Irish Wolfhound vs American Mastiff - Breed Comparison

Irish Wolfhound vs American Mastiff - Breed ComparisonIrish Wolfhound is originated from Ireland but American Mastiff is originated from United States. Both Irish Wolfhound and American Mastiff are having almost same height. Irish Wolfhound may weigh 36 kg / 79 pounds lesser than American Mastiff. Both Irish Wolfhound and American Mastiff has almost same life span. Both Irish Wolfhound and American Mastiff has almost same litter size. Irish Wolfhound requires Moderate maintenance. But American Mastiff requires Low maintenance

History

irish wolfhound - historyIt 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.

american mastiff - historyThe history of the American Mastiff is entirely tied to the old European Mastiffs but in particular the English Mastiff. The developers of the American Mastiff crossed the English Mastiff with the Anatolian Mastiff at the Ohio kennel, Flying W Farms. The founder of this breed is Fredricka Wagner. Because of this the English Mastiff and the American Mastiff look very much alike. The difference between the two is that the American Mastiff was bred to have less health concerns than the English Mastiff and without the drooling. In 2000 the CKC acknowledged that the American Mastiff and the English Mastiff were separate breeds.

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Molosser dogs
Origin:
Ireland
United States
Height Male:
81 - 86 cm
31 - 34 inches
65 - 91 cm
25 - 36 inches
Height Female:
81 - 86 cm
31 - 34 inches
65 - 89 cm
25 - 36 inches
Weight Male:
48 - 54 kg
105 - 120 pounds
72 - 90 kg
158 - 199 pounds
Weight Female:
48 - 54 kg
105 - 120 pounds
63 - 81 kg
138 - 179 pounds
Life Span:
6 - 10 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 4
2 - 5
Size:
Giant dog
Giant dog
Other Names:
None
AM Mastiff
Colors Available:
red, black or brindle, grey, white, Fawn
Fawn, Apricot, Brindle
Coat:
Medium length, straight to wavy and wiry
Smooth, shorthair
Shedding:
Moderate
Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Friendly, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Protective, Quiet
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

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.

american mastiff puppy - descriptionThis crossing of the English Mastiff and the Anatolian Mastiff resulted in a Mastiff with a much drier, less drooling mouth than the other Mastiffs. This is a giant, massive dog – powerful and muscular. With a wide head that is rectangular rather than square. Their eyes are dark amber, and their ears are high on their head and rounded. With a medium size muzzle, black mask and heavy head, the American Mastiff is a handsome dog.

Their chest is broad, deep with ribs that extended backward. He has strong legs that are parallel and wide set. He also has a long tail. Puppies of the American Mastiff are born almost black and as they grow their coat color lightens. In addition, it is important that they have a wrinkled forehead as well and a scissors bite is preferred.

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.

american mastiff dog - characteristicsA love of children and devotion to his pack (family) is bred into the American Mastiff. He is non-aggressive unless you threaten his family or his children. Then he becomes courageous, protective and defensive. This is a gentle giant most of the time, however due to size and the need for strong leadership, the American Mastiff should be socialized and trained early. If they are socialized and trained they will be calm, gentle dogs. They will remain protective and alert, but they will be friendly with strangers. They love to please their people and being highly intelligent they learn fast.

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.

american mastiff puppies - health problemsAmerican Mastiffs seem to have fewer health issues than other larger giant breed dogs. However, they can experience allergies as many large, wrinkled dogs do. They also might have a tendency toward eye issues, hip dysplasia, cancer and heart disease. Bloat might be the most life-threatening issue many American Mastiffs experience.

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.

american mastiff dogs - caringGiant breeds like the American Mastiff are known for growing rapidly as a puppy and therefore proper feeding and nutrition is essential. The slower your American Mastiff grows, the better. Make sure your puppies get enough phosphorous and calcium in their high calorie diet. Free feeding is not recommended. Feed puppies up to 4 small meals per day and feed adults twice a day.

Health issues

As previously mentioned this breed is a fairly healthy one, There, are however, certain evaluations you should do with your American Mastiff puppy to be sure she is in good health. These tests would include an elbow and hip evaluation to check for dysplasia. He should have an ophthalmologist and cardiologist examine him as well. Most American Mastiffs will not have any problems, but these evaluations will help to prepare you if they do. The wrinkles in your dogs; face, around the eyes and muzzle must be kept clean as they can become infected if you don’t.

Exercise and games

Unlike the way he looks, the American Mastiff is not a couch potato, but neither are they a high energy, exercise machine. They do well living in apartments or homes, with or without a fenced in yard. They need a long walk every day. They need mental stimulation through exercise and games. Make sure they learn to love to play so that they don’t become lazy as they age.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. English Mastiff vs American Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  2. Neapolitan Mastiff vs American Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  3. American Mastiff vs American Molossus - Breed Comparison
  4. Gaddi Kutta vs American Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  5. Nebolish Mastiff vs American Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  6. Cao de Gado Transmontano vs American Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  7. Broholmer vs American Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  8. Great Dane vs American Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  9. Bernese Mountain Dog vs American Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  10. Newfoundland Dog vs American Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  11. Anatolian Shepherd vs American Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  12. Leonberger vs American Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  13. Alaunt vs American Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  14. Bully Kutta vs American Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  15. Irish Wolfhound vs American Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  16. Alangu Mastiff vs American Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  17. Francais Blanc et Orange vs American Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  18. Mountain Burmese vs American Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  19. Billy vs American Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  20. Pyrenean Mastiff vs American Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  21. Bisben vs American Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  22. Irish Wolfhound vs Francais Blanc et Orange - Breed Comparison
  23. Irish Wolfhound vs Billy - Breed Comparison
  24. Irish Wolfhound vs American Staghound - Breed Comparison
  25. Scottish Deerhound vs Irish Wolfhound - Breed Comparison
  26. Newfoundland Dog vs Irish Wolfhound - Breed Comparison
  27. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Irish Wolfhound - Breed Comparison
  28. Leonberger vs Irish Wolfhound - Breed Comparison
  29. Irish Wolfhound vs Great Dane - Breed Comparison
  30. Irish Wolfhound vs Bernese Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  31. Irish Wolfhound vs English Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  32. Irish Wolfhound vs Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  33. Irish Wolfhound vs Alaunt - Breed Comparison
  34. Irish Wolfhound vs Bully Kutta - Breed Comparison
  35. Irish Wolfhound vs Alangu Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  36. Irish Wolfhound vs Gaddi Kutta - Breed Comparison
  37. Irish Wolfhound vs Bisben - Breed Comparison
  38. Irish Wolfhound vs American Molossus - Breed Comparison
  39. Irish Wolfhound vs Irish Mastiff Hound - Breed Comparison
  40. Irish Wolfhound vs Cao de Gado Transmontano - Breed Comparison
  41. Irish Wolfhound vs Broholmer - Breed Comparison
  42. Irish Wolfhound vs Ciobanesc de Bucovina - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds