Is the Irish Wolfhound Better than the Mastiff as a Pet? Answer…

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Irish Wolfhound Versus Mastiff: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Irish Wolfhound and the Mastiff? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Irish Wolfhound and the Mastiff better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Irish Wolfhound and the Mastiff.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Irish Wolfhound and the Mastiff is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Irish Wolfhound and for the Mastiff. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Irish Wolfhound and the Mastiff.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Irish Wolfhound or the Mastiff.

Irish Wolfhound versus Mastiff

Irish Wolfhound versus Mastiff: Overview

Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Mastiff are similar in size. The Irish Wolfhound and the Mastiff are both giant-sized dogs.

Furthermore, the Irish Wolfhound belongs to the Hound Dogs group. Hound Dogs were bred to pursue and hunt warm-blooded animals. Hounds hunt by using their good sight or their good sense of smell. Dogs that belong to the Hound Group have strong prey drives and often will stop at nothing to catch what they are pursuing.

On the other hand, the Mastiff belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

Irish Wolfhound versus Mastiff: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Irish Wolfhound to the Mastiff based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Irish Wolfhound and the Mastiff

Factor Irish Wolfhound Mastiff
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 1/5
General Health 1/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 5/5 4/5
Weight 115 to 180 pounds 130 to 220 pounds
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 1/5
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 1/5
NOT Rambunctious 4/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 3/5
Easygoing 3/5 3/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 2/5
Easy To Train 3/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 5/5
Height 32 to 35 inches tall at the shoulder 27 to 32 inches tall at the shoulder
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 4/5
Intelligence 4/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 4/5
Life Span 6 to 8 years 6 to 10 years
Average Lifespan 7.0 years 8.0 years
Average Price $1930 $1740
Price Range $1500 – $2400 $1100 – $2200
Temperament Score 90.1 percent 100.0 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Serum Bile Acid Test
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Cystinuria
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- Minimum age 24 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • PennGen
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 73 28
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 41 72

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Irish Wolfhound in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Mastiff. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the Irish Wolfhound is 82 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Mastiff is 72 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Irish Wolfhound is a better pet than the Mastiff. So, you should get the Irish Wolfhound!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Irish Wolfhound and the Mastiff so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Irish Wolfhound and the Mastiff

    Below is a list of where the Irish Wolfhound and the Mastiff are most different:

  • Irish Wolfhounds do not have the tendency to drool. However, Mastiffs have a very high tendency to drool.
  • Irish Wolfhounds get along well with other dogs. However, Mastiffs do not get along well with other dogs.
  • Irish Wolfhounds are very friendly towards strangers. However, Mastiffs are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • Irish Wolfhounds have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets. However, Mastiffs have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
  • The Similarities Between the Irish Wolfhound and the Mastiff

    The Irish Wolfhound and the Mastiff are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Irish Wolfhound and the Mastiff are most similar:

  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Mastiff do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Mastiff are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Mastiff are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Mastiff do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Mastiff cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Mastiff have low energy levels. They do not require a lot exercise time.
  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Mastiff do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Mastiff can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Mastiff require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Mastiff are very playful.
  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Mastiff are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Mastiff get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Irish Wolfhound versus Mastiff

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Irish Wolfhound and the Mastiff.

    Irish Wolfhounds weigh 115 to 180 pounds when fully grown. Irish Wolfhounds are 32 to 35 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Mastiffs weigh 130 to 220 pounds when fully grown. Mastiffs are 27 to 32 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Irish Wolfhound versus Mastiff

    The lifespan of Irish Wolfhounds is between 6 to 8 years. The average lifespan of Irish Wolfhounds is 7.0 years.

    The lifespan of Mastiffs is between 6 to 10 years. The average lifespan of Mastiffs is 8.0 years.

    Mastiffs live longer than Irish Wolfhounds.

    Temperament of the Irish Wolfhound Versus the Mastiff

    The Mastiff has a better temperament than the Irish Wolfhound.

    This is because the temperament score for the Mastiff is 100.0 percent while the temperament score for the Irish Wolfhound is 90.1 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 90.1 percent, the Irish Wolfhound has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 100.0 percent, the Mastiff has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Irish Wolfhound and the Mastiff by measuring the temperaments of 101 Irish Wolfhounds and 8 Mastiffs.

    Price of Irish Wolfhound versus Price of Mastiff

    The average price of the Irish Wolfhound puppy is $1930. The price of the Irish Wolfhound typically ranges from $1500 – $2400. However, the price of a Irish Wolfhound can be as low as $720 and as high as $4000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 91 Irish Wolfhound puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Mastiff puppy is $1740. The price of the Mastiff typically ranges from $1100 – $2200. However, the price of the Mastiff can be as low as $200 and as high as $4600. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 248 Mastiff puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Irish Wolfhound is more expensive than the Mastiff.

