Deerhound vs Irish Wolfhound: Two Ancient Giants

They’re both enormous, both wiry-coated, and both look like they’ve stepped out of a medieval tapestry. The Scottish Deerhound and the Irish Wolfhound are so frequently confused that even experienced dog people sometimes can’t tell them apart at a distance. But spend five minutes with one of each, and you’ll understand — these are genuinely different dogs with different histories, different health profiles, and different energy levels. The Deerhound is the rangier, faster, more independent athlete. The Wolfhound is the taller, heavier, gentler giant who would rather lean against your legs than chase anything. Both breeds are rare in Australia, both come with heartbreakingly short lifespans, and both will rearrange your entire house (and your heart). Here’s how to choose between them.

What You’ll Learn

• Breed traits & temperament
• Health concerns to know
• True cost in Australia
• Training & exercise needs
• Is this breed right for you?

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Quick Comparison at a Glance

Trait	Scottish Deerhound	Irish Wolfhound
Origin	Scotland (16th–17th century records)	Ireland (records from 391 AD)
Original Purpose	Coursing red deer	Hunting wolves and elk; war dog
ANKC Group	Group 4 — Hounds	Group 4 — Hounds
Height (Male)	76–81 cm (30–32 in)	81–90+ cm (32–36 in)
Height (Female)	71 cm+ (28 in+)	76 cm+ (30 in+)
Weight (Male)	39–50 kg (85–110 lb)	54–70+ kg (120–155+ lb)
Weight (Female)	34–43 kg (75–95 lb)	48–61 kg (105–135 lb)
Lifespan	8–11 years	6–8 years
Coat Type	Harsh, wiry (single coat)	Rough, wiry (double coat)
Shedding	Low–moderate (seasonal)	Low–moderate (year-round)
Energy Level	Moderate–High	Low–Moderate
Trainability	Moderate (independent sighthound)	Moderate (gentle but stubborn)
Good With Kids	Yes — gentle but size caution	Yes — very gentle but size caution
Barking Level	Very low	Very low
Puppy Price (AUD)	$2,000 – $4,000	$2,000 – $4,000
Availability in Australia	Rare — long waitlists	Rare — long waitlists

Where Did They Come From?

Both breeds are ancient, both are deeply tied to national identity, and both nearly went extinct.

The Scottish Deerhound is known as the Royal Dog of Scotland. Deer-hunting hounds existed in Scotland before written records, but the breed is clearly identifiable from the 16th century onwards. They were bred to run down and kill wild red deer in the Highlands — a task requiring extraordinary speed, stamina, and courage. Ownership was once restricted to Scottish nobility (no one below the rank of earl could keep one), which almost caused the breed’s extinction. Deerhounds were revived in the 19th century and arrived in Australia in the early colonial period, where they were used for hunting kangaroos, dingoes, and foxes on pastoral stations. They have an ANKC-documented presence in Australia dating back to the 1860s.

The Irish Wolfhound’s history reaches even further back. Roman records from 391 AD describe gifts of enormous Irish hunting hounds that “all Rome viewed with wonder.” These dogs were bred to hunt wolves and the now-extinct giant Irish elk (which stood six feet at the shoulder). They served as war dogs, royal gifts, and estate guardians across medieval Ireland. When the wolves were hunted to extinction in Ireland by the late 1700s, the Wolfhound lost its primary purpose and nearly disappeared. Captain George Augustus Graham revived the breed in the 1860s–1880s, using remaining stock crossed with Scottish Deerhounds, Great Danes, and Borzoi. This is why the two breeds look so similar — the modern Irish Wolfhound literally contains Deerhound genetics.

How to Tell Them Apart

Standing side by side, these breeds look almost identical to untrained eyes. Both have long, wiry coats, long legs, deep chests, and elegant sighthound silhouettes. But once you know the differences, they’re surprisingly distinct.

The Irish Wolfhound is simply bigger — taller, heavier, and more muscular. The AKC breed standard uses the word “muscular” repeatedly. Wolfhounds have a broader chest, a more powerful build, and a slightly wider head. Their tail is long and slightly curved upward, and their coat is a rough double coat that sheds lightly year-round.

The Scottish Deerhound is built for speed, not power. They’re leaner, narrower, and more Greyhound-like in silhouette. Their head is longer and more refined, their ears are set higher, and their tail is long and tapered like a whip. Their coat is a harsh, wiry single coat (no undercoat), and they tend to have a more “scruffy” appearance. Deerhounds are almost always seen in blue-grey, dark grey, or brindle, while Wolfhounds come in a wider range including grey, brindle, red, black, white, and fawn.

