The Wolfhound Defense Training System
Prepared. Accountable. Capable.
More Than A Firearms Curriculum
The Wolfhound Defense Training System is a philosophy of personal responsibility built around practical performance. It is designed for ordinary citizens, armed professionals, church safety teams, and security personnel who understand that violence is unpredictable, and that surviving it requires disciplined preparation rather than impressive-looking technique.
Our mission is simple: develop competent, responsible defenders capable of prevailing under stress through mastery of the fundamentals.
How the Program Works
Wolfhound Defense is a path, not a menu of one-off classes. At every level, students follow the same three steps.
Train
Take the Wolfhound class for your level in pistol, rifle or shotgun. Each class builds directly on the one before it.
Test
Finish with a short shooting qualification: about 18 to 20 rounds, under five minutes, scored against a fixed standard.
Advance
Pass, and you move up to the next level. Not there yet? Retake the class at 25% off and test again.
Experienced shooter? You may skip ahead one level, but you must first pass that level’s qualification test.
The Four Levels
Each level builds on the one before it, applying the same fundamentals under steadily harder conditions. Every level is offered as Wolfhound Pistol, Wolfhound Rifle and Wolfhound Shotgun.
Foundation
Every defender starts here. Safe gun handling, defensive mindset and the core shooting skills everything else depends on. No speed and no advanced tactics, only disciplined repetition of what matters most.
- Firearms safety and legal use of force
- Grip, stance and sight management
- Trigger control and follow-through
- Loading, unloading and basic malfunctions
- Dry-fire practice you can do at home
To advance: pass the Bronze qualification.
Performance
With solid fundamentals in place, you learn to make accurate hits consistently while managing time, movement and weapon handling.
- Drawing from concealment
- Efficient reloads and immediate action
- Multiple targets and transitions
- Positional shooting and use of cover
- Accuracy under time standards
To advance: pass the Silver qualification.
Application
Your skills meet realistic defensive problems. Stress increases, and decision-making becomes part of every exercise.
- Movement in all directions
- Barricades and unconventional positions
- Low-light shooting
- Threat discrimination and scenarios
- Accountability for every round fired
To advance: pass the Gold qualification.
Coming soon: Church Safety Defender and Home Defense Fundamentals.
Mastery
Mastery is consistent performance regardless of circumstances. You refine your fundamentals while building the judgment and leadership to mentor newer shooters.
- Advanced problem solving
- Decision-making under pressure
- Performance diagnostics
- Coaching and leadership
- A personal training plan
Qualification: earn the Black standard, renewed annually.
Coming soon: Force-on-Force Scenarios and Instructor Development.
Standards, Not Attendance
Finishing a class does not earn a qualification. Passing the shooting test does. Each test uses about 18 to 20 rounds, takes less than five minutes, and scores safe handling, accuracy, weapon manipulation and judgment together.
Bronze
- 18 rounds, 3 to 10 yards
- Accuracy over speed
- 90% vital-zone hits, zero safety violations
Silver
- 18 rounds, 3 to 15 yards
- Adds the draw, movement and transitions
- 90% hits within time limits
Gold
- 20 rounds, 5 to 20 yards
- Adds cover, kneeling and multiple targets
- 95% hits within time standards
Black
- 20 rounds, 5 to 20 yards
- Advanced time standards
- 95%+ hits, no misses outside the scoring area
Every qualification is renewed annually, because defensive skills are perishable.
Three Platforms. One Standard.
Every discipline is trained to the same Wolfhound standard of safety, accountability and performance.
Wolfhound Pistol
The pistol is the firearm most likely to be carried every day. Training focuses on the skills that matter when a fight is close, fast and unforgiving.
- Draw stroke & rapid sight acquisition
- Trigger management & accuracy at speed
- Concealed carry & close-range defense
- Reloads & malfunctions
- Movement & decision making
Wolfhound Rifle
The rifle is the most capable defensive firearm. Training emphasizes precision, speed and sound decision-making at every distance.
- Zero confirmation & ready positions
- Target transitions & distance shooting
- Use of cover & barricades
- Positional shooting & movement
- Reloads, optics & weapon manipulation
Wolfhound Shotgun
The shotgun provides tremendous effectiveness but requires disciplined handling. Students master the details that make it reliable under pressure.
- Patterning & select-slug drills
- Loading technique & emergency reloads
- Recoil control & malfunctions
- Movement & use of cover
- Transitioning & practical employment
Class Pricing
Introductory pricing. Every Wolfhound class includes the qualification test for that level.
4-Class Bundle
$130 per class, a savings of $180.
- Use for any Wolfhound Pistol, Rifle or Shotgun class
- Mix disciplines however you like
- Move up through the levels, or retake a class if you need to
2-Class Bundle
$150 per class, a savings of $50. A good way to start Level I and test into Level II.
Single Class
One Wolfhound class at any level, in pistol, rifle or shotgun.
Retake Discount: 25% Off
If you need to repeat a class to pass that level’s test, your follow-up class at the same level is $131.25. Bundle classes can be used for retakes too. Contact us to book a retake.
Bred To Protect, Not To Perform
The Irish Wolfhound was never bred to entertain. It was bred to protect. A Wolfhound was expected to remain calm, observe patiently, and act decisively only when necessary. It did not seek conflict, but when conflict arrived, it possessed the courage, intelligence and physical ability to end it.
That is exactly what we expect from our students. We reject the mindset that skill is measured by speed alone, flashy drills, expensive equipment, or social media videos.
“Many shooting schools teach games. Wolfhound Defense teaches fighting.”
No Style Points. Only Outcomes.
Real fights leave no room for style points. Stress strips away complexity, and your body defaults to its level of training. That is why every Wolfhound drill is built on skills proven in documented defensive encounters, and why every “advanced” skill is simply the fundamentals performed under harder conditions.
Real Defensive Shootings Are Usually…
- Close
- Fast
- Chaotic
- Poorly Lit
- Emotionally Overwhelming
- Legally Significant
Common Questions
Do I need experience to start?
No. Every student begins at Level I, where we cover safety, equipment and fundamentals from the ground up. Experienced shooters may skip ahead one level, but must first pass that level’s qualification test.
What happens if I don’t pass the qualification?
You retake the class for that level at 25% off, or use a class from your bundle, and then test again. Repeating a level is a normal part of meeting the standard.
Can I mix pistol, rifle and shotgun in one bundle?
Yes. Bundle classes can be used for any Wolfhound Pistol, Rifle or Shotgun class at a level you are eligible for.
How is Wolfhound different from your Defensive Pistol, Rifle and Shotgun classes?
Those are stand-alone classes. Wolfhound classes are part of a structured progression where each level is earned by passing a shooting test.
Do qualifications expire?
Yes. Each qualification is renewed annually, because defensive skills are perishable.
Ready To Train The Wolfhound Way?
Start at Level I, or test into Level II. Pick a class date and we’ll take it from there.