| The Celts invaded Greece in 275 BC and there acquired dogs similar to greyhounds that then accompanied them on their conquests around Europe. These dogs may then have been crossed with mastiff type dogs to produce even larger dogs. The Romans then found these dogs when they invaded Britain in the early centuries AD. There are stories from Ireland of a great Irish hound in 200 BC to 200 AD. From written records of the 5th century it is known that breeding of dogs resembling the wolfhound type was very organised and profitable. So profitable that many of them were sold abroad, and given as gifts to royalty. These dogs were used for guarding, hunting boar, stag, elk and wolf. In the 15th and 16th centuries this hound was mainly used for hunting wolves. As so many of these Wolfhounds were being exported and wolves were still a problem in Britain in the mid 1600’s, Oliver Cromwell stopped their export. When the last wolf was allegedly killed in Ireland in 1780 the Wolfhound decreased in numbers, so much so that it almost died out. Towards the end of the 1800’s the Wolfhound was starting to make a slow comeback. They were being bred with Deerhounds and crossed occasionally to the Borzoi and Great Dane. They were first shown in the 1870’s. The Irish Wolfhound is a relatively easy dog to train. A gentle approach, with plenty of understanding, will be rewarded by an obedient dog. As puppies, they are very quiet and well behaved. Jumping up should be discouraged from day one as adult dogs can weigh a lot and will easily knock people over. The Irish Wolfhound should have a large head with a long muzzle. The jaws should be strong and have a complete scissor bite. Both the nose and the lips should be black. The eyes should be oval and dark in colour. The ears should be small in size, rose-shaped, hanging away from the face and dark in colour. The neck should be long, strong, muscular and well arched with no loose skin at the throat. The chest should be very deep and the back long with the belly being well drawn up. The front legs should straight, strong and muscular, the back legs, strong, muscular and long. The feet should be large and round with well arched toes. The tail should be long, slightly curved and be well covered with hair. The coat should be rough and harsh and wiry over the eyes and jaw. The colours desired are grey, steel grey, brindle, red, black, white, fawn and wheaten. |
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