Great Dane vs Irish Wolfhound

Compare the Great Dane to the Irish Wolfhound. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Great Danes and Irish Wolfhounds.

Quick Summary

Below are a few quick comparisons between the two breeds.

Owner Experience - The Irish Wolfhound is an okay choice for new or inexperienced owners, but the Great Dane is not recommended for new owners.
Children - Both the Great Dane and Irish Wolfhound are great with children.
Grooming - Both breeds have low maintenance coats, but the Great Dane is easier to groom.
Barking - The Great Dane bark/howls frequently. The Irish Wolfhound has a low tendency to bark.

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Great Dane vs Irish Wolfhound

Breed Name	Great Dane	Irish Wolfhound
General Details
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred
Is Hypoallergenic	No	No
Lifespan	7-10 yrs.	6-8 yrs.
Height	28-38 in.	32-35 in.
Weight	100-200 lb	90-180 lb
Intelligence	Average	Average
History
Origin Country	Not Specified	Not Specified
Origin Year	1400 BC	700 BC
Temperament
Overall Friendliness	Very Good	Very Good
Family Friendly	Very Good	Very Good
Kid Friendly	Very Good	Very Good
Pet Friendly	Very Good	Very Good
Stranger Friendly	Very Good	Very Good
Personality
	Affectionate Jealous Loving Does Not Like Being Alone Likes To Snuggle Stubborn Willing To Please	Affectionate Loving Does Not Like Being Alone Likes To Snuggle Willing To Please
Living Environment
Apartment	Yes	No
Indoor	Yes	Yes
Small Yard	Yes	Yes
Medium Yard	No	Yes
Large Yard	No	Yes
Temperature Tolerance ¹	55°F to 85°F	20°F to 75°F
Barks/Howls	Very Often	Rarely
Exercise Needs
Energy Level	Medium	Medium
Exercise Required	Medium	Medium
Top Running Speed	30 mph	35 mph
Strength	Very High	Very High
Grooming Needs
Coat Maintenance	Medium	Medium
Shedding	Medium	Medium
Dander	Medium	Medium
Drool Amount	Medium-High	Medium-High

¹This is estimated min/max temperature range for a healthy adult dog. Dogs that live indoors, puppies, seniors, unwell dogs, and/or dogs with improperly groomed coats may overheat sooner and get cold more quickly.

Instincts & Behavior Comparison
Breed Name	Great Dane	Irish Wolfhound
Breed Mentality
Dominant/Alpha	No	No
Family/Pack	Yes	Yes
Independent	No	No
Breed Focus
Distracted Easily	No	No
Average	No	Yes
Focused & Patient	Yes	No
Breed Instincts
Aggression	Below Average	Very Low
Burrow/Digging	Below Average	Very Low
Chasing	Average	High
Follow Commands	Below Average	Average
Fighting	Below Average	Below Average
Guarding	Below Average	Below Average
Herding	Below Average	Below Average
Hunting	Average	Average
Protection	Below Average	Below Average
Remove Vermin	Below Average	Below Average
Sledding	Below Average	Below Average
Watch	Average	Average

Health Comparison
Breed Name	Great Dane	Irish Wolfhound
Lifespan
Lifespan	7-10 yrs.	6-8 yrs.
Common Health Issues
Bloat	Yes	Yes
Cancer	Yes	No
Dilated Cardiomyopathy	Yes	Yes
Drug Sensitivity	No	Yes
Elbow Dysplasia	No	Yes
Fibrocartilaginous Embolic Myelopathy	No	Yes
Hip Dysplasia	Yes	Yes
Liver Shunt	No	Yes
Mitral Valve Disease	Yes	No
Osteochondrosis Dissecans	No	Yes
Osteosarcoma	No	Yes
Patent Ductus Arteriosis	Yes	No
Persistent Right Aortic Arch	Yes	No
Progressive Retinal Atrophy	No	Yes
Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis	Yes	No
Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia	Yes	No

Appearance Comparison
Breed Name	Great Dane	Irish Wolfhound
Coat
Fur	Yes	Yes
Coat Type
Double Coat	Yes	Yes
Coat Texture
Straight	Yes	No
Shaggy	No	Yes
Coat Length(s)
Short	Yes	No
Medium	No	Yes
Coat Color(s)
Black	Yes	Yes
Black & White	Yes	No
Blue	Yes	Yes
Blue & White	Yes	No
Blue Brindle	Yes	No
Brindle	Yes	Yes
Chocolate	Yes	No
Chocolate & White	Yes	No
Chocolate Brindle	Yes	No
Fawn	Yes	No
Harlequin	Yes	No
Mantle	Yes	No
Mantle Merle	Yes	No
Merle	Yes	No
Merlequin	Yes	No
Silver	Yes	Yes
White	Yes	Yes
Cream	No	Yes
Gray	No	Yes
Gray & Brindle	No	Yes
Red	No	Yes
Red & Brindle	No	Yes
Red Wheaten	No	Yes
Wheaten	No	Yes
Wheaten & Brindle	No	Yes