Irish Wolfhound vs Rottweiler: Which Breed is Right for Your Home?

Irish Wolfhound and Rottweiler are two distinct dog breeds, each with their unique characteristics and histories. As we go deeper into the comparison of Irish Wolfhound vs Rottweiler, we will explore their temperaments, maintenance requirements, and other key aspects that potential owners should consider.

An Irish Wolfhound, known as the tallest breed in the American Kennel Club, hails from Ireland and is renowned for its calm and dignified personality. This dog, developed in the late 19th century, is a muscular hound built along classic Greyhound lines, capable of great speed at the gallop.

On the other hand, Rottweiler, a breed of working dog, descends from mastiffs that lived in the Roman Empire more than 2,000 years ago. Known for its striking coloring, loyalty, intelligence, and courage, the Rottweiler exudes an air of nobility and self-confidence.

Despite their differences in origin and physical attributes, both breeds share a common trait of being family-friendly, making them great companions for households with children. 

Origins and History

An Irish Wolfhound and a Rottweiler are two breeds of dogs with rich histories and significant roles throughout the centuries. An Irish Wolfhound, one of the largest breeds of dogs, has its roots in Ireland. The breed's history dates back to ancient times, with the earliest written record from 391 A.D., in a letter from a Roman consul expressing his admiration for these "Irish dogs". These dogs were often given as gifts to Roman consuls, European kings, and other world leaders, symbolizing their high status and value.

 Irish Wolfhounds were originally bred to be hunting dogs, specifically to chase down large animals, including wolves. However, after the last wolf in Ireland reportedly met its end in 1786, the breed itself soon followed suit. By 1836, the breed was included on a list entitled "Notices of Animals which have disappeared from Ireland".

A quarter-century later, in 1863, Captain George Augustus Graham decided to revive the Irish Wolfhound. Graham first crossed a Scottish deerhound with a Great Dane, then bred it with a borzoi, a skilled wolf-hunting dog.

The breed was first recognized in 1879, and the Irish Wolfhound Club was established in 1885. Today, the Irish Wolfhound is a companion animal, a show dog, and still a hunting dog. A Rottweiler, on the other hand, has its origins in Germany and is believed to have descended from mastiffs that lived in the Roman Empire more than 2,000 years ago. These dogs were kept as driving dogs, marching over the Alps with the Roman legions, protecting the humans as well as driving their cattle. The breed was named after the town of Rottweil in Germany, where they were utilized for a variety of tasks like herding, guarding, and cart pulling.

In the early 20th century, the German Police Dog Association began employing Rottweilers as police dogs. Rottweilers also found jobs pulling heavy carts for workers and protecting private properties. In 1930, a German immigrant to the United States named Otto Denny bred the first Rottweiler litter. Today, Rottweilers are utilized as search and rescue dogs, guard dogs, and police dogs.

Physical Characteristics

Please note that these are general characteristics and individual dogs may vary.

Temperament and Personality

When considering the addition of a large dog to your family, the temperament and personality traits are as important as any physical characteristic. An Irish Wolfhound and Rottweiler are two breeds that offer distinct personalities and behaviors, which are essential to understand for prospective owners.

Irish Wolfhound Temperament

An Irish Wolfhound is often described as a gentle giant. Despite their imposing size, they are recognized for their calm and dignified presence. These dogs are amiable and typically exhibit a friendly demeanor towards both humans and other animals. Their personality is marked by a noble and sensitive nature, making them easygoing companions. They are not known for being good guard dogs due to their peaceful nature, but their size alone can be a deterrent to intruders. 

Irish Wolfhounds are also recognized for their strong desire for human companionship, often being sweet, loyal, and affectionate with their families. They are patient with children but due to their large size, interactions with small children should be supervised to prevent accidental knocking over during play.

Rottweiler Temperament

Rottweilers, on the other hand, are robust working dogs known for their strength and confidence. They are calm and courageous, with a natural guarding instinct that makes them excellent protectors of their home and family. Rottweilers can be aloof with strangers, but they are not unduly aggressive without cause. 

They are intelligent and adaptable, requiring firm and consistent training from an early age. Well-socialized Rottweilers are known to get along well with people and other dogs, though males can sometimes display dominant behavior. They are faithful and loving towards their families, often showing their affection through physical closeness like leaning or cuddling. Despite their tough exterior, Rottweilers can be playful and like engaging in activities with their owners.

