STOP SCROLLING: Scottish Deerhound vs Irish Wolfhound—How to Tell These Giant Twins Apart!

Get the lowdown on what sets these look-alike breeds apart. Spot the tell-tale gaps in looks, personality, roots, and more between the Irish Wolfhound and Scottish Deerhound.

From Teoti Anderson, CPDT-KA, KPA-CTP

Though they look near-identical, these easy-to-mix-up breeds have some real differences. Here's the rundown between the Scottish Deerhound and the Irish Wolfhound:

Let's take a closer look at both breeds.

But once shelter-at-home orders lift, how will Fido handle the shift? Many dogs are fine—they’re amazingly adaptable. Home all day? Awesome! Back to work? Nap time! They take change in stride. Others, though, will struggle with your new routine.

Signs your dog isn’t handling a routine change well:

Looking like a bigger, coated Greyhound, the Scottish Deerhound is a sharp, alert sight hound. One of the oldest breeds around, he owns top-tier hunting skill and is a regular at lure coursing events. The fur on his body and neck is rough and wiry, while the coat on his head, chest, and belly runs much softer.

Known centuries back as the Scotch Greyhound, Rough Greyhound, and Highland Deerhound, the Scottish Deerhound became a clear-cut breed in the 16th and 17th centuries. He was the go-to breed for chasing and killing deer, and back then, no one below an earl's rank could own one. While he's quiet and dignified at home, the Scottish Deerhound may still bolt after any furry critter that dashes by. So exercise him on leash or in a fenced yard. His crisp, somewhat wiry coat, though, is a breeze to care for—just brushing and the odd bath. Check their full breed profile here!

Drooling. You come home and think he peed inside, but on cleanup you realize it’s drool. That’s a sign of canine anxiety.

Self-injury. Some dogs try so hard to escape they hurt themselves—digging, biting, clawing out of a crate until they cut themselves trying to get free.

An Irish Wolfhound has to be big and strike a commanding presence. He's got a large, muscular Greyhound-style frame and stands as the tallest of dogs, though not the heaviest. A stellar athlete and distance runner, an old Irish saying nails the breed: 'Gentle when stroked, fierce when provoked.'

One of the earliest mentions of Irish Wolfhounds shows up in Roman records from 391 A.D. Often given as royal gifts, they hunted with their masters, fought beside them in battle, guarded their castles, played with their kids, and dozed quietly by the fire as family pals. They were ferocious hunters of wolves and the giant Irish elk—so good, in fact, that their prey vanished from Ireland and the hounds hit hard times. By the 19th century few Irish Wolfhounds remained in Ireland. Though now mostly a family companion, the Irish Wolfhound will still instinctively chase fleeing prey. His big size demands more room, more exercise, and a larger car. His rough, natural coat needs regular brushing. Read their full breed profile here!

At-a-Glance Differences Between the Scottish Deerhound & Irish Wolfhound

Your dog is worried and anxious, so old-school intimidation won’t fix it—it could make it worse. For serious cases, work with a pro trainer using modern, science-based behaviour modification.

Here are five things you can do to get your dog off the worry train and onto a calmer track:

1. Practise your departure cues. What do you do when leaving—grab keys, put on shoes, pick up a purse? Randomly do all of it through the day, but don’t leave. Keys, shoes, purse, then wander the house a minute. Then put them down. Those are triggers for your dog. By practising them without departing, he gets used to them since they don’t always mean goodbye.

2. Make arrivals casual. When you get home, skip the welcome parade. Stay calm, greet him casually, and wait until he’s less frantic before you give attention.

3. Set an exercise plan. Make sure she gets enough for her breed (or mix) and age. A teenage terrier with zero cardio has plenty of energy to pace, worry, and fret.

4. Teach an out-of-sight stay. Cue Sit or Down. Step back one, return and treat. Step back two, return and treat. Build until you can turn a corner and vanish. Always return and release her from Stay—don’t call her to you. You want her to learn you come back and she’s rewarded for holding position.

5. Get her hooked on food-stuffed toys. Start while home: serve every meal from a puzzle toy, not a bowl, so she learns to love them. Once she eats all meals from toys, start using them when you leave.

You love her, but you can’t be there 24/7. A dog who barks and howls when you’re gone is also a problem in a condo or apartment—neighbours care less that she’s stressed than that she’s loud. Now that you’re back to normal, help her adjust. It’s better for her mind, and yours.

Fun puzzle toys to mentally engage your dog—The Best Boredom Busters!

» Read Your Breed For more breed profiles, go to moderndogmagazine.com/breeds

The Mandala and Star puzzle from My Intelligent Pet packs two puzzles in one, challenging your dog’s focus and dexterity as she knocks over towers and slides pieces hunting treats. ($52, myintelligentpets.com)