Irish Wolfhound History and Information

The Irish Wolfhound

The Irish Wolfhound Club of America is a 'superb source' of information,

below are some links to their site.

The Standard of Excellence for the Irish Wolfhound

2004 - Irish Wolfhound Club of America 75th Annual Specialty Show

Frequently Asked Questions about the Irish Wolfhound

The Irish wolfhound was the most treasured and sought after hunting dog of the early centuries, not only because of his hunting skill but because he was an outstanding guardian and companion. When hunting game such as wolves, deer and boars, the Irish wolfhound hunted by sight rather than scent. This attribute led to the term gazehound or sight hound.

"I will give thee a dog which I got in Ireland.

He is huge of limb, and for a follower equal to an able man.

Moreover, he hath a man�s wit and will bark at thine enemies but never at thy friends.

And he will see by each man�s face whether he be ill or well disposed to thee.

And he will lay down his life for thee.�

(from "The Icelandic Saga of Nial�)

Please think carefully before you consider an Irish Wolfhound as an addition to your family, this is something I would say before considering any breed. Because of his great size and the amount of exercise crucial for his well-being, the Irish Wolfhound is not a dog to be acquired without serious forethought. An ideal home would be one which provides a large fenced property sufficient in size to accommodate the galloping natural to this athletic sight hound. Hunting by sight and chase is what he was bred and historically used for; the length of the leg and back, the deep chest, the might of his limbs and body attest to the heritage and needs of the Irish Wolfhound.

The Irish Wolfhound, because of his extreme size, will require more in regards to living space than would a much smaller breed. This dog, among the largest in the world, will need adequate room in which to exercise freely each and every day, so if you have a large fenced-in yard, or better yet a farm, the Irish Wolfhound may be the dog for you. Unless you can accommodate this gentle giant with a suitably sized "castle", you might want to consider acquiring a smaller dog.

The ideal owner would be one who has the capability to respond to the gentle nature which dwells within his great frame; who discerns the intelligence which manifests itself in his response to everyday situations as they occur. The Irish Wolfhound does best when human companionship is the center of his daily life. When mature, despite his space-eating size, he is a relaxed presence within a family circle, noble and responsive, providing no harshness of attitude is thwarted when his environment is ungiving. His nature and temperament make his totally unsuitable as a guard dog, watch-dog, or patrol dog. Though watchful he is not suspicious; though courageous he is not aggressive. The Wolfhound is renowned for his tremendous size and abounding grace and good nature.

Wolfhound pups need to be brought into loving environments during the crucial formative months. Your little Irish pup will need to be cuddled and talked to - and trained. And due to his massive size and energies, he will need much open space and fresh air in which to exercise. In spite of his size, the Irish Wolfhound possesses tremendous ability to leap and to run at impressive speeds.

A completely natural breed, the Wolfhound's ears are uncropped, his tail undocked. Clippers and trimmers are enemies of his coat; no part of him, particularly his head, should appear styled.

The habitat of most Irish Wolfhounds bred in this century has been the private home where his quiet manners, gentle nature, and comfortable sense of companionship have made it a natural one. Although the chase is not his preoccupation, we must never forget it is his natural sport and the sight of him in characteristic gallop, swiftly covering the ground beneath him, is exhilarating and leaves no doubt of his need to exercise this birthright.

My saying is �Irish Wolfhound, everything else is just another dog�, and for me this is very true. I have owned other breeds in the past, and would never consider sharing my life with anything other than a wolfhound again. They have won my heart in every way.

One a fierce slayer of wolves, the Irish Wolfhound is truly a gentle giant

whose celebrated character is well deserved.

Of all the descriptions one could read of this great hound, perhaps the following is the most complete. A Mrs. Katharine Philips, at about the end of the 18th century, wrote of the Irish Wolfdog:

Behold this creature's form, and state,

Which Nature therefore did create,

That to the world might be exprest

What mien there can be in a beast,

And that we in this shape may find

A lion of another kind.

For this heroic beast does seem

In majesty to rival him;

And yet vouchsafes to man to show

Both service and submission too.

From whence we this distinction have,

That best is fierce, but this is brave.

This dog hath so himself subdued,

That hunger cannot make him rude,

And his behaviour doth confess

True courage dwells with gentleness.

With sternest wolves he dares engage,

And vents on them successful rage.

Yet too much courtesie may chance

To put him out of counternance.

When in his opposer's blood

Fortune has made his virtue good,

This creature, from an act so brave,

Grows not more sullen, but more grave.

Man's guard he would be, not his sport,

Believing he had ventured for't:

But yet no blood, nor shed nor spent,

Can ever make him insolent.

Few men of him to do great things have learn'd,

And when they're done, to be so unconcerned.

