The Standard of Excellence for the Irish Wolfhound

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 79 cm and 55 kg; of bitches, 71 cm and 41 kg, these to apply only to hounds over 18 months. Anything below this should be debarred from competition. Great size, including height at shoulder and proportionate length of body, is the desideratum to beaimed 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.

In detail

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: Shoulder, 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 under jaw.

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

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.

List of points in order of merit

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. Movement 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 slightly bent.

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

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

9. Loins arched belly well drawn up.

10. Ears small and greyhound-like in 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.