The Irish Wolfhound is the tallest of all dogs, although not the heaviest. The American Kennel Club sets the minimum height for dogs at 32 inches and for bitches, 30 inches with the minimum weight being 120 pounds and 105 pounds respectively. Such tall animals are of commanding appearance and combine strength and speed with keen sight. He is reasonably fast over long distances but is not a sprinter, and sufficiently powerful to deal with large prey.
Despite his size, he is unsuited as a guard or watch dog. He is not sufficiently suspicious nor aggressive to perform these tasks although his sheer size would be intimidating to many. A peaceful animal unless provoked or excited, it kills by grabbing its prey by the back and vigorously shaking it.
He is longer legged and narrower than the Great Dane, very muscular and strong but graceful with it. The head is carried high as is the long tail, the tail having an upward sweep with a slight curve at the end.
The head and muzzle are long, the half-erect ears small and eyes dark. The longish neck is muscular and well arched and shows no loose skin. The body is long, well sprung and broad across the hips. The chest is very deep and broad, the back longish with arched loins. The muscular legs are straight and heavily boned. The tail is well covered with hair. In motion, the Irish Wolfhound is active and swift.
Originally available in both smooth and rough coats, the modern day dog has rough, wiry hair, longer over the eyes and under the jaw. The recognised colours range from white to black and including brindle, red, grey and fawn. Brushing every few days with a stiff brush is recommended. At the same time, check the ears for dirt and the toenails for excessive length. All large dogs require good bedding, preferably a trampoline type which will protect the joints.
The Irish Wolfhound is a very old breed and has been known by several other names including Great Hound of Ireland', Big Dog of Ireland' and Greyhound of Ireland'. It was originally a dog of war and of the hunt and its prowess is often mentioned in Irish mythology. In times of war, they were trained to pull armoured knights off their horses.
Because it hunted singly or in pairs, it needed to be a very big and strong dog. When the Irish elk and the wolf still inhabited Ireland, the Wolfhound was coveted as a hunter. As these animals disappeared and the Wolfhound was exported in great numbers, the breed became almost extinct.
The Irish Wolfhound was written of in 391 AD by the Roman Consul Quintus Aurelius who had been given seven of them as a gift. They were popular gifts for kings and princes until Oliver Cromwell forbade their export. At one time, only royalty were allowed to own the dogs and by the middle of the 19th century they were almost extinct.
In 1862 an Englishman, Captain George A Graham began to collect the remaining Wolfhounds, crossing them with Great Danes, Deerhounds, Borzoi and others. This resulted in a somewhat altered appearance. In 1885 the first breed standard was set. In 1902 the Irish Guards adopted an Irish Wolfhound as a mascot. The modern Irish Wolfhound has a more even, less aggressive temperament than its ancestors.
The American Kennel Club recognised the breed in 1897.
Health problems include heart disease, bone cancer, liver shunt (which is inherited and can be screened for by a blood test), osteochondrosis (a disease of the shoulder cartilage) and bloat. Until eighteen months old, avoid excessive, strenuous exercise but provide plenty of socialisation and obedience training. A puppy can weigh around 100 pounds so obedience training is imperative. Because of his inherent hunting and killing traits, some may cause problems with other, particularly small, pets. The life span is eight to ten years.
Admirable as he is, the Irish Wolfhound is not the best choice for all and sundry. It is grossly unfair to expect him to live happily without adequate living space and exercise. Ideally, he needs fenced property of sufficient size to enable him to gallop and play. Hunting by sight is what he was bred for and he is certainly not suited to city living. He is happiest within a family. He is quite sensitive by nature and should be corrected when necessary firmly but not harshly.
Such big dogs are expensive to feed. Indoors, the biggest problem is likely to be a happily wagging tail sweeping tables clean and a head that can be laid on a table top without even standing on tiptoe. Avoid rough play with pups and young adults. Encourage a quiet temperament. This will be appreciated when your dog can place his paws easily on your shoulders and smile down at you!
Sources:
www.mypets.net.au
www.irishwolfhounds.org
www.burkesbackyard.com.au
www.akc.org