Although these mighty dogs frequently enjoy relaxing,

they are most agile and aggressive when in pursuit.

The dog of kings and the king of dogs, the Irish wolfhound is a living symbol of the Celtic people. A dog from the time of heroes, it is entwined in Irish lore and legend. The tallest of dogs, the noble Wolfhound is an enormous, rough-coated shaggy-browed hound, built on galloping lines and is a member of the Greyhound family and combines their great speed with enormous power. Even as he lies by a modern hearth or romps about an enclosed yard, gallops in a meadow or along a beach, it is easy to imagine him as the prominent figure he once was in the feudal life of the Middle Ages. He was coveted for his hunting prowess, particularly in the pursuit of wolf. With the disappearance from Ireland of these animals, and the excessive exportation of the dwindling ranks of Wolfhound, the breed was allowed to become almost extinct.

Wolfhounds were, indeed, so highly thought of that only kings, warriors, nobles and bards were legally allowed to own them. They were the companions of the regal, and housed themselves alongside them. But their function was far from ornate - they were considered the guardians of their noble masters, and they were indeed bred to hunt wolves and capture wolves, and to go in for the kill. It is not surprising to note that there are no known wolves in Ireland today.

Despite the Irish Wolfhound being a large dog, they do not eat as much as you might think. They should be kept nice and trim. Unlike the Russian Wolfhound (Borzoi), who were bred to keep a wolf at bay until the hunter arrived, the Irish Wolfhounds were bred not only to hunt the wolf down, but to go in for the kill. They killed wolves in the same way a cat kills a rat, by shaking it until it's neck snapped. Therefore, the Irish Wolfhound is both powerful and fast. They are also one of the few breeds that do well both in show and field trial competitions.

Irish Wolfhounds need no kind of attack training to guard our homes, in fact no responsible dog owner would train an Irish Wolfhound to attack. Just think about it, a dog over 6 foot on it's hind legs and 180 pounds, attack trained............... Not a very good idea.

The Irish Wolfhound is the Official Dog of Ireland and are a featured motif on Coins, stamps, etc. They have been hanging out with people for over 2 thousand years.

Link to: Stamps, Postcards and other miscellaneous pictures

The Irish Wolfhound in Europe

An eye of sloe, with ear set low,

With horse's breast, with depth of chest,

With breadth of loin, and curve in groin,

And nape set far behind the head -

Such were the dogs that Fingal bred.....

(Allegedly written by: 3rd century Gaelic bard Ossian)

Other Names: Irish Dogs, Greyhounds of Ireland, Big Dogs of Ireland, Wolfdogs of Ireland, Great Hounds of Ireland.

The wolfhound is a kindly, tolerant dog, gentle by nature, BUT do not be misled by the Gentle Giant image, a young hound can be unruly with great personality. Wolfies do not realize their size and that welcoming tail can catch both child and adult unawares. Wolfhounds have only the kindest intentions toward children, however, great care must be exercised, particularly with young children, it would be all too easy for a small child to be knocked over, albeit unintentionally. Common sense, however, precludes the mingling of a small child with a young Wolfhound, the child is no match for an affectionate, playful puppy weighing 50 to 100 pounds, a toss of whose head or a running sideswipe of whose body can have bruising consequences.

However, do not allow the great size of this dog to fool you into thinking that it would be "too much dog" for you or your children. This dog is not in the least bit "fierce", he is unequivocally a true "gentle giant". Despite his heritage as a powerful hunter of wolves, dating as far back as the days of ancient Roman grandeur, the Irish wolfhound is renowned today for his calm temperament. This Irish charmer is an excellent choice for a family pet.

Lure Coursing, the most fun your Wolfhound can have!

Lure Coursing, which is becoming a popular sport and pastime among sighthound enthusiasts around the country, is actually an ancient sport and is perhaps one of the earliest of all sports. The world's fastest dogs participate in lure coursing events, and our Irish wolfhound is one of them.

Becoming involved in such an event with your pet will serve a number of beneficial purpose: it will keep your dog in a trim and healthy condition, satisfy his instinctive need to "hunt" (even if in this case the "prey" is merely an artificial lure) and strengthen the bond between dog and master.

Lure Coursing, is an excellent way to motivate yourself to keep your hound(s) in condition! Your hound will be trim and muscular; keeping the heart, lungs and circulation in great shape. We know how keeping fit and healthy can add years on our own lives; imagine what this form of exercise will do for your hound(s). Your Irish wolfhound needs to show its functionality not just be a friendly, loving couch potato. Please give Lure Coursing great consideration for your hound as more and more it is becoming obvious that lure coursing can help us extend the lifespan of our beloved hounds.

