Great Dane vs Irish Wolfhound
Side by side
Great Dane
Irish Wolfhound
Adult weight
Males 64–79 kg (140–175 lb); females 50–64 kg (110–140 lb) (breed club figure)1
Males 55–82 kg (120–180 lb); females 48–64 kg (105–140 lb) (breed club figure)2
Fully grown
12 months, both sexes5
Shedding
Sheds through the year
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
Grooming
A brush once a week
Exercise
A moderate amount
Health
Lymph node cancer (more likely)9
Class
Companion
Companion
Which suits you
Shedding
Their coats shed differently: the Great Dane sheds through the year, the Irish Wolfhound holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out.
Temperament
They differ most on prey drive (Great Dane: chases; needs managing; Irish Wolfhound: likely to chase small pets).
Alike
They are much the same size as adults, about 64 kg (141 lb) for the Great Dane and 62 kg (136 lb) for the Irish Wolfhound.
Alike
Both are rated the same on affection: a lap or leaning dog.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
What they're like
Great Dane
Pinschers & molossoids · Giant
In temperament the Great Dane is friendly, patient and dependable. It is affectionate with its household and usually calm indoors, but watchful with strangers.
Irish Wolfhound
Sighthounds · Giant
In temperament the wolfhound is calm, quiet and dignified, friendly towards people and patient with them.
Breed traits
Day to day
Great Dane
Irish Wolfhound
Activity
Happy with modest walks
Happy with modest walks
Intelligence
Easy-going, simple routines
Easy-going, simple routines
Handler demand
Needs steady training
Needs steady training
With people
Great Dane
Irish Wolfhound
Affection
A lap or leaning dog
A lap or leaning dog
Loyalty
Bonded to its family
Bonded to its family
Independence
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Around the home
Great Dane
Irish Wolfhound
Sensitivity
Average
Average
Voice
Quiet
Quiet
Prey drive
Differs
Chases; needs managing
Likely to chase small pets
Puppy growth
Reference curves · both sexes
Summary
Detail
Both grow to much the same adult weight, about 65 kg.
Great Dane
Irish Wolfhound
More comparisons
Compare the Great Dane with
Sources
- 1American Kennel Club. Great Dane breed page. ↑
- 2Irish Wolfhound Club of America. Irish Wolfhound breed page. ↑
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- 5Hawthorne et al., 2004. Body-weight changes during growth in puppies of different breeds. Journal of Nutrition 134(8 Suppl): 2027S–2030S (WALTHAM). ↑
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- 10Morrill et al., 2022. Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes. Science 376: eabk0639 (Darwin's Ark). ↑
- 11Dogs Trust. Finding a good, responsible breeder. ↑
- 12American Kennel Club. Screening puppy buyers: how top breeders find the best homes. ↑
Parts of this page were written by AI ·