Latvian Hound vs Irish Wolfhound - Breed Comparison

Latvian Hound vs Irish Wolfhound - Breed ComparisonIrish Wolfhound is originated from Ireland but Latvian Hound is originated from Russia. Irish Wolfhound may grow 38 cm / 15 inches higher than Latvian Hound. Irish Wolfhound may weigh 34 kg / 75 pounds more than Latvian Hound. Irish Wolfhound may live 4 years less than Latvian Hound. Irish Wolfhound may have less litter size than Latvian Hound. Irish Wolfhound requires Moderate Maintenance. But Latvian Hound requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Hound dog
undefined
Ireland
Russia
Height Male:
81 - 86 cm
31 - 34 inches
40 - 48 cm
15 - 19 inches
Height Female:
81 - 86 cm
31 - 34 inches
40 - 48 cm
15 - 19 inches
Weight Male:
48 - 54 kg
105 - 120 pounds
15 - 20 kg
33 - 45 pounds
Weight Female:
48 - 54 kg
105 - 120 pounds
15 - 20 kg
33 - 45 pounds
Life Span:
6 - 10 Years
12 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 4
6 - 12
Size:
Giant
Medium
Other Names:
None
Latvijas Dzinejsuns
Colors Available:
red, black or brindle, grey, white, Fawn
Black, tan, brown
Coat:
Medium length, straight to wavy and wiry
Short and dense
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

irish wolfhoundIt is believed that the Irish Wolfhound is an ancient breed and that it was brought to Ireland as early as 7000 BC.

These dogs were bred as hunting dogs as well as guard dogs. There was a time when these huge canines were only allowed to be owned by the nobility. The breed died out somewhat, but Scotsman Captain George Augustus Graham made efforts to restore the breed’s numbers.

Captain Graham devoted his life to making sure the Irish Wolfhound’s numbers were built up, and the breeding program included Great Danes, Borzois, English Mastiffs and Scottish Deerhounds.

latvian houndThe Latvian Hound is a medium sized Russian or Latvian hunting hound. The dog was bred in Latvia, Russia.

He was developed from a number of English and Polish dogs as well as Lucernese breeds.

It is by no means a new breed and records of it go way back to the 1600s. A certain Duke Courland developed the dog so that it was also known as the Courland Hound. In 1922 the Latvian Association of Hunters' Associations was formed.

It was in 1971 that the Latvian Hound was was approved with it's name and a new standard was developed and approved. It isn't recognized by the AKC or the FCI.

Description

irish wolfhound puppy - descriptionThe tallest of the sighthounds, the Irish Wolfhound looks like a large Greyhound, only he has a rough, wiry type of coat.

He is also gracefully built and known as a gentle giant. The double coat which can be fawn, red, white, grey, black or brindle is straight to wavy.

He stands at about 81 to 86cm and weighs roughly 48 to 54kg. This is one of the few dog breeds that you can’t really call social. He loves his own human family, and becomes unhappy and ‘down-in-the-dumps’ when separated from his family members for too long. He is a quiet dog who tends to be somewhat introverted and reserved, while being highly intelligent.

He will require being trained and socialized to make him obedient as he is an independent dog. He takes his role as family protector seriously and even though he is quiet, he is ready to take on anyone who threatens his property.

Temperament:

The Irish Wolfhound is a gentle, quiet, soft-natured, easy-going dog and even though it is such a large dog, it doesn’t throw it’s weight around but is calm and patient around the elderly and children in the home. It can tend to be aggressive with animals he isn’t familiar with.

He is an intelligent dog, but even so he may be quite resistant to training as he is strong-willed and determined to have his own way. These dogs need to be trained and socialized otherwise they just do their own thing.

latvian hound puppy - descriptionThe Latvian Hound is a medium sized dog standing at between 40 to 48cm in height and weighing about 15 to 20kg.

He has a deep chest, fairly long, floppy ears, a long tail with strong legs. The coat is double and is short, shiny and dense. He is an average shedder. He is essentially black with tan markings, with tan spots above the eyes. The eyes are dark brown and the nose is black.

Temperament:

The Latvian Hound may well be an exceptional hunter but he also makes a great family pet. He is looked upon as being a friendly, amicable, sweet dog.

Because he has been a working dog, he likes to be busy and will happily join in with all your hikes and swimming. He will also run with you while you cycle.

It’s a dog that doesn’t like to be left alone for long periods of time, being inclined to suffer with separation anxiety. He doesn’t take kindly to strangers either, but a dog which has been socialized and trained becomes more amicable.

Your Latvian is intelligent so you won’t have any trouble teaching him some simply commands. He is a friendly, lively dog and just having him in your home brings in a joyous atmosphere. He is an easy-going dog, but even so, if you don’t have a fair sized garden and you don’t have the time to exercise him, he is better off living on a farm or where there is a fair sized garden.

Characteristics

irish wolfhound dog - characteristicsThe most notable aspect of the Irish Wolfhound is his amazing height. The legs are long, the body narrow. He is gentle and easy-going but because he is a sighthound he loves to give chase after animals.

He is capable of living in the city or countryside, but your home will need to cater to his size. He isn’t particularly energetic, enjoying a quiet life but he will absolutely need to be exercised.

Provide your gentle giant with everything needed to make him content, and you’ll have a faithful, loving friend for about 10 years.

latvian hound dog - characteristicsThe Latvian Hound is an outgoing, fun dog to have around and a great dog for first-time dog owners too. He has always been a working dog, so he has developed skills such as being focused and tenacious.

