Giant Irish Wolfhound Still Trying to Cuddle on Mom's Lap Like a Puppy Is So Adorable

One of the jokes about dogs is that the tiny ones (like Chihuahuas) imagine they are massive guard beasts and the big ones think they are lap dogs. This is certainly true for Irish Wolfhounds, an enormous canine with a gentle disposition and a desire to be a total cuddle bunny. And that’s certainly true for the Wolfhound in this video, who has a lifelong love of sitting on his human Mom’s lap—whether he’s a large puppy or a gigantic, fully-grown dog.

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Merlin the Irish Wolfhound started cuddling on his Mom’s lap when he was a puppy—although for that breed, even a puppy can weight forty or fifty pounds! And even though he’s far bigger now, he hasn’t stopped the habit. There are even videos on the family’s Instagram of him climbing on her lap on a camp chair at the beach.

Related: Giant Irish Wolfhound Acts as 'Therapy Dog' for Homeless Pets

Look, he just like to snuggle, okay?

“Nothing beats a hound cuddle,” says someone in the comments, who clearly knows from experience. “I also adore the fact they still think they’re little no matter how large they get!”

“Sharing a bed or couch with a giant breed is like sharing it with a drunk octopus trying to find its keys,” says a commenter on another video of Merlin doing his cuddling act.

The History of the Irish Wolfhound

Irish Wolfhounds are among the tallest of the dog breeds. There was a breed of hound in Ireland known for its size and ferocity, but they are not genetically related to the hounds that bear the name today. The ancient breed were prized as gifts to kings and emperors all over the world, and were said to be bigger than a colt. Oliver Cromwell once forbade their exportation fro Ireland, and they died out sometime in the eighteenth century.

In the nineteenth century, enthusiasts attempted to recreate the legendary dogs by breeding Scottish deerhounds who supposedly shared some lineage with the original Wolfhound together with Great Danes, Mastiffs, and even Eastern European Borzoi. The result is the Irish Wolfhound as we know it today. And though scholars still debate whether or not the modern breed is an accurate representation of those ancient Irish animals, or simply borrowing the name, there is no denying that the new breed is a beloved one.

Is an Irish Wolfhound Right For You?

Though gigantic, the Irish Wolfhound is notable for its gentleness and affectionate nature. Fans of the breed call it a “gentle giant” though due to its size, it still requires careful training to make sure it does not inadvertently hurt someone or knock them over. Irish Wolfhounds are eager to serve their owners, but can easily cause a large amount of trouble with only minor misbehavior. Sometimes they just don’t know their own strength.

Which is why they think they are lap dogs.

Irish Wolfhounds are somewhat of a “couch potato” but because of their great size, they still need a good amount of room to live and to get in even moderate amounts of exercise. Their size also requires them to eat a fair amount, so factor that into your budget as well.

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