The Characteristics Of The Irish Wolfhound
| by John Holmes (healthier-dogs.com) | June 04, 2007
The following is the description of the variety as drawn up by the Club:-
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.
The minimum height and weight of dogs should be 31 inches and 120 pounds, of bitches 28 inches and 90 pounds. 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 firmly to establish a race that shall
average from 32 inches 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 and 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.
FORE-QUARTERS
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.
HIND-QUARTERS
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.
COLOUR AND MARKINGS
The recognised colours are grey, brindle, red, black, pure white, fawn, or any colour
that appears in the Deerhound.
FAULTS
Too light or heavy in 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 and hollow or quite level back; bent fore-legs; over-bent fetlocks; twisted feet; spreading toes; too curly a tail; weak hind-quarters, cow hocks, and a general want of muscle; too short in body.
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.
The minimum height and weight of dogs should be 31 inches and 120 pounds, of bitches 28 inches and 90 pounds. 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 firmly to establish a race that shall
average from 32 inches 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 and 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.
FORE-QUARTERS
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.
HIND-QUARTERS
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.
COLOUR AND MARKINGS
The recognised colours are grey, brindle, red, black, pure white, fawn, or any colour
that appears in the Deerhound.
FAULTS
Too light or heavy in 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 and hollow or quite level back; bent fore-legs; over-bent fetlocks; twisted feet; spreading toes; too curly a tail; weak hind-quarters, cow hocks, and a general want of muscle; too short in body.
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