In spite of his size, the Irish Wolfhound possesses tremendous ability to leap and to run at impressive speeds

Releasing the Hounds

Lure Coursing is not only a test of speed, and your dog is evaluated on the following points:

*ENTHUSIASM: (Max 15 Points) Lively, single minded, showing great eagerness & determination in regard to the lure, after the "Tally-Ho" & until the lure passes the marked "Finish" for the course.
*FOLLOW: (Max 15 Points) Chasing the lure with the intent of taking it, while maintaining a path of reasonably close proximity to the lure's course, considering the relative positions of the dogs to the lure and to each other. Keenness is exhibited when the dog reacts immediately to any change in the motion of the lure. A dog that becomes unsighted for some good reason & yet attempts to find the lure again is not severely penalized, depending on how hard it works at trying to find the lure again, & how soon it does so.
*SPEED: (Max 25 Points) Rapidity in moving, the rate of moving or progress. Credit goes to the dog, which levels out low, stretching & really drives. Since timing is not used to measure speed, the dog's manner of "putting out" is an important means of assessing its ability to cover ground.
*AGILITY: (Max 25 Points) The ability to move quickly & easily. Nimbleness in negotiating terrain, which may cause a dog to slip or slide. Turning without going wide or cutting or breaking stride. Co-ordination of movement.
*ENDURANCE: (Max 20 Points) Lasting quality, stamina of physical & mental concentration. Credit is given to the dog, which does not fade, or pull up or slacken. PENALTIES: Pre-slip penalty for dogs whose handlers start their dogs before the Hunts master has given the "Tally-Ho".
Course delay penalty: Dogs which delay their course or whose handlers delay the course may be penalized, but not by trying to retrieve the lure upon completion of the course.

Contact the American Kennel Club (AKC) http://www.akc.org/ or The Irish Wolfhound Club of America (IWCA) http://www.iwclubofamerica.org/ for details of your nearest clubs/events. It is noted that in general females take to coursing more readily than males, something you may want to consider when deciding on gender.

Irish Wolfhound Club of America - Associate Membership Application Form

Balin Kili

The Irish wolfhound is a remarkable combination of power, swiftness, and keen sight. They are a large sensitive dog who requires a lot of space to accommodate his great size, and a dedicated owner who will give him companionship and a lot of time. The largest and tallest of the galloping hounds, rough-coated, very muscular, strong though gracefully built. The minimum height and weight of dogs should be 32 inches and 120 pounds; of bitches, 30 inches and 105 pounds. This applies to hounds over 18 months of age.

By the later part of the 19^th Century, Irish wolfhounds very nearly became extinct.

An Irish wolfhound was the first pure-bred dog in the New World; one

traveled with Columbus on his fourth voyage.

In spite of its size, the Irish wolfhound is absolutely trustworthy with children.

A dog of nobility, an Irish wolfhound was so valued in the 1700s that a

condemned man could buy his life with one.

Irish Wolfhounds were used to fight wild animals in the arenas of imperial Rome.

Known as the Gentle Giant, the Irish wolfhound�s motto is:

�Gentle When Stroked, Fierce When Provoked�

The most common colors are wolf grey and sandy wheaten. Fawn, red,

white or black are allowed but much rarer.

A captain in the British Army, a Scotsman by birth, Captain GA Graham, has been credited with saving the Wolfhound. He had fallen for the breed, and was set on saving it from extinction. Over a 34 year period he systematically re-invigorated the breed by thoughtful cross-breeding with other dogs, most notably the Scottish Deerhound (a very similar, but much slighter dog), a close cousin of the Wolfhound. The result is the Wolfhound we know and love today.

Irish Wolfhound - Vintage Picture - 1925

Very importantly, Wolfhounds are �people dogs� They LIVE to be with their family!!! The sorrowful howls of a lonely hound will affect the entire town, not just your next door neighbors. You�ll be very unpopular, but worst of all; you�ll have a very unhappy hound no matter what breed of dog you choose. So think before you consider a dog if you have to leave him home alone all day, and if you really must have a dog, maybe you could look into pet sitters, or day care for your dog. Would you leave your child home alone?

Irish Wolfhounds were born and bred to hunt, and are in NO WAY a guard dog. In fact, he will welcome strangers. Certainly never consider a wolfhound to guard a car lot or some such business. He may intimidate and be a wonderful deterrent. BUT, trust me, a lonely hound will welcome an intruder to brighten up his day!!!

But in saying this, he will defend YOU to the death.

Postcard (Year 1938)

Irish Wolfhounds are easy to train because they are intelligent. The can be very obedient, but they also like to think for themselves and have an independent spirit - also because they are so intelligent.

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