    Irish Wolfhound Mastiff
    Average Price $1930 $1740
    Price Range $1500 to $2400 $1100 to $2200

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Irish Wolfhound and Mastiff. For different price points, the charts show how many Irish Wolfhound puppies or how many Mastiff puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Irish Wolfhounds. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Irish Wolfhounds. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Mastiffs

    A breakdown of the prices of Mastiffs

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Irish Wolfhound puppy or the Mastiff puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Adopting the Irish Wolfhound versus Adopting the Mastiff

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Irish Wolfhounds and many Mastiffs are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Irish Wolfhound named Tex that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Irish Wolfhounds like Tex on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Irish Wolfhounds, Mastiffs are also available for adoption. For example, Lex is a Male Mastiff that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Mastiffs like Lex that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Irish Wolfhound and the Mastiff can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Action Jackson is the name of another Irish Wolfhound (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also, Hank is an adorable Male Mastiff on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    Irish Wolfhounds and Mastiffs are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more Irish Wolfhounds and Mastiffs that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Irish Wolfhound versus the Intelligence of the Mastiff

    Irish Wolfhound Mastiff
    Intelligence Rank 41 out of 130 dog breeds 72 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 80 To 100 Repetitions Or More!

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.
  • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Irish Wolfhound has an obedience intelligence rank of 41 out of 130 dog breeds. The Irish Wolfhound belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Irish Wolfhounds tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.

    The Mastiff has an obedience intelligence rank of 72 out of 130 dog breeds. The Mastiff belongs to the `Lowest Degree of Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Mastiffs tend to learn new commands after 80 to 100 repetitions or more!.

    The Irish Wolfhound is more intelligent than the Mastiff.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    The Popularity of Irish Wolfhound versus Popularity of Mastiff

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Irish Wolfhound and the Mastiff over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Mastiff is more popular with dog owners than the Irish Wolfhound. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Mastiff is 28 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Irish Wolfhound is 73 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Irish Wolfhound

    Popularity of Irish Wolfhound

    Popularity of Mastiff

    Popularity of Mastiff

    Year Irish Wolfhound Popularity Rank Mastiff Popularity Rank
    2013 73 26
    2014 72 26
    2015 69 25
    2016 73 28
    2017 73 28
    2018 76 29
    2019 76 32
    2020 74 33

    Health Problems of Irish Wolfhound versus Health Problems of Mastiff

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.

    Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Mastiff are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Mastiff is prone to more genetic health problems than the Irish Wolfhound.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Mastiff than for the Irish Wolfhound.

    5 health tests are recommended for Irish Wolfhound while 7 tests are recommended for the Mastiff.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Irish Wolfhounds and in Mastiffs.

    Irish Wolfhound Health Problems

    Irish Wolfhounds are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Irish Wolfhound puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Irish Wolfhound puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Irish Wolfhound breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Irish Wolfhounds for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Serum Bile Acid Test
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Irish Wolfhounds here.

    Mastiff Health Problems

    Mastiffs are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Mastiff puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Mastiff puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Mastiff breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Mastiffs for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Cystinuria
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- Minimum age 24 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • PennGen
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Mastiffs here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Irish Wolfhounds and Mastiffs

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Irish Wolfhound Breed is Congenital Cardiac problems.

    This is because the Irish Wolfhound ranks 11 out of 159 dog breeds for Congenital Cardiac problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 682 Irish Wolfhounds, 12 of them had Congenital Cardiac problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Irish Wolfhounds, and how common these diseases are in Irish Wolfhounds relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 11 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 12 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 34 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 50 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 164 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Mastiff Breed is Canine Multifocal Retinopathy problems.

    This is because the Mastiff ranks 3 out of 6 dog breeds for Canine Multifocal Retinopathy problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 891 Mastiffs, 14 of them had Canine Multifocal Retinopathy problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Mastiffs, and how common these diseases are in Mastiffs relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Canine Multifocal Retinopathy problems: Rank 3 out of 6 Dog Breeds
  • Cystinuria problems: Rank 3 out of 6 Dog Breeds
  • Shoulder problems: Rank 9 out of 22 Dog Breeds
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems: Rank 12 out of 32 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 26 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 39 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 39 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 43 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 49 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 53 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 72 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 131 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Irish Wolfhound and in Mastiff and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Irish Wolfhound and the Mastiff:

    Disease Irish Wolfhound Rank Mastiff Rank
    Congenital Cardiac problems 11 out of 159 dog breeds 53 out of 159 dog breeds
    Advanced Cardiac problems 12 out of 71 dog breeds 39 out of 71 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 34 out of 144 dog breeds 26 out of 144 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 50 out of 182 dog breeds 43 out of 182 dog breeds
    Hips problems 164 out of 198 dog breeds 39 out of 198 dog breeds
    Canine Multifocal Retinopathy problems Not Common 3 out of 6 dog breeds
    Cystinuria problems Not Common 3 out of 6 dog breeds
    Shoulder problems Not Common 9 out of 22 dog breeds
    Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems Not Common 12 out of 32 dog breeds
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems Not Common 49 out of 70 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems Not Common 72 out of 115 dog breeds
    Patella problems Not Common 131 out of 145 dog breeds

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Irish Wolfhound versus Mastiff

    Irish Wolfhounds do not like to be left alone.

