Irish Wolfhound Breed Standards

American Kennel Club (AKC) Hound Group

Irish Wolfhound Breed Standard

Approved September 12, 1950

History

Early Irish Literature abounds in references to these large dogs which are called, interchangeably, "Irish dogs," "Big Dogs of Ireland," "Greyhounds (or Grehounds) of Ireland," "Wolfdogs of Ireland," "Great Hounds of Ireland." Irish Wolfhound is the more modern name.

He was coveted for his hunting prowess, particularly in the pursuit of the wolf and the gigantic Irish elk, which stood six feet at the shoulders. With the disappearance of these animals from Ireland, and the excessive exportation of the dwindling ranks of Wolfhounds, the breed was allowed to become almost extinct.

It was at this point that Captain George A. Graham gathered the remaining specimens and restored the breed. His work began in 1862, and 23 years later, under his supervision, the first breed standard was set.

Because of his great size and the amount of exercise essential to his well being, the Irish Wolfhound is not a dog to be acquired without serious forethought. His ideal home is one, which provides fenced property of sufficient 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 Irish Wolfhound does best when human companionship is the core of his daily life. At maturity, he is a calm presence within a family circle. His nature and temperament make him totally unsuitable as a guard dog. Though alert he is not suspicious; though courageous he is not aggressive. Emphatically, the Irish Wolfhound is not a satisfactory choice for the city dweller or in closely populated suburbs where one might desire a guard dog to be on solitary duty from morning until night.

Characteristics - An Irish Wolfhound must be "of great size and commanding appearance." He has a large, muscular greyhound-like shape, and he is the tallest of dogs, but not the heaviest. A superb athlete and an endurance runner, an old Irish proverb describes him perfectly: "Gentle when stroked, fierce when provoked." The breed’s recognized colors are gray, brindle, red, black, pure white, fawn and others.

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 dogs should be 32 inches and 120 pounds; of bitches, 30 inches and 105 pounds; these to apply only to hounds over 18 months of age. Anything below this should 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 Greyhound-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 underjaw.

Color and Markings - The recognized colors are gray, brindle, red, black, pure white, fawn or any other color that appears in the Deerhound.

List of Points in Order of Merit

1. Typical. The Irish Wolfhound is a rough-coated Greyhound-like breed, the tallest of the coursing hounds and remarkable in combining power and swiftness.

2. Great size and commanding appearance.

3. Movements easy and active.

4. Head, long and level, carried high.

5. Forelegs, heavily boned, quite straight; elbows well set under.

6. Thighs long and muscular; second thighs, well muscled, stifles nicely bent.

7. Coat, rough and hard, especially wiry and long over eyes and under jaw.

8. Body, long, well-ribbed up, with ribs well sprung, and great breadth across hips.

9. Loins arched, belly well drawn up.

10. Ears, small, with Greyhound like carriage.

11. Feet, moderately large and round; toes, close, well arched.

12. Neck, long, well arched and very strong.

13. Chest, very deep, moderately broad.

14. Shoulders, muscular, set sloping.

15. Tail, long and slightly curved.

16. Eyes, dark.

Faults - Too light or heavy a head, too highly arched frontal bone; large ears and hanging flat to the face; short neck; full dewlap; too narrow or too broad a chest; sunken or hollow or quite straight back; bent forelegs; overbent fetlocks; twisted feet; spreading toes; too curly a tail; weak hindquarters and a general want of muscle; too short in body. Lips or nose liver-colored or lacking pigmentation.

*Note* The above in no way alters the "Standard of Excellence," which must in all cases be rigidly adhered to; they simply give the various points in order of merit. If in any case they appear at variance with Standard of Excellence, it is the latter which is correct.

United Kennel Club (UKC) Sighthound/Pariah Group

Irish Wolfhound Breed Standard

Revised July 1, 2009

History

The present-day Irish Wolfhound owes its existence to R.D. Richardson and Captain G.A. Graham who, in the 1840's, helped restore this almost extinct, ancient breed to its former state. The original Irish Wolfhound is thought to be a very ancient breed, being documented as early as 393 A.D. The intelligence, strength and courage of the breed are legendary, and they were valued as guardians, hunters and war dogs.

The Irish Wolfhound was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1921.

