Breed comparison
Irish Wolfhound vs Scottish Deerhound
How the two breeds compare on the American Kennel Club's 1 to 5 trait ratings, and which one suits which home.
Irish Wolfhound
Scottish Deerhound5Affection with family5
3Good with young children3
4Good with other dogs5
3Openness to strangers3
3Playfulness3
3Energy level3
3Trainability3
3Mental stimulation needs3
3Adaptability3
5Watchdog / protective3
1Barking1
3Shedding3
2Coat grooming1
2Drooling1
The biggest differences
- Watchdog / protective: the Irish Wolfhound scores 5 out of 5, the Scottish Deerhound 3.
They score the same on affection with family, good with young children, openness to strangers, playfulness, energy level, trainability.
Which one should you choose?
Pick the Irish Wolfhound if you want a more protective watchdog. Pick the Scottish Deerhound if you have other dogs.
Ratings are general breed tendencies from the AKC. Every dog is an individual, so meet the dog, and its parents if you can, before you decide. Not sure? Try the breed selector.
Source: American Kennel Club breed ratings (compiled February 2022). How we check.