Additional information (Wiki): Irish Wolfhounds are sweet-tempered, patient, generous, thoughtful and can be trusted with children. Dignified and willing, they are unconditionally loyal to their owner and family. Not a guard dog by nature, but may be a deterrent simply due to their size. They tend to greet everyone as a friend, so use of them as watch dogs is not recommended; although when they or their owners are put in real danger, they display a fearless nature. Irish Wolfhounds are highly sensitive, requiring a positive environment, encouraging attitude and non-overbearing training methods.

The breed is very old; there are suggestions it may have arrived in Ireland around 3500bc with early settlers,[citation needed] further genetic testing may help clarify a point of origin. Bred as war dogs by the ancients, who called them Cú Faoil. The Irish continued to breed them for this purpose, as well as to guard their homes and protect their stock. Regular references of Irish Wolfhounds being used in dog fights are found in many historical sagas—Cúchulain's favourite dog, Luath, was slain by a southern chief's hound, Phorp. Cúchulain, a name which translates literally as "hound of Culain", gained his name when as a child, known then as Setanta, he slew the ferocious guard dog of Culain forcing him to offer himself as a replacement.