General Appearance - The Irish Wolfhound is Greyhound-like, but rough coated. It is the largest and tallest of the coursing hounds, remarkable in its combination of power and swiftness. Maintenance of breed type is of prime importance. They are of great size, with a commanding appearance, very muscular and strong, yet gracefully built, with easy and active movement. Any deviation from the standard is to be evaluated in relation to its degree of deviation. The ideal specimen has the great size with a proportionate length of body, and shows the requisite power, activity, courage and symmetry.

Characteristics - The Irish Wolfhound is a superb companion animal and a determined hunter.

Head - The long, level head is carried high. The frontal bones of the forehead are very slightly raised, with very little indentation between the eyes.

Skull - The skull is not too broad.

Muzzle - The long muzzle is moderately pointed. Faults: Head too light or too heavy. Frontal bone too highly arched. Lips any color other than black.

Teeth - The Irish Wolfhound has a complete set of strong, white teeth that meet in a scissors bite. A level bite is acceptable.

Eyes - The eyes are dark. Faults: Very light eyes. Eye rims any color other than black.

Nose - The nose is dark. Faults: Nose any color other than black.

Ears - The small, rose ears are Greyhound-like in carriage. Faults: Large ears. Ears hanging flat to the face.

Neck - The very strong, muscular neck is rather long and well arched, and is carried high. There is no dewlap or loose skin about the throat. Faults: Short neck. Full dewlaps.

Forequarters - The muscular, sloping shoulders are set to provide breadth to the chest.

Forelegs - The forearm is muscular. The entire leg is strong, quite straight, and heavily boned. The elbows are set well under. Faults: Bent forelegs. Over bent pasterns.

Body - The chest is very deep, and moderately broad. The rib cage is long, with the ribs well sprung. The back is rather long than short, with arched loins and great width across the hips. The belly is well drawn up. Faults: Chest too narrow or too broad. Back too straight. Sunken or hollow back. Short body.

Hindquarter - Both the upper and lower thighs are muscular, with the lower thigh being long and strong (as found in the Greyhound).

Hind Legs - The hocks are well let down, turning neither in nor out. The stifles are nicely bent. Faults: Weak and/or lack of muscle in hindquarters.

Feet - Both front and back feet are moderately large and round, turning neither inward nor outward. The toes are well arched and closed. The nails are very strong and curved. Faults: Twisted feet. Splay feet.

Tail - The tail is long and slightly curved, moderately thick and well covered with hair.  Fault: Tail excessively curled.

Coat - The hair is rough and hard on the body, legs and head. It is especially wiry and long over the eyes and on the underjaw.

Color - Recognized colors include: gray, brindle, red, black, pure white, fawn, and any other color that is found in the Deerhound.

Height and Weight - The desired height is 32-34 inches. Minimum heights and weights (applied only to Irish Wolfhounds over 18 months of age): Dogs, 31 inches, 120 pounds; females, 28 inches, 90 pounds.

Gait - Movement is easy and active.

Points of the Breed in Order of Merit - The various points of the breed are listed in order of merit. No singular point is to be exaggerated or diminished at the expense of the total breed standard.

• Breed type. A rough-coated, Greyhound-like breed. The tallest of the coursing hounds, with a remarkable combination of power and swiftness.

• Great size and commanding appearance.

• Easy and active movement.

• Long and level head, carried high.

• Heavily boned, straight forelegs. Elbows well set under.

• Long and muscular thighs. Well-muscled second thighs. Nicely bent stifles.

• Rough, hard coat, especially wiry and long over the eyes and on the underjaw.

• Long, well-ribbed-up body. Well-sprung ribs. Wide across hips.

• Arched loins. Belly well drawn up.

• Small ears, carried thrown back and folded (as a Greyhound).

• Moderately large, round feet. Close, well-arched toes.

• Long, well-arched, very strong neck.

• Very deep, moderately broad chest.

• Muscular, sloping shoulders.

• Long, slightly curved tail.

• Dark eyes.

ELIMINATING FAULTS - (An Eliminating Fault is a Fault serious enough that it eliminates the dog from obtaining any awards in a conformation event.)  Under height or weight minimums after 18 months of age.

DISQUALIFICATIONS - Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Viciousness or extreme shyness. Albinism.