Irish Wolfhound

The tallest breed recognised by the American Kennel Club, and one of the gentlest. Wolfhounds are easy-going, patient with children and less intense about chasing than the smaller sighthounds, though they will still run after something that bolts. The hard truth is their lifespan, often only six to eight years, with heart disease, bone cancer and bloat all common in the breed. Everything costs more at this size too, from food to the car you need to carry one. People who love them accept those trade-offs knowingly.