that you don’t want to take lightly.

How Much Does An Irish Wolfhound Cost In Australia?

The average cost for Irish wolfhounds is between $1,400 to $3,500. This, in comparison to other dog breeds, is fairly average, especially considering the giant size they end up becoming. However, their prices can reach around $4,000 depending on the breeder’s reputation, lineage, and pedigree.

Despite being one of the tallest dogs in the world, they are fairly rare, as not everyone wants the responsibility of having such a large dog.

You may find Irish Wolfhounds cheaper than this if you opt to adopt or buy from an unregistered breeder. But you don’t know whether they’re bred with genetic problems that’ll result in hefty vet bills later on. Thus, it’s better to purchase from a reputable, registered breeder.

Average price of an Irish Wolfhound when buying through a registered Irish Wolfhound breeder in Australia

In Australia, the average cost of an Irish wolfhound is roughly between $1,400 and $4000. Generally, these prices vary based on the dogs lineage to bloodlines. Breeder reputation also plays a significant role in the pricing too.

Average price of a Irish Wolfhound when buying through an adoption shelter in Australia

As an alternative to buying an Irish wolfhound from a registered breeder, you could also adopt one from your local adoption shelter. In Australia, adoption shelter prices vary based on location and on the breed and pedigree of the dog. In regards to Irish wolfhounds, you could expect to pay somewhere between $300 to $800. Some shelters have been known to charge over $1000 dollars for pure-breed dogs, though.

Factors Influencing the Cost Of An Irish Wolfhound

Several factors influence the cost of Irish Wolfhounds, and it’s something to be made aware of.

1. The colour of the coat

The colour of the dog’s coat is a factor that can influence the cost you pay. An Irish wolfhound can have lots of different colours.

A rarer colour can crop up, but when it comes to this breed, the popular or more sought-after colours can change depending on the demand for the dog. The rarer colours will cost more.

2. They’re a purebred

As purebred dogs, they’re considered a prestigious breed and, therefore, more valuable than most. Depending on the breeder, this factor could make the price for your Irish Wolfhound climb quite high.

3. Age

The dog’s age is very important, with Irish Wolfhound puppies being the preferred choice. You’ll most likely pay more for a puppy than an adult dog. This is because there’s a cost involved with breeding, like giving puppies their shots.

Cost of essentials for your Irish Wolfhound

Irish Wolfhounds are a larger dog breed, with their size, comes the need for bigger essentials like dog crates, beds, collars, and a wolf-sized feeding bowl. Here is what you can expect to pay for the essentials:

• Dog crate: $150 to $350 for an XL dog crate
• Dog bed: $80 to $250 or more for an XL dog bed
• Dog collar/lead: $30 to $80 for an adjustable large collar and lead
• Feeding bowl: $20 to $60 dollars for a suitable, quality feeding bowl
• Dog toothbrush: $20 to $30 for a dog toothbrush and toothpaste
• Dog car harness: $50 to $150 for a dog harness that has been crash-tested and made with quality materials
• Puppy treats: $10 to $40 on a monthly basis until your dog grows too old for them
• Puppy training pads: $25 to $40 per pack while you’re toilet training
• Dog shampoo & conditioner: between $25 to $60 per bottle for quality shampoo and conditioner
• Dog nail clippers, brushes & combs: $20 to $10,0 depending on what grooming tools you purchase

These prices are merely averages. Some brands might be cheaper or more expensive than the figures we’ve put down.

Irish Wolfhound Maintainance Costs

Several maintenance costs are worth mentioning, especially with these dogs being the size they are. Here are some maintenance costs to consider:

How much will it cost to feed an Irish Wolfhound?

Feeding is a big one, especially as they’re giant-sized dogs. Irish Wolfhounds have a standard weight of 63 kg to 80 kg. As a bigger dog breed, their nutritional needs will be considerable, especially since a fully grown male Wolfhound requires almost 3000 calories a day to sustain themselves. With that in mind, here’s what you can expect to pay per day for your adult Irish Wolfhounds food:

• Cost per day on a dry kibble diet: roughly $3 to $4 ($90 to $120 a month, depending on the quality of the dog food)
• Cost per day on a wet food diet: $5 to $7 ($155 to $220 a month)
• Cost per day on a raw diet: $7 to $10 ($200 to $310 a month)

How Much Will Veterinary Care Typically Cost for an Irish Wolfhound?

With excellent temperaments, you want them to be in your family environment for as long as possible. However, unlike most dogs, these Irish Wolfhounds only live for six to ten years. Vet costs can reach well over $1,000 yearly, depending on your pup’s health. However, the average vet cost within a year could sit anywhere from $500 to $2000, which is fairly standard for larger dog breeds. Here’s a breakdown of routine preventive care costs you can expect:

Costs of routine preventive care

• Annual vet checkups: $90 to $150 for a general vet checkup
• Vaccinations: around $100 to $200 for their annual vaccinations
• Worming and parasite protection: on average, $20 to $50, depending on the cost of the medication
• Dental cleaning (every 1-2 years): $300 to $800 per session
• Pet insurance: $30 to $180 depending on the insurance cover you opt for

How much should I expect to pay for Irish Wolfhound grooming?

Grooming is another expense unless you do it yourself. With this breed, they need to be hand-stripped to reduce mats and old hair, which can be done by a professional groomer if you prefer. This is what you can expect to pay for professional grooming services:

• Hydrobath prices: $30 to $70 per session
• Full groom prices: $80 to over $200
• Face, feet & tail groom prices: $60 to $100

Irish Wolfhound Training Costs

Irish Wolfhounds are typically quite intelligent and eager to please, which means that they are relatively easy to train. However, they do have an independent streak that develops as they mature, so they would benefit from training at a young age. Here’s what it would cost on average for training classes:

• Obedience training: $150 to $300 for a 4-6 week course
• Puppy training: $100 to $250 for a 4-6 week course
• Specialised training, including aggression and anxiety: $100 to $250 per session

Understanding the costs of owning your Irish Wolfhound

Whether you’re looking to use them as a show dog or you want them to be a key part of your family, these dogs are wonderful. But make sure that you understand the full costs of owning an Irish Wolfhound before buying one. For instance, because they are larger dogs, everything you buy for them will need to be plus-sized, like larger crates, beds, dog bowls, and collars. Likewise, they’ll have larger appetites too. So, factor in these expenses and prepare yourself well before you bring your puppy home.