Irish Wolfhound Airedale Terrier Mix: Pictures, Care Guide, Temperament, & Traits

The Irish Wolfhound Airedale Terrier mix is a designer breed that combines the Irish Wolfhound and Airedale Terrier. The cross gets most of its physical attributes from the massive Irish Wolfhound, although it does have the thick coat of the Airedale. The resulting hybrid is a sweet-tempered dog that sheds a lot and requires plenty of exercise but one that gets along great with family. It will need early socializing to prevent the potential for aggression with other dogs that can be experienced in Airedale Terriers.

Breed Overview

The Irish Wolfhound is a large dog breed that was used to pull people off horses during battles and to hunt deer and boar. The Airedale Terrier is the largest of the terrier breeds but is still dwarfed by the Wolfhound. It was used primarily to hunt otters. These former hunting breeds combine to create a large breed that is good with family and strangers, but that sheds a lot and does require plenty of exercise. The hybrid breed is rare, and potential owners will most likely have to find a specialist breeder to buy one.

Irish Wolfhound Airedale Terrier Characteristics

Irish Wolfhound Airedale Terrier Mix Puppies

The Irish Wolfhound Airedale Terrier mix is not a popular or common breed, which means that these crossbreeds can be difficult to find. The parent breeds are also not the most popular, but your best option for finding the hybrid breed is likely to be finding an Airedale or Irish Terrier breeder and asking what they have available. Accidental or intentional breeding may lead to litters of the mix. Because the breed is not popular, and the cross is not recognized by kennel clubs, the cost of puppies should be relatively low. If you are buying from a breeder, meet at least one of the parents, typically the mother, and try to meet any littermates that might be left. Make sure the breeder has had dysplasia tests done because Wolfhounds especially are prone to these potentially debilitating joint problems.

Because Irish Wolfhound Airedale Terrier Mixes do grow to be very large dogs, it can lead to them being surrendered to rescues and shelters, if owners were unaware of the potential growth. When adopting, always ensure that you meet the dog first. Try to take it out for a walk and get as much information as possible from the rescue. There is no guarantee that the information provided to the shelter, by the dog’s former owner, is accurate. Meeting the dog is the only way to get some idea of its temperament.

It can take up to 2 years for the Irish Wolfhound to be fully grown, which is common in larger breeds. This means that while the puppy will grow quickly, growth might be slower than expected. The Airedale Terrier in the mix means these puppies will likely be very active, and they will require socialization to ensure that you get the good-natured dog-loving Wolfhound.

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Temperament & Intelligence of the Irish Wolfhound Airedale Terrier Mix

With any hybrid or crossbreed, you will get elements of both parent breeds, but rather than meeting in the middle, your dog may develop more of the attributes of one breed than the other. The Irish Wolfhound Airedale Terrier Mix combines the soft, loving nature of the Irish Wolfhound with the loving, energetic Airedale. The Airedale does have the potential to show aggression to other dogs, although this can be avoided through early socialization and good training.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪

The Irish Wolfhound Airedale Terrier Mix has a friendly and sweet personality and will get along with all members of the family. They will usually get along with visitors, too. However, they are a large breed that can accidentally cause injuries to anybody, especially to young children. Never leave very young children unsupervised with dogs and ensure you offer regular training to prevent your dog from jumping up.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽 

The Airedale Terrier can be aggressive with other dogs and pets, but the Irish Wolfhound is generally very good with all animals. Although the Irish Wolfhound Airedale Terrier mix tends towards the more accepting Wolfhound nature, you should socialize your dog from a young age and throughout its life. This will help ensure that it remains friendly with other dogs.

No matter the breed and temperament, make introductions gradually when bringing a new animal into the house. If you’re introducing dogs, walk them together first, before making gradual indoor introductions. If introducing a cat to a dog, ensure the cat has its own space it can run away to if everything gets a bit much, and reward positive behavior from the dog.

Things to Know When Owning an Irish Wolfhound Airedale Terrier Mix:

The Irish Wolfhound Airedale Terrier mix is a big dog with quite a high energy level. It is an intelligent breed and is usually quite easy to train, although the Irish Wolfhound in the breed can make it more challenging. As both parent breeds are accomplished working dog breeds, you will be dealing with a working breed.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

The breed needs a good quality diet that consists of protein from beneficial meat sources, omega fatty acids, and small amounts of carbs ideally from fruit and vegetables. Vitamins and minerals can come from bone or plant sources. Expect to give at least two cups of good-quality kibble per day, typically spread over two meals.

