GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: Min. dogs 79cm (31”) - bitches 71cm (28”).
Colour: Grey, brindle, red, black, white, fawn or Wheaten.
Coat: Harsh and rough with bushy eyebrows and beard.
Gait: Easy but powerful with all legs moving straight.
Great size is a hallmark for this breed and the aim of the breeders of Irish Wolfhounds; however, it should never be at the expense of sound construction as these shaggy coated dogs must be built for power and courage.
The brown eyes are set mid way between the long, not too broad skull and a long powerful muzzle. The rose shaped ears should be small. The muscular neck runs into powerful shoulders and the straight strong body has a deep chest. Powerful fore and hindquarters end with large round feet. The long tail is carried low.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
The Irish Wolfhound grows from about 750g from birth to about 45kg in its first six months, therefore plenty of good food, vitamins and calcium are essential for them to develop properly. When young, they do need their exercise but as adults, they do not abound with energy.
Known as the ‘Gentle Giants’, these dogs are intensely loyal, kind and slow to anger meaning they do not make good watch or guard dogs.
HISTORY
Not only are the Irish Wolfhounds the largest in the sighthound family, they are also one of the oldest breeds. Believed to have been brought from Asia to Greece in 273 BC, they were greatly valued in areas where wolves were a problem. In 391 AD, some were sent to Rome where, on appearing at a circus, they were viewed with wonder. Finding their way to Ireland with traders, by the 4th century AD this breed later became established in that country. However with the gradual decrease in the number of wolves, the need for these huge hounds diminished to a point where they almost became extinct. Fortunately in the 19th century, with the help of crosses possibly from Great Danes and Deerhounds, the breed was resuscitated.
One of the tallest Irish Wolfhounds is recorded to have been 99cm (39½”).