Bhuvan Kennels

Irish Wolfhound Breed

The Irish Wolfhound breed (also known as the Shannon Spaniel or Rat Tail Spaniel) is a relatively enormous animal weighing in at over 100 pounds and widely said to be the tallest dog in the world. Irish Wolfhounds have an ancient and varied heritage. They were known in the ancient world, where they began as war dogs, gradually shifting to sheep herding dogs, and then fighting dogs, then hunting dogs who hunted wolves, until today when they are mostly pets.

The Irish Wolfhound's Behaviour

Recommended for: pet for active people; hunting; not recommended for apartment settings
The Irish Wolfhound dog breed is widely thought to be gentle and friendly. Though these large animals appear adult at 8 months old, they are not really mature until they are at least 18 months old, and giving them too hard a workout before that age can harm them. Remember that breed only provides a general clue as to any individual dog's actual behaviour. Make sure to get to know dogs well before bringing them into your home.

The Irish Wolfhound's Physical Characteristics

Here are some of the characteristics of the Irish Wolfhound breed as determined by the American Kennel Club's published breed standard.

Size: Males: 32 inches, 120 pounds; Females: 30 inches, 105 pounds (minimum)

Coat: rough, wiry, long over the eyes and under the jaw

Colour: gray, brindle, red, black, pure white, fawn, or other Deerhound colours

Eyes: dark

Ears: small, "Greyhound-like"

Skull: "not too broad"

Muzzle: long and moderately pointed

Nose: large, liver-collared

Tail: long, and slightly curved, moderately thick, covered with hair

The Irish Setter's Origins and History

Country/Region of Origin: Ireland Original purpose: hunting wolves (sight hound); possibly originally bred as war dogs Name: bred to hunt wolves, called Cue Faoil by ancient Celts Historical notes: The Irish Wolfhound breed is one of the oldest European dog breeds. Possibly the ancient Celts first bred Irish Wolfhounds as war dogs in the first century BC or earlier. Written records indicate that the Romans were fascinated by the dogs and found them so fierce that they only transported them in cages. Later Irish people used the breed to guard sheep and in dogfights. Dogfights with Irish Wolfhounds are mentioned in a number of Irish sagas. Later they were used to hunt wolves, and today the wolf is extinct in Ireland . By the mid-19th century the Irish Wolfhound was nearly extinct. A man named Captain Graham bred remaining Irish Wolfhounds with Deerhound, Great Dane, Borzoi, and other breeds in order to reinvigorate it.

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