Q: Can a single Irish Wolfhound kill a wolf by itself?
Just a little curious.
Photo Credit: Airwolfhound/Flickr CC
Answers and Views:
Answer by Ocimom
One on one - probably. Most of the breeds now are probably not capable of doing things they were originally bred for!
Answer by Rayven ~ SCAdian gir
Possible. Your average wolfhound? Likely not. Now a wolfhound that's actually used for hunting and taken on things meaner than a wolf (wild boar for instance) Then yes the scales are tipped a little better in favor of the wolfhound.
Answer by DePer
The Irish wolfhound is the only hunting dog that did the entire job. The hunter had to do nothing but come in and pick up a carcass.
Answer by I <3 animals
Yes, a wolfhound could most certainly, but wolves are more rugged and were made by the Wild….certainly, they have the upper hand (wolves) now a Borzoi…well they were made to hunt wolves ;)
Answer by stephanie
It would depend on the size/age if the wolf and also the size/age of the dog… BUT there is a video on youtube of one wolfhound taking down TWO wolves…
Answer by joesmania
I didn't see a wolfhound in that film. Macedonian, Serbian, Albanian, or Illyrian Shepherd. Very likely a Caucasian Ovcharka also. Hard to tell for sure with the shaky view. Whatever it is, it is not a wolfhound. Very interesting footage from 1960 though.
Answer by darren
Wolfs are cowards usually never fight one on one and if they are losing the fight will run away. The wolfhound would have a tough go at it.
Answer by Katherine Wolf
I strongly disbelieve wolves are cowards, they are pack animals. Why would you wanna kill a wolf anyway? I don’t think a wolfhound could kill a wolf.
Answer by Gail
They were originally bred to hunt wolves, boar, and deer, but only in numbers so its unlikely one Wolfhound could bring down and kill a wolf.
Answer by Chuck
I am a farm boy and have not been without a Wolfhound(s) for going on thirty years.
Yes, an Irish Wolfhound can kill a wolf. There are confirmed cases of them taking down Timber Wolves out west ... and when you do the math in terms of weight they match up well. The Wolfhound has a clear advantage over the wolf in terms of fighting style and canines. Wolves clearly have larger canines that allow them to hold on to their prey and 'drag' them down. Wolfhounds, on the other hand, will chase their prey like a wolf ... but instead of biting and holding on (generally) to their prey, they literally take a front paw and wipe out the back legs of the animal they are chasing, effectively tripping it. Once on top of their prey, it comes down to the labor of rip and pulls - of which their teeth are ideally suited for.
As for the best Wolfhound hunters - the female owns this title outright. Males have been used successfully as well but the ratio is clearly in the female's favor here.
As for temperament - Wolfhounds are in a league of dogs that number less than you can count on one hand. Great with babies, children, and family ... period. But what still amazes me to this day is when they are angered - a Fury like no other emerges. Not rage, but Fury - they still have to pinpoint laser control of their actions and faculties. It really is hard to describe - instinct kicks in but they are still in control. I have witnessed it many times over the years ... and my Pups routinely draw blood when play fighting on our property. When they take it too far and draw blood and stop fighting - it winds up being love and licking fest as both Wolfhounds apologize to one another.
Answer by Ruffy
have books on wolfhounds. In the early twenties, a wolfhound imported to America killed twenty wolfs singlehanded. In dogfights years ago even the English Mastiff was no match for a wolfhound. They are gentle giants but having seen one attacked by a Rottweiler then destroy the other dog you should understand they are more than capable of dispatching a wolf. Don't be fooled by appearances with these huge gentle beasts.
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Answer by Neo
I own a wolfhound and I would say that any wolfhound that is used for hunting ...absolutely. the speed and power of the wolfhound really surprised me and make no mistake they are born hunters!
Answer by Ray
Wolfhounds or any big sheepdog one on one wouldn't be a match for a big male wolf, those videos of those wolves were small European female wolves that were injured by the owners of the dogs. Wolfhounds didn't kill wolves either, they were called wolfhounds because they hunted the scent of wolves and the Masters were there to shoot them
Know better? Give your own answer to this question!
Maverick Brokers says
One of the ranches I worked on they had a pair of Irish Wolfhounds and this stub tail little mutt. The mutt would go out and play in the hay field while the 2 Irishmen would lay by the fence and watch, when a yote would come in to get the mutt those Wolf hounds would jump up and go after the Yote(s), they would run them down before the end of the 80 acre field and dispatch it/them right there. The best fight I seen personally was the two took down a pack of 5 at once.
And to answer Katherine Wolf’s “question”. Because wolves are coldblooded killers that don not only kill for food but for the fun as well. Wolves have devastated the moose, caribou and deer herds here in BC as well playing hell with the cattle. They have bred out of control and are now “killing themselves out of house and home”
Chuck says
The comment has been moved into the body of the post.
Jamie says
Hey I would like to talk dogs with you! I’m looking to get a couple wolfhounds and need to learn more.
Please email me [email protected]
Wayne says
When I was a young boy my father hunted with the wolfhound in outback Australia. His dog was capable of stepping out of the back of a pickup truck at 25 – 30 mph and taking down large male dingoes and wild boar with a single bite. The dog had canines over 50 mm in length and his favourite killing technique was to bite his target prey through the top of the head causing instant death – the full grown male wolfhound can – with a single bite sever the spine of a wolf whilst on the run. I have owned and hunted with wolfhounds myself over many years and have never seen a dog match it for power and ferocity when in it’s hunting mode – speed and agility is simply amazing for such a large animal – always awe-inspiring – unless you have seen them in action yourself you cannot imagine their abilities.
Megan says
You’re so wrong I <3 animals
John Seears says
I have owned Irish wolfhounds and Central asian ovcharka and can tell you for a fact my Irish wolf hound bitch at 34″ at the shoulder and 148 lbs when fighting with the male central asian ovcharka ,he was no match for her she was faster and more agile and the more he angered her the more ferocious she became .If retrained to do the job they were once bred for they would easily take out a wolf one on one.Unfortunately most are bred to be show dogs and the aggression is bred away from so you end up with a docile breed to make them more managable .
Victor says
I also have a wolfhound and let me tell you they are vicious and no doubt kill a wolf I live in Colorado and when the moose come out she try’s to attach them but one time she did kill one and she had gotten into a fight with a pack of coyotes and cane back fine there are full capable as long as you shoe them love and they become loyal to you to protect you af all cost
Katherine Wolf says
The comment has been moved into the body of the post.