As a companion and family dog, you will have a true friend as he is sweet, loving and loyal and thrives on the attention of his human family. He is a playful dog, feisty and energetic, and will be protective too. Bring him into your home and you'll see what a bright place it becomes just having him there as pet and friend.

Health Problems

irish wolfhound puppies - health problemsOne wonders why breeders seem so bent on breeding such large dogs when they have health issues and they don't live particularly long. Not only do they cost a fortune to feed, but large dogs like this are more prone to illnesses and won’t live as long as small dog breeds. This big dog can live up to 10 years of age or so.

For starters, just because he is a deep chested dog, bloat or gastric torsion can be a threat. Other illnesses to look out for are dilated cardiomyopathy and bone cancer.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy:

This is a disease of the heart muscle where the enlarged heart won’t function properly. The upper- and lower chambers of the heart are enlarged and the heart isn’t able to pump blood out properly. When the heart’s ventricle doesn’t pump enough blood into the lungs, fluid accumulates in the lungs and this ultimately leads to congestive heart failure.

Older dogs battle more with this heart disease and it is also more common in some dog breeds of which the Irish Wolfhound is one. Your dog will have shortness of breath, coughing and abdominal distension. He will need to get to the vet for medical tests.

Bone Cancer:

Bone cancer can strike any dog, but you’ll find in more commonly with larger dog breeds. It can spread quickly and the long term prognosis isn’t good. It’s not easy to pick the disease up and it can mean joint pain for your pet and even lameness.

Your dog will be tired too. Your vet will do X-rays and other tests, but unfortunately the prognosis isn’t usually good. Big-dog breeders should take this into consideration.

latvian hound puppies - health problemsThe life span of the Latvian Hound is 12 to 14 years, and while there are no reported major health issues, all dogs face some kind of medical issues during their lives. The Latvian Hound can face things like hip dysplasia, eye problems, bloat and ear infections.

Vaccinations:

Vaccines can protect your dog from contracting some illnesses which can be fatal.

There is controversy over pet vaccines but the problem is more about HOW the dog is vaccinated.

There was a time when puppies were vaccinated many times, but newer guidelines were updated in 2017, stating that core vaccines be given to adult dogs in intervals of 3 years or more, rather than every year.

Puppy vaccines still need to be done about every 3 weeks between the ages of 6 and 16 weeks against the likes of parvovirus and distemper. Get yourself a good vet who is skilled and safe with vaccines.

Caring The Pet

Exercise:

irish wolfhound dogs - caringThis isn’t a particularly energetic dog and he can tend to become lazy. Don’t allow this as becoming unfit and overweight can be very bad for such large dog. Being so large already puts stress on the dog’s body, and the dog is already susceptible to cardiac and skeletal problems. Allowing him to become lazy and overweight will be a death sentence for this large dog. It is imperative to make sure you take him on walks and play games with him.

Grooming:

The coat of your dog is thick and medium length and he will require being brushed at least twice a week. You may want to also trim the longer hair you find around his face and legs.

When it comes to his ears, you can moisten some cotton wool and wipe the inside of his ears to remove dirt and excess wax. Remember not to probe too deeply to avoid damaging the ear. If you’re uncertain how to do this, your vet can explain to you how its done.

Check his teeth regularly as dental disease can affect other areas of the body too. Don’t allow his nails to get too long as they can cause paw problems and the nails can hook onto things and cause injury.

Diet:

Because this is a giant breed, the puppy will grow for a long time. Speak to your vet about how to ensure you feed your puppy in such a way that he doesn’t grow too quickly.

If you feed your dog a commercially manufactured food, make sure its one of the top quality brands. Include home-made cooked food such as chicken, rice and vegetables into his kibble from time to time, and also try to feed him some raw meat occasionally.

Fresh, cool water must be available to your Irish Wolfhound around the clock.

Grooming:

latvian hound dogs - caringThe Latvian Hound has a short coat that is easy to groom. He is a moderate shedder and brushing him twice a week will take care of all that loose hair. He’ll thrive on the attention this grooming session gives him and its the time to check him over for ticks and fleas too.

Check the inside of his ears. Without even realizing it, dirt and wax can build up and result in an ear infection. His ear may be red and you’ll notice him shaking his head and scratching at his ears. Be very careful about cleaning his ears as going to deep can damage the ear.

Any grooming of your dog that you can’t manage can be attended to by professional dog groomers.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Latvian Hound vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Latvian Hound vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Latvian Hound vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Latvian Hound vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Latvian Hound vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Latvian Hound vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Latvian Hound vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Latvian Hound vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Latvian Hound vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Latvian Hound vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Latvian Hound vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Latvian Hound vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Latvian Hound vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Latvian Hound vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Latvian Hound vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Latvian Hound vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Latvian Hound vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Latvian Hound vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Latvian Hound vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Latvian Hound vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Latvian Hound vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Latvian Hound vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Latvian Hound vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Latvian Hound vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Latvian Hound vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Irish Wolfhound vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Irish Wolfhound vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Irish Wolfhound vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Irish Wolfhound vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Irish Wolfhound vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Irish Wolfhound vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Irish Wolfhound vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Irish Wolfhound vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Irish Wolfhound vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Irish Wolfhound vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Irish Wolfhound vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Irish Wolfhound vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Irish Wolfhound vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Irish Wolfhound vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Irish Wolfhound vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Irish Wolfhound vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Irish Wolfhound vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Irish Wolfhound vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Irish Wolfhound vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Irish Wolfhound vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Irish Wolfhound vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Irish Wolfhound vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Irish Wolfhound vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Irish Wolfhound vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Irish Wolfhound vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison