A wolfhound is a large, powerful breed of dog originally bred to hunt wolves. These dogs needed to be big enough, strong enough, and brave enough to chase down and fight wolves, which are themselves large and dangerous predators.

The most famous wolfhound is the Irish Wolfhound, one of the tallest dog breeds in the world. An adult Irish Wolfhound can stand over three feet tall at the shoulder and weigh as much as a full-grown person. Despite their imposing size, they're known for being gentle and friendly with people.

Scottish Deerhounds and Borzois (sometimes called Russian Wolfhounds) are other examples of wolfhounds. These breeds were developed in different countries to help with hunting large animals and, in some cases, to deal with wolf populations that threatened livestock and people. In medieval times and earlier, wolves were a serious problem across parts of Europe and Asia, so having dogs capable of protecting farms and villages was important.

Today, wolves are rare in most places where wolfhounds live, so these dogs are kept as pets rather than working hunters. But you can still see their hunting heritage in their long legs built for speed, their deep chests built for endurance, and their alert, watchful nature.