Both breeds need early socialization and training to ensure they grow up to be well-adjusted adults. The Irish Wolfhound's gentle nature and the Rottweiler's protective instincts can make both breeds excellent family pets when raised in the right environment. Understanding and respecting each breed's characteristics will help make sure a harmonious relationship between the dog and its human family.

Training and Intelligence

When comparing the trainability and intelligence of Irish Wolfhounds and Rottweilers, it is important to note that both breeds are highly intelligent, but they exhibit different characteristics that may affect their trainability and roles as working dogs.

Irish Wolfhounds are known for their intelligence and problem-solving abilities. They are curious and like exploring their environment. However, they can also be stubborn and independent, which can make them more challenging to train than some other breeds. 

They respond best to positive reinforcement training methods, such as reward-based training and clicker training. Despite their intelligence, Irish Wolfhounds are often described as dogs of leisure and humor, which can sometimes hinder their performance in obedience exercises. They are not typically used as working dogs, but their size and strength make them capable of performing certain tasks if properly trained.

On the other hand, Rottweilers are ranked as the ninth most intelligent dog breed. They are known for their high awareness, sharp perception, and extreme sense of loyalty. Rottweilers excel at obedience training and are eager to please, which lets them easy to train. 

They often enjoy having a job to do throughout the day, which is why they are commonly utilized as service dogs, police dogs, and therapy dogs. Rottweilers were originally bred to herd livestock and pull heavy carts, which is a testament to their strength and work ethic. However, they require a lot of regular mental stimulation to stave off boredom.

Health and Lifespan

Irish Wolfhound

Irish Wolfhounds are generally hardy dogs once grown, with few unique medical problems. However, their rapid growth makes them prone to injury as puppies, and they suffer from diseases common in giant breeds, some of which are serious. They are prone to bacterial and viral infections such as parvo, rabies, and distemper, which are preventable through vaccination.

Obesity can also be a significant health problem in Irish Wolfhounds, potentially causing or worsening joint issues, metabolic and digestive disorders, back pain, and heart disease. Irish Wolfhounds are particularly prone to a life-threatening heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy, in which the heart becomes large, thin, and weak that it can no longer pump blood to the body.

Other health concerns specific to Irish Wolfhounds include hip and elbow dysplasia, osteosarcoma (bone cancer), liver shunt, autoimmune thyroiditis, von Willebrand's disease, progressive retinal atrophy, and gastric torsion. Irish Wolfhounds are more likely than many breeds to bloat, a condition that can be life-threatening and requires immediate veterinary attention. The lifespan of an Irish Wolfhound is relatively short compared to other breeds. Published lifespan estimations differ between 6 and 10 years, with 7 years being the average.

Rottweiler

Rottweilers are susceptible to several neurological diseases, which can cause symptoms such as seizures, imbalance, tremors, weakness, or excess sleeping. Like Irish Wolfhounds, Rottweilers are also susceptible to bacterial and viral infections, including rabies and distemper, and obesity can be a significant health problem. Obesity in Rottweilers may cause or worsen joint issues, metabolic and digestive disorders, back pain, and heart disease.

Other health issues connected with Rottweilers include aortic stenosis, hip and elbow dysplasia, entropion, ectropion, cruciate ligament rupture, osteochondritis dessicans (OCD), and various forms of cancer, including osteosarcoma. Rottweilers also have a medium-length coat that sheds a lot, requiring regular brushing to manage their coat health. The average lifespan of a Rottweiler is 9 to 10 years, which is on the lower end of the range for large dog breeds.

Care and Maintenance

Irish Wolfhounds, a giant breed, maintain their health with a moderate amount of exercise, typically fulfilled through daily walks and play sessions. Despite their considerable size, they are not overly energetic and are content to relax indoors, emphasizing the need for ample space to move comfortably.

In terms of grooming, Irish Wolfhounds possess a rough, wiry coat that necessitates regular brushing to prevent matting and tangling. While they are not heavy shedders, year-round shedding does occur, requiring occasional coat stripping for texture and appearance maintenance. Routine ear checks and nail trims are essential for their overall care. Given their susceptibility to bloat, it is advisable to feed them smaller meals throughout the day rather than one large meal.

Rottweilers, being a working breed, have substantial exercise needs to ensure their health and happiness. They enjoy various activities such as walking, running, swimming, and playing fetch. Mental stimulation is crucial for this highly intelligent breed to prevent boredom. With a short, dense coat, Rottweilers exhibit moderate shedding throughout the year, with more pronounced shedding in the spring and fall.

