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Maggie & Brigid
Wolfhounds, playing tug of war
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The Irish Wolfhound is the tallest of all dogs. The Irish Wolfhound is a remarkable combination of power, swiftness, and keen sight. The Irish Wolfhound is a large sensitive dog who requires lots of space to accommodate his great size, and an owner who can give him companionship. Irish Wolfhounds should never be allowed to run loose.
Breed standard general Appearance
Of great size and commanding appearance, the Irish Wolfhound is remarkable in combining power and swiftness with keen sight. The largest and tallest of the galloping hounds, in general type he is a rough-coated, Greyhound-like breed; very muscular, strong though gracefully built; movements easy and active; head and neck carried high, the tail carried with an upward sweep with a slight curve towards the extremity.
The minimum height and weight of males should be 32 inches and 130 pounds .
Females should be at least 30 inches and weigh 120 pounds.
These to apply only to hounds over 18 months of age.These are Minimums that apply to show dogs. Anything below this would be debarred from competition.
Great size, including height at shoulder and proportionate length of body, is the desideratum to be aimed at, and it is desired to firmly establish a race that shall average from 32 to 34 inches in dogs, showing the requisite power, activity, courage and symmetry.
Head
Long, the frontal bones of the forehead very slightly raised and very little indentation between the eyes. Skull, not too broad. Muzzle, long and moderately pointed. Ears, small and Rose Shaped-like in carriage.
Neck
Rather long, very strong and muscular, well arched, without dewlap or loose skin about the throat.
Chest
Very deep. Breast, wide.
Back
Rather long than short. Loins arched.
Tail
Long and slightly curved, of moderate thickness, and well covered with hair.
Belly
Well drawn up.
Forequarters
Shoulders, muscular, giving breadth of chest, set sloping. Elbows well under, neither turned inwards nor outwards. Leg
Forearm muscular, and the whole leg strong and quite straight.
Hindquarters
Muscular thighs and second thigh long and strong as in the Greyhound, and hocks well let down and turning neither in nor out.
Feet
Moderately large and round, neither turned inwards nor outwards. Toes, well arched and closed. Nails, very strong and curved.
Hair
Rough and hard on body, legs and head; especially wiry and long over eyes and under jaw.
Color and Markings
The recognized colors are Gray, Brindle, Red, Black, Pure CREAM, Fawn or any other color that appears in the Deer hound.
