Which is Better between the Irish Wolfhound and the Plott? A Very Detailed Review.

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Irish Wolfhound Versus Plott: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Irish Wolfhound and the Plott? 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 Plott 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 Plott.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Irish Wolfhound and the Plott 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 Plott. 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 Plott.

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 Plott.

Irish Wolfhound versus Plott: Overview

A very important difference between the Irish Wolfhound and the Plott is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Irish Wolfhound is a giant-sized dog while the Plott is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, both the Irish Wolfhound and the Plott are Hound Dogs. This means both the Irish Wolfhound and the Plott 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.

Irish Wolfhound versus Plott: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Irish Wolfhound to the Plott 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 Plott

Factor Irish Wolfhound Plott
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 1/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
General Health 1/5 5/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 5/5 5/5
Weight 115 to 180 pounds 40 to 75 pounds
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 1/5
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 4/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 2/5
Easygoing 3/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Easy To Train 3/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 1/5
Height 32 to 35 inches tall at the shoulder 20 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 2/5
Intelligence 4/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 1/5
Life Span 6 to 8 years 12 to 14 years
Average Lifespan 7.0 years 13.0 years
Average Price $1930 $600
Price Range $1500 – $2400 $480 – $700
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Serum Bile Acid Test
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 73 161

    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 Plott. 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 Plott is 74 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Irish Wolfhound is a better pet than the Plott. 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 Plott 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 Plott

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

  • Irish Wolfhounds have the tendency to develop certain health problems. However, Plotts are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • The Similarities Between the Irish Wolfhound and the Plott

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

  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Plott do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Plott do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Plott are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Plott are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Plott do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Plott are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Plott require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Plott are very playful.
  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Plott are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Plott get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Plott have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Irish Wolfhound versus Plott

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

    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, Plotts weigh 40 to 75 pounds when fully grown. Plotts are 20 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Irish Wolfhound versus Plott

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

    The lifespan of Plotts is between 12 to 14 years. The average lifespan of Plotts is 13.0 years.

    Plotts live longer than Irish Wolfhounds.

    Price of Irish Wolfhound versus Price of Plott

    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 Plott puppy is $600. The price of the Plott typically ranges from $480 – $700. However, the price of the Plott can be as low as $300 and as high as $800. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 17 Plott puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Irish Wolfhound is more expensive than the Plott.

    Irish Wolfhound Plott
    Average Price $1930 $600
    Price Range $1500 to $2400 $480 to $700

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Irish Wolfhound and Plott. For different price points, the charts show how many Irish Wolfhound puppies or how many Plott 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 Plotts

    A breakdown of the prices of Plotts

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Irish Wolfhound puppy or the Plott 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 Plott

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Irish Wolfhounds and many Plotts 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 Bark Ruffalo that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Irish Wolfhounds like Bark Ruffalo on pefinder.com.

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

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

    Also, Diesel is an adorable Male Plott on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

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

    The Popularity of Irish Wolfhound versus Popularity of Plott

    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 Plott over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Irish Wolfhound is more popular with dog owners than the Plott. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Irish Wolfhound is 73 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Plott is 161 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Irish Wolfhound

    Popularity of Irish Wolfhound

    Popularity of Plott

    Popularity of Plott

    Year Irish Wolfhound Popularity Rank Plott Popularity Rank
    2013 73 149
    2014 72 154
    2015 69 149
    2016 73 158
    2017 73 166
    2018 76 171
    2019 76 177
    2020 74 167

    Tolerates Being Alone: Irish Wolfhound versus Plott

    Irish Wolfhounds do not like to be left alone.

    Plotts do not like to be left alone.

    Do Irish Wolfhounds shed more than Plotts?

    Irish Wolfhounds shed moderately.

    Plotts do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Irish Wolfhound or the Plott

    Irish Wolfhounds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Plotts do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

    Irish Wolfhounds are moderately easy to groom.

    Plotts are very easy to groom.

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

    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.

    Plotts 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.

    Do Irish Wolfhounds Bark and Howl? What about Plotts?

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

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

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

    Irish Wolfhounds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Plotts cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Wanderlust Potential: Irish Wolfhound vs. Plott

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

    Plotts have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Irish Wolfhounds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Plotts Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Plotts can tolerate hot weather.

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

    Irish Wolfhounds get along very well with other dogs.

    Plotts get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Irish Wolfhounds good family dogs? What about Plotts?

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

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

    How Kid-friendly are Irish Wolfhounds and Plotts?

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

    Plotts get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

    Is the Irish Wolfhound Easier to Train than the Plott?

    Irish Wolfhounds are fairly easy to train.

    Plotts are very easy to train.

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

    Irish Wolfhounds do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Plotts do not adapt well to apartment living.

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

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

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

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Plott 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 Plott:

  • Patterdale Terrier (77 percent match with Plott). Here is our comparison of the Irish Wolfhound vs Patterdale Terrier.
  • Rhodesian Ridgeback (77 percent match with Plott). Here is our comparison of the Irish Wolfhound vs Rhodesian Ridgeback.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Irish Wolfhound Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Irish Wolfhound versus Cocker Spaniel     Irish Wolfhound versus Dalmatian     Irish Wolfhound versus German Pinscher     Irish Wolfhound versus Yorkipoo     Irish Wolfhound versus Yorkshire Terrier     Irish Wolfhound versus Dutch Shepherd     Irish Wolfhound versus Pyrenean Mastiff     Irish Wolfhound versus Icelandic Sheepdog     Irish Wolfhound versus Border Terrier     Irish Wolfhound versus Pyrenean Shepherd     Irish Wolfhound versus Cavapoo     Irish Wolfhound versus Yorkshire Terrier     Irish Wolfhound versus Saint Bernard     Irish Wolfhound versus Irish Water Spaniel     Irish Wolfhound versus Azawakh     Irish Wolfhound versus Schipperke     Irish Wolfhound versus Dogue de Bordeaux     Irish Wolfhound versus Border Collie     Irish Wolfhound versus Fila Brasileiro     Irish Wolfhound versus Braque du Bourbonnais     Irish Wolfhound versus Australian Shepherd     Irish Wolfhound versus English Springer Spaniel     Irish Wolfhound versus Portuguese Pointer     Irish Wolfhound versus Greyhound     Irish Wolfhound versus Australian Kelpie     

    Plott Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Plott versus Toy Poodle     Plott versus Miniature Schnauzer     Plott versus Central Asian Shepherd Dog     Plott versus Cane Corso     Plott versus Flat-Coated Retriever     Plott versus Akita Chow     Plott versus Lakeland Terrier     Plott versus Irish Terrier     Plott versus Spinone Italiano     Plott versus Treeing Tennessee Brindle     Plott versus Barbet     Plott versus Staffordshire Bull Terrier     Plott versus Flat-Coated Retriever     Plott versus Estrela Mountain Dog     Plott versus King Shepherd     Plott versus Cesky Terrier     Plott versus Pomsky     Plott versus Swedish Vallhund     Plott versus Maltipoo     Plott versus English Cocker Spaniel     Plott versus Welsh Terrier     Plott versus Canaan Dog     Plott versus Biewer Terrier     Plott versus Affenhuahua     Plott versus Chi-Poo     

    Conclusion: Irish Wolfhound versus Plott. 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 Plott better suits you and your family.