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.
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
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