Physical Comparison at a Glance

Physical Trait	Scottish Deerhound	Irish Wolfhound
Build	Lean, Greyhound-like, built for speed	Muscular, powerful, built for strength
Head Shape	Long, narrow, refined muzzle	Longer, broader, more powerful jaw
Ears	Small, folded, set high	Small, folded, rose-shaped
Tail	Long, tapered, whip-like	Long, slightly curved upward
Coat	Harsh wiry single coat	Rough wiry double coat
Common Colours	Blue-grey, dark grey, brindle	Grey, brindle, red, black, white, fawn
Tallest Dog Breed?	No (but close)	Yes — tallest breed recognised by AKC/ANKC

What Are They Actually Like to Live With?

Both breeds are calm, dignified, and gentle. Neither will bark at visitors or destroy your furniture out of spite. But they are different dogs to live with, and the differences matter.

Health Issues

This is the section every potential giant-breed owner needs to read carefully. Both breeds have shorter lifespans than most dogs, and both are prone to serious health conditions. This is the reality of owning a giant sighthound, and it’s the single biggest reason many people choose not to.

Lifespan: Scottish Deerhounds live 8–11 years on average, which is relatively good for a giant breed. Irish Wolfhounds live 6–8 years — one of the shortest lifespans of any breed. Some reach 9–10, but it’s uncommon. This 2–3 year difference is significant and is a major factor in choosing between them.

Shared health risks: Bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus/GDV), dilated cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart), and osteosarcoma (bone cancer). All three conditions are common in giant breeds and can be fatal. Bloat is a genuine emergency that can kill a dog within hours if untreated — surgery costs $5,000–$12,000 AUD.

Deerhound-specific risks: Factor VII deficiency (a blood clotting disorder causing excessive bleeding during surgery or injury), liver shunt (particularly in puppies — bile acid testing is recommended), and cystinuria (a urinary condition). Deerhounds are overall considered the healthier of the two breeds. Reputable breeders in Australia DNA test for Factor VII and liver shunt.

Wolfhound-specific risks: Irish Wolfhounds have a higher rate of dilated cardiomyopathy than Deerhounds, with some studies suggesting up to 25% of the breed is affected. They’re also more susceptible to osteosarcoma, hip and elbow dysplasia, liver shunt, and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). The combination of a larger body and more health issues explains the shorter lifespan.

For both breeds, cardiac screening by a sighthound-experienced veterinary cardiologist is essential. Standard vets may not recognise the breed-specific cardiac norms of sighthounds (they have naturally larger hearts and different ECG patterns). Always ask your breeder for cardiac screening, hip/elbow scores, and DNA test results.

Common Health Costs Comparison

Health Concern	Deerhound Risk | Est. Cost	Wolfhound Risk | Est. Cost
Bloat / GDV (emergency surgery)	High | $5,000–$12,000	High | $5,000–$12,000
Dilated Cardiomyopathy	Moderate | $2,000–$6,000/yr management	High | $2,000–$8,000/yr management
Osteosarcoma (bone cancer)	Moderate | $5,000–$15,000+	High | $5,000–$15,000+
Hip / Elbow Dysplasia	Low | $4,000–$8,000	Moderate | $4,000–$8,000
Factor VII Deficiency	Moderate (DNA testable) | Varies	Low | Varies
Liver Shunt	Moderate (bile acid test) | $3,000–$8,000	Moderate | $3,000–$8,000
Est. Annual Vet Costs	$800 – $2,000	$1,000 – $3,000

Grooming – Which Is More Work?

Good news: compared to many breeds (especially the Doodles), both giant sighthounds are relatively low-maintenance in the grooming department. Their wiry coats don’t mat easily and don’t need professional clipping. The main tasks are regular brushing, occasional hand-stripping, and beard/eyebrow tidying.

The Deerhound’s single coat is easier to maintain overall — a thorough brush twice a week keeps it in good condition. They shed seasonally (mainly spring and autumn). The Wolfhound’s double coat sheds lightly year-round and may require slightly more frequent brushing, but neither breed needs salon visits.

Grooming Task	Scottish Deerhound	Irish Wolfhound
Brushing Frequency	2–3 times per week	2–3 times per week
Professional Grooming	Rarely needed; occasional hand-stripping	Rarely needed; occasional hand-stripping
Shedding Pattern	Seasonal (spring/autumn)	Light year-round
Nail Trimming	Every 2–3 weeks	Every 2–3 weeks
Ear Cleaning	Fortnightly	Fortnightly
Beard/Eyebrow Tidying	Monthly trim	Monthly trim

how Active Are They Really?

People assume all giant dogs are lazy. That’s true of the Wolfhound and absolutely untrue of the Deerhound. Understanding this difference is critical before you choose.