    Mastiffs can be left alone only for a short time.

    Do Irish Wolfhounds shed more than Mastiffs?

    Irish Wolfhounds shed moderately.

    Mastiffs shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Irish Wolfhound or the Mastiff

    Irish Wolfhounds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Mastiffs have a very high tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Irish Wolfhound or the Mastiff?

    Irish Wolfhounds are moderately easy to groom.

    Mastiffs are moderately easy to groom.

    Does the Irish Wolfhound Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Mastiff?

    Irish Wolfhounds have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Mastiffs have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Do Irish Wolfhounds Bark and Howl? What about Mastiffs?

    Irish Wolfhounds are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Mastiffs are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Can Irish Wolfhounds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Mastiffs Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Irish Wolfhounds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Mastiffs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Irish Wolfhound vs. Mastiff

    Irish Wolfhounds have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Mastiffs do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Can Irish Wolfhounds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Mastiffs Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Irish Wolfhounds cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Mastiffs cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Irish Wolfhound or the Mastiff?

    Irish Wolfhounds get along very well with other dogs.

    Mastiffs do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Irish Wolfhounds good family dogs? What about Mastiffs?

    Irish Wolfhounds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Mastiffs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Irish Wolfhounds and Mastiffs?

    Irish Wolfhounds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Mastiffs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Irish Wolfhound Easier to Train than the Mastiff?

    Irish Wolfhounds are fairly easy to train.

    Mastiffs are fairly easy to train.

    Is the Irish Wolfhound Better for Apartment Owners than the Mastiff?

    Irish Wolfhounds do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Mastiffs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Irish Wolfhound or the Mastiff?

    Irish Wolfhounds are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Mastiffs are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Irish Wolfhound

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Irish Wolfhound that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Irish Wolfhound:

  • Bracco Italiano (74 percent match with Irish Wolfhound). Here is our comparison of the Mastiff vs Bracco Italiano.
  • Cavapoo (72 percent match with Irish Wolfhound). Here is our comparison of the Mastiff vs Cavapoo.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Mastiff

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Mastiff that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Mastiff:

  • Black Russian Terrier (73 percent match with Mastiff). Here is our comparison of the Irish Wolfhound vs Black Russian Terrier.
  • Caucasian Shepherd Dog (72 percent match with Mastiff). Here is our comparison of the Irish Wolfhound vs Caucasian Shepherd Dog.
  • Dogue de Bordeaux (72 percent match with Mastiff). Here is our comparison of the Irish Wolfhound vs Dogue de Bordeaux.
  • Leonberger (73 percent match with Mastiff). Here is our comparison of the Irish Wolfhound vs Leonberger.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Irish Wolfhound and how the Mastiff compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Irish Wolfhound and of the Mastiff to other breeds:

    Irish Wolfhound Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Irish Wolfhound versus Labradoodle     Irish Wolfhound versus English Cocker Spaniel     Irish Wolfhound versus Affenpinscher     Irish Wolfhound versus Maltese     Irish Wolfhound versus Greyhound     Irish Wolfhound versus Collie     Irish Wolfhound versus Xoloitzcuintli     Irish Wolfhound versus Akbash     Irish Wolfhound versus Bullmastiff     Irish Wolfhound versus Polish Lowland Sheepdog     Irish Wolfhound versus Shiranian     Irish Wolfhound versus Xoloitzcuintli     Irish Wolfhound versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog     Irish Wolfhound versus Pharaoh Hound     Irish Wolfhound versus Berger Picard     Irish Wolfhound versus Dachshund     Irish Wolfhound versus Belgian Sheepdog     Irish Wolfhound versus Shiloh Shepherd     Irish Wolfhound versus Stabyhoun     Irish Wolfhound versus Sloughi     Irish Wolfhound versus Cavachon     Irish Wolfhound versus Shetland Sheepdog     Irish Wolfhound versus Bernese Mountain Dog     Irish Wolfhound versus Saint Bernard     

    Mastiff Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Mastiff versus Lhasa Apso     Mastiff versus Berger Picard     Mastiff versus Spanish Mastiff     Mastiff versus Scottish Terrier     Mastiff versus Chihuahua     Mastiff versus Cesky Terrier     Mastiff versus Papillon     Mastiff versus Harrier     Mastiff versus Aussiedoodle     Mastiff versus Chinook     Mastiff versus Schipperke     Mastiff versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever     Mastiff versus Aussiedoodle     Mastiff versus Puli     Mastiff versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     Mastiff versus Cane Corso     Mastiff versus Bullmastiff     Mastiff versus English Cocker Spaniel     Mastiff versus Bouvier des Flandres     Mastiff versus Cockalier     Mastiff versus Westiepoo     Mastiff versus Great Dane     Mastiff versus Shihpoo     Mastiff versus Treeing Tennessee Brindle     Mastiff versus Boxerdoodle     

    Conclusion: Irish Wolfhound versus Mastiff. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Irish Wolfhound and the Mastiff better suits you and your family.