Irish wolfhound

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Irish Wolfhound

An Irish Wolfhound
Other names	Cú Faoil
Country of origin	Ireland
Traits
Classification & standards FCI Group 10 Section 2 #160 standard AKC Hound standard ANKC Group 4 (Hound) standard CKC Group 2 (Hound) standard KC (UK) Hound standard NZKC Hound standard UKC Sighthounds and Pariahs standard

The Irish Wolfhound (Irish: Cú Faoil) is a breed of domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris), specifically a sighthound. The name originates from its purpose (wolf hunting) rather than from its appearance. Irish Wolfhounds are the tallest dog breed on average, though Great Danes can exceed their height.^{[citation needed]}

Appearance

A female wolfhound

The most distinguishing physical feature of the Irish Wolfhound is its great size. Generally breeders aim for a height range of 85 to 95 centimeters (33 to 36 inches) at the withers in males, 50 to 80 centimeters (30 to 34 inches) for females. Generally acceptable weight 46–70 kg (101–154lbs). The recognized colors are gray, brindle, red, black, pure white, fawn or any other color that appears in the Deerhound.^[1]

Temperament

This section requires expansion.

Health

A puppy

Irish Wolfhounds do not live long lives. Published lifespan estimations vary between 5 and 10 years. Dilated cardiomyopathy and bone cancer are the leading cause of death and like all deep-chested dogs, gastric torsion (bloat) is also common; the breed is also affected by hereditary intrahepatic portosystemic shunt.^[2][3]

In a privately funded study conducted under the auspices of the Irish Wolfhound Club of America and based on an owner survey, Irish Wolfhounds in the United States from 1966 to 1986 lived to a mean age of 6.47 and died most frequently of bone cancer.^[4]

By the age of 8 months, Irish Wolfhounds appear adult, and many owners start stressing them too much. Outstretched limbs and irreparable damage are the result. Wolfhounds need at least 18 months to be ready for lure coursing, running as a sport, and other strenuous activities.^{[citation needed]}

Wolfhounds should not receive additional supplements when a good dog food is used. It is generally accepted that they should be fed a large breed puppy food until 18 months old and then change to a large breed adult food. Most breeders today recommend that they not be supplemented in order to slow their rapid growth. Wolfhound puppies around 10 weeks old grow about 2 cm a week and put on one pound a day.

Irish Wolfhounds are the tallest of dog breeds so they are well suited to rural life, but their medium energy profile allows them to adjust fairly well to suburban and urban life as well, provided they receive appropriate exercise.

History

Irish Wolfhound running

The breed is very old; there are suggestions it may have been brought to Ireland around 3500 BC by early settlers,^{[citation needed]} further genetic testing may help clarify a point of origin. Bred as war dogs by the ancients, who called them Cú Faoil. The Irish continued to breed them for this purpose, as well as to guard their homes and protect their stock. Regular references of Irish Wolfhounds being used in dog fights are found in many historical sagas—Culain's favourite dog, Luath, was slain by a southern chief's hound, Phorp. Cúchulain, a name which translates literally as "hound of Culain", gained his name when as a child, known then as Setanta, he slew the ferocious guard dog of Culain forcing him to offer himself as a replacement.

Irish Guards mascot in parade dress

Wolf hunting with wolfhounds

While many modern texts state Irish Wolfhounds were used for coursing deer, contemporary pre-revival accounts such as Animated Nature (1796) by Oliver Goldsmith are explicit that the original animal was a very poor coursing dog. Their astonishing size, speed, and intelligence made them ideal animals for both boar hunting and wolf hunting, and many were exported for this purpose. They were perhaps too ideal, as the boar and wolf are now extinct in Ireland. The Irish Wolfhound has been recorded as being exhibited in ancient Rome to some excitement, and mention is made that they so amazed and terrified the Romans that it was seen fit to only transport them in cages.

The Wolfhound is sometimes regarded as the national dog breed of Ireland but in fact no breed has ever been officially adopted as such. The Wolfhound was historically a dog that only nobles could own and was taken up by the British during their rule in Ireland. This made it unpopular as a national symbol and the Kerry Blue Terrier was adopted by Irish Nationalists such as Michael Collins.

References

Further reading

• McBryde, M. (1998). The Magnificent Irish Wolfhound, Ringpress Books, Dorking. ISBN 1860540937, ISBN 978-1860540936.

External links

• http://www.iwsocietyofireland.com Irish Wolfhound Society of Ireland
• Irish Wolfhound Club of