Exercise Factor	Scottish Deerhound	Irish Wolfhound
Daily Exercise Needed	60–90 minutes (including running)	30–45 minutes (walks + light play)
Exercise Type	Must gallop daily in fenced area; lure coursing ideal	Walks, gentle play, short runs
Off-Leash Safety	Poor — strong chase drive, must be fenced	Poor — sighthound chase drive, must be fenced
Minimum Fence Height	1.8 m (6 ft) — they can clear lower fences	1.8 m (6 ft)
Puppy Exercise Limits	Strict — no forced exercise until 18 months (joint protection)	Strict — no forced exercise until 18–24 months (joint protection)
If Under-Exercised…	Restless, pacing, may become destructive or depressed	Weight gain, lethargy, joint strain

Australian Climate Considerations

Both breeds handle cool and temperate climates well — their wiry coats provide some insulation but are not heavy. In Australian summers (particularly in QLD, NT, and inland NSW/WA), giant sighthounds can overheat. Their deep chests and large body mass make heat dissipation harder than in smaller breeds. Exercise should be limited to early morning or late evening on days over 30°C. Neither breed should live primarily outdoors in tropical or arid regions of Australia without air-conditioned shelter. Both breeds do well in Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart, and highland areas of NSW where moderate temperatures prevail.

Which one Easier to Train?

Neither breed is a Golden Retriever. Sighthounds are intelligent, but they were bred to work independently at high speed — not to follow commands in close cooperation with a handler. This means training requires patience and realistic expectations.

Irish Wolfhounds are the slightly more biddable of the two. Their gentle, people-oriented nature means they’re more motivated by your approval. They respond well to calm, patient training and will learn basic commands reliably. However, they mature slowly (mentally not fully adult until 2–3 years) and can be stubborn when they don’t see the point.

Scottish Deerhounds are more independent and cat-like in their approach to training. They’ll learn commands but will decide for themselves whether to obey, especially if something more interesting (like a running animal) catches their eye. Recall training is particularly challenging — a Deerhound in chase mode will not hear your voice. This is not a breed for off-leash obedience work.

Common Deerhound training mistake: Expecting reliable recall. A Deerhound’s prey drive overrides trained behaviour every time. Use a long line in unfenced areas and accept that off-leash freedom only happens inside secure fencing.

Common Wolfhound training mistake: Allowing bad habits because the puppy is “cute.” A 10 kg Wolfhound puppy jumping on people is endearing. A 60 kg adult doing the same is dangerous. Establish boundaries from day one.

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Which Costs More in Australia?

Cost Category	Deerhound (AUD)	Irish Wolfhound (AUD)
Puppy (Registered Breeder)	$2,000 – $4,000	$2,000 – $4,000
Rescue / Adoption	$300 – $800	$300 – $800
First-Year Setup (bed, crate, bowls)	$1,500 – $2,500	$2,000 – $3,000
Monthly Food	$150 – $250	$200 – $350
Annual Ongoing Costs	$3,000 – $5,000	$4,000 – $7,000
Pet Insurance (Monthly)	$80 – $150	$100 – $200+
Bloat Prevention (gastropexy)	$500 – $1,500 (recommended)	$500 – $1,500 (strongly recommended)
Lifetime Cost (Est.)	$35,000 – $60,000 (8–11 yr)	$35,000 – $55,000 (6–8 yr)

Note the lifetime cost similarity despite the Wolfhound’s shorter life — they simply cost more per year. Pet insurance for giant breeds in Australia is among the most expensive, and some insurers exclude breed-specific conditions like cardiomyopathy. Compare policies carefully before committing.

Both breeds are rare in Australia with limited breeders. Expect waitlists of 6–18 months. Use DogsOnline (dogzonline.com.au) to find ANKC-registered breeders, and contact the relevant breed clubs: the Deerhound Club of Victoria, the Irish Wolfhound Club of NSW, and state equivalents.

Deerhound vs Irish Wolfhound for Australian Owners

So, which one Should You Get?

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• The Scottish Deerhound is the athlete — leaner, faster, more energetic, and longer-lived. They’re the choice for active sighthound enthusiasts who want an independent, dignified companion with genuine running ability.
• The Irish Wolfhound is the gentle giant — taller, heavier, calmer, and more emotionally bonded to their family. They’re the choice for those who want a profoundly gentle dog with an unmistakable presence, and who can accept a shorter time together.
• Both breeds are rare in Australia with limited breeders and long waitlists. Start the conversation with breed clubs early — 12–18 months before you want a puppy is not unusual. Always confirm cardiac screening, hip/elbow scores, DNA testing (Factor VII for Deerhounds), and bile acid testing for puppies.

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Frequently Asked Questions