The Irish Kennel Club (IKC) is a member of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) and so the FCI determines the breed standard for the Irish Wolfhound. However because the Irish Wolfhound is an Native Irish Breed the Irish Wolfhound Club of Ireland and the Irish Kennel Club set this breed standard which is then adopted by the FCI as its agreed standard.
UTILIZATION : Up to the end of the17th century, Irish Wolfhounds were used for hunting wolves and deer in Ireland. They were also used for hunting the wolves that infested large areas of Europe before the forests were cleared.
CLASSIFICATIONS FCI : Group 10 Sighthounds.
Section 2 Rough-haired Sighthounds.
Without working trial.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY: We know the continental Celts kept a greyhound probably descended from the greyhound first depicted in Egyptian paintings. Like their continental cousins, the Irish Celts were interested in breeding large hounds. These large Irish hounds could have had smooth or rough coats, but in later times, the rough coat predominated possibly because of the Irish climate. The first written account of these dogs was by a Roman Consul 391 A.D. but they were already established in Ireland in the first century A.D. when Setanta changed his name to Cu-Chulainn (the hound of Culann). Mention is made of the Uisneach (1st century) taking 150 hounds with them in their flight to Scotland. Irish hounds undoubtedly formed the basis of the Scottish Deerhound. Pairs of Irish hounds were prized as gifts by the Royal houses of Europe, Scandinavia and elsewhere from the Middle ages to the 17th century. They were sent to England, Spain, France, Sweden, Denmark, Persia, India and Poland. In the15th century each county in Ireland was required to keep 24 wolfdogs to protect farmers’ flocks from the ravages of wolves. The Cromwellian prohibition (1652) on the export of Wolfhounds helped preserve their number for a time but the gradual disappearance of the wolf and continued demand abroad reduced their numbers almost to the point of extinction by the end of the 17th century.
The revival of interest in the breed accompanied the growth of Irish nationalism in the late 19th century. The Irish Wolfhound became a living symbol of Irish culture and of the Celtic past. At this time, one determined enthusiast, Capt. G A Graham, set about obtaining some of the few remaining hounds of the Wolfhound type that could still be found in Ireland, and with the use of Deerhound blood and the occasional outcross of Borzoi and Great Dane, he eventually achieved a type of dog that bred true in every generation. The results were ultimately accepted as a legitimate revival of the breed. The Irish Kennel Club scheduled a class for Irish Wolfhounds at their show in April 1879, and a club was formed in 1885. The Irish Wolfhound now enjoys once again something of the reputation that it had in the Middle Ages. Wolfhounds are now owned and bred in fairly large numbers outside of Ireland.
GENERAL APPEARANCE : The Irish Wolfhound should not be quite so heavy or massive as the Great Dane, but more so than the Deerhound, which in general type he should otherwise resemble. Of great size and commanding appearance, very muscular, strongly 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.
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 32 inches (81cm) to 34 inches (86cm) in dogs, showing the requisite power, activity, courage and symmetry.
BEHAVIOUR AND TEMPERAMENT : “Lambs at home, lions in the chase”.
HEAD : Long and level, carried high; 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.
Teeth : Scissor bite ideal, level acceptable.
Eyes : Dark.
Ears : Small, rose ears (Greyhound like in carriage).
NECK : Rather long, very strong and muscular, well arched, without dewlap or loose skin about the throat.
BODY : Long, well ribbed up.
Back : Rather long than short.
Loins : Slightly arched
Croup : Great breadth across hips
Chest : Very deep, moderately broad, breast wide.
Ribs : Well sprung
Belly : Well drawn up.
Tail: Long and slightly curved, of moderate thickness, and well covered with hair.
Shoulders : Muscular, giving breadth of chest, set sloping.
Elbows : Well under, neither turned inwards nor outwards.
Forearm : Muscular, heavily boned, quite straight
Thighs : Long and muscular.
Stifle : Nicely bent.
Second thigh : Well muscled, long and strong.
Hocks : Well let down and turning neither in nor out.
FEET : Moderately large and round, neither turned inward nor outwards. Toes, well arched and closed. Nails, very strong and curved.
GAIT / MOVEMENT : Movements easy and active.
HAIR : Rough and hard on body, legs and head; especially wiry. Hair over eyes and beard especially wiry.
COLOUR AND MARKINGS : The recognised colours are grey, brindle, red, black, pure white, fawn or any colour that appears in the Deerhound.
SIZE AND WEIGHT :
Desired height : averaging 32 inches (81cm) to 34 inches (86cm) in dogs.
Minimum height : Dogs 31 inches (79 cm).
Minimum weight : Dogs 120 pounds (54.5kg).
Minimum height : Bitches 28 inches (71 cm).
Minimum weight : Bitches 90 pounds (40.5 kg).
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.
Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
NOTE : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum
The following Addendum is included by the IKC but not by the FCI
1. TYPICAL: The Irish Wolfhound should not be quite so heavy or massive as the Great Dane, but
more so than the Deerhound, which in general type he should otherwise resemble.
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, specially 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 (rosed)
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.
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.
© Irish Wolfhound Club of Ireland 2018 All rights reserved.