Follow manufacturer guidelines, which are usually based on the dog’s weight, or ideal weight, but feed according to veterinary guidelines, if any specific instructions have been given. Your dog should always be given unrestricted access to fresh water. If you give treats or use food-based rewards for training, take the calories and other nutritional content into account when calculating your dog’s daily food requirements.

Exercise 🐕

The Irish Wolfhound is a big dog but only has moderate to high exercise requirements. The Airedale Terrier, like any terrier breed, has high energy needs and can be a very lively dog. The cross between these two breeds will usually result in a dog that needs 90 minutes of exercise per day. Provide two walks each day and try to find additional ways to meet your dog’s exercise requirements.

These working dog breeds do well in agility and other canine sports. Canine sports can provide a great way to burn off energy while also building a bond between the two of you.

Training 🎾

Both parent breeds are intelligent but while the Airedale is considered easy to train because it enjoys the challenge and the stimulation, the Irish Wolfhound requires consistent training, or it will revert to untrained ways. Spend time every day training your dog and sign up for puppy classes when it is young. Puppy classes are a great means of socialization, and they teach you the basics of dog training, too.

Grooming ✂️

The Irish Wolfhound Airedale Terrier Mix is a heavy shedder that gets its thick coat from the Airedale parent breed. This means you should expect to spend a lot of time vacuuming up dog hair. Daily brushing will help keep some of the shedding in check, and it will remove dead hairs to prevent uncomfortable matting, but it won’t completely prevent hair on the sofa. Ensure your dog’s nails are trimmed every 2 months or so and brush teeth at least three times a week to help prevent decay and dental disease, which are very common in dogs.

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Health and Conditions 🏥

The Airedale Terrier is a hardy, tough dog, but is prone to some hereditary conditions. The Irish Wolfhound is also prone to some conditions, especially those that are linked to their large stature. Although the mix combines the two breeds, you should still look for signs of the following conditions and consult a vet immediately if you notice any symptoms.

Male vs Female

Males will usually grow bigger than females. They also tend to be more flighty and more playful, while females can be prone to mood swings. However, individual temperament is more important than gender when it comes to determining the traits and characteristics of a dog.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Irish Wolfhound Airedale Terrier Mix

1. The Airedale Is the Largest Terrier

The Airedale Terrier is, as the title suggests, a terrier. Like all terriers, it was bred to hunt vermin. As well as rats, Airedales were used to hunt otters. Their thick curly hair protected them from the cold and wet. Some are still used as working dogs, although they are also kept as family pets. Airedales may retain their prey drive, which means you should always take care around cats and smaller animals and ensure that you have excellent recall before considering letting an Airedale off its leash.

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2. Irish Wolfhounds Were Trained as War Dogs

Irish Wolfhounds were also bred as working dogs. As well as being used to hunt animals like wolves, by monks, they were also used to drag riders off horses during battles. The breed lost popularity when the last wolves in Ireland were killed in the latter part of the 18^th Century. In the 19^th Century, efforts were made to reintroduce the breed but while there are examples of the Irish Wolfhound today, its giant size puts many potential owners off.

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3. Airedale Terriers Have Been Used as Police Dogs

Airedale Terriers have been used in wars, too, serving with the British military during World War I. They were also one of the first breeds used as police dogs in the UK, again during the war.

Final Thoughts

The Irish Wolfhound Airedale Terrier mix is a mix of two working breeds. The resulting hybrid breed is a sweet, loving dog that does well in families and will usually get along with other animals too. However, they do require plenty of exercise and their large size means it can cause accidental injuries, especially to smaller children. The thick coat, inherited from the Airedale, also requires a lot of attention to ensure the dog is comfortable and healthy. The breed can prove difficult to find because it isn’t that popular, which means breeders rarely mix these two breeds.

See also: 

• Irish Goldendoodle: Pictures, Care Guide, Temperament & Traits
• Irish Wolfadoodle: Pictures, Care Guide, Temperament & Traits

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Featured Image Credit: (L) GoDog Photo, Shutterstock | (R) Svetlay, Shutterstock