Irish Wolfhound

  The Irish Wolfhound is the tallest breed in the world. Its sheer size and shaggy appearance leave you in no doubt that it was once capable of killing wolves. Now, however, it has shed its fierce reputation and is one of the most gentle breeds to be found.

 History:

The Irish Wolfhound is the national dog of Ireland and is sometimes also called the Wolfdog, the Irish Greyhound, or the Great Dog of Ireland. This breed has a long history, its origins dating back to 100 BC. The ancestor of this breed was the Cu, a massive, shaggy-looking dog that was used to hunt wolves, elk and wild boar. The Cu were favored by royalty and were considered to be valuable gifts, so much so that Oliver Cromwell was reputed to have banned their export from Britain. However, the last wolf was killed in Scotland in the early eighteenth century, and the loss of its traditional pastime, the breed started to go into decline. The breed was saved from extinction and molded into its present-day form by dedicated breeders, principally Captain George Graham, in the late nineteenth century. They probably used crosses with the similar Scottish Deerhound and the Great Dane to regenerate the breed.

 Physical characteristics:

Height: the height of the Irish Wolfhound is truly impressive. The breed doesn't have a maximum allowable height, but instead has a minimum height of 28 in (71 cm) for bitches and 31 in (79 cm) for dogs. Weight: the weight is not quite so massive as the breed is not as heavily built as some of the guarding breeds. Bitches have a minimum weight of 90 lb (41 kg) and dogs 120 lb (55 kg).

 The coat is rough and wiry and is moderate in length except over the eyes and under the muzzle, where it is slightly longer, forming eyebrows and moustaches. The coat can be gray, steel gray, brindle, red, black, pure white, fawn, or wheaten in color, but the most common colors are the gray and wheaten. Wolfhound heads are long, but not very broad, and they have small rose-shaped ears. Their eyes are dark and oval-shaped, and the nose is black. The fairly long body has a deep chest and a long curved tail that is carried low, and is the bane of many a coffee table.

 Behavior:

The Irish Wolfhound is a truly noble animal. Its majestic spirit prevails as it considers the world from its lofty height. Fortunately, this dog is very slow to anger and only becomes aggressive under extreme provocation. It usually walks away from a confrontation but will defend itself if hard pressed. The Irish Wolfhound is very tolerant of children and will put up with many indignities. However, as gentle as this dog is, it is still not advisable to leave it unattended with children, as it is immensely powerful.

 The Irish Wolfhound requires quite a lot of exercise to keep it in top form, although it has a tendency to become sedentary. Insistent but gentle training is required for this dog. If you are overbearing, it will become confused and only carry out some of your instructions. Its sheer size causes lots of management problems and only the truly dedicated should consider owning this dog.

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