Regular brushing aids in managing shedding and promotes a healthy coat. Similar to Irish Wolfhounds, Rottweilers require routine ear checks and nail trims. Their diet should consist of high-quality dog food suitable for their age, size, and activity level. Due to their predisposition to obesity, careful monitoring of their diet and weight is essential for their overall well-being.

Suitability for Families and Homes

Irish Wolfhound Suitability

Irish Wolfhounds are recognized for their gentle and friendly nature, making them an excellent choice for families. They are patient and good with children, often forming strong bonds with them. However, due to their large size, interactions with small children should be supervised to prevent accidental knocking over during play.Irish Wolfhounds are also generally good with other pets, comprising dogs and cats, especially if they are raised together. They are not known for being territorial or aggressive, which can make them a good choice for multi-pet households.In terms of housing, Irish Wolfhounds are adaptable and can live in numerous environments, like apartments, as long as they get enough exercise. However, they do best in homes with large yards where they can stretch their legs. Despite their size, they are not outdoor dogs and should live inside with their families.

Rottweiler Suitability

Rottweilers are loyal and protective, making them excellent family dogs for the right households. They are good with children they are raised with and can be protective of their family members. However, because of their size and strength, interactions with small children should be supervised.

Rottweilers can cope well with other pets if they are socialized from a young age, but they may be aggressive behavior towards other dogs of the same sex. Therefore, they may be best suited to homes where they are the only pet or with pets of the opposite sex.

Rottweilers are not suited to apartment living and do best in homes with a large, securely fenced yard where they can exercise. They are active dogs and need a lot of physical and mental stimulation to stop boredom and destructive behavior.

Conclusion

An Irish Wolfhound and Rottweiler are two breeds that often capture the attention of dog enthusiasts. Both breeds boast a rich history, with the Irish Wolfhound being recognized as the tallest dog breed by the American Kennel Club and the Rottweiler known for its strength and loyalty. An Irish Wolfhound, with its origins in ancient Ireland, was bred for hunting large game such as wolves and elk, while the Rottweiler, descending from Roman mastiffs, served as a herder and guardian.

Despite their different backgrounds, both breeds share a reputation for being family-friendly and good with children. When it comes to physical characteristics, the Irish Wolfhound is significantly taller and heavier than the Rottweiler, with males standing up to 35 inches and weighing between 140-180 pounds, compared to the Rottweiler's 24-27 inches and 95-130 pounds for males.

A Wolfhound has a medium-length, wiry coat, while the Rottweiler sports a short, dense coat. Both breeds are muscular and strong, but the Irish Wolfhound has a more greyhound-like build, and the Rottweiler is more robust with a broad chest. Temperamentally, the Irish Wolfhound is known for its gentle and friendly nature, making it a suitable companion for families and other pets. A Rottweiler, while also loyal and good with its own family, has a natural guarding instinct and may be more reserved with strangers. Both breeds require early socialization and consistent training to ensure they become well-adjusted adults. In terms of health, the Irish Wolfhound has a shorter lifespan, averaging 6-8 years, and is prone to conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and bloat.

A Rottweiler has a slightly longer lifespan of 8-11 years but also faces health challenges such as hip dysplasia and certain types of cancer. Regular veterinary care and a healthy lifestyle are important for both breeds. Caring for these dogs involves meeting their exercise needs, with the Irish Wolfhound requiring moderate activity and the Rottweiler needing more vigorous exercise.

Grooming is relatively low-maintenance for both, though the Wolfhound's wiry coat may need stripping a couple of times a year. Both breeds should be fed high-quality dog food appropriate for their size and energy levels.

When considering suitability for families and homes, the Irish Wolfhound's calm demeanor makes it a good fit for families with children and other pets, provided there's enough space for this large breed. A Rottweiler can also be a great family dog but may be better suited to a single-pet household and requires a secure yard for exercise. Both breeds thrive when they are part of the family and involved in daily activities.

In summary, an Irish Wolfhound and Rottweiler are both majestic breeds with distinct qualities. The Wolfhound is a gentle giant, perfect for those who can accommodate its size, while the Rottweiler is a loyal protector, ideal for active families who can provide firm training. Both breeds can make wonderful companions when their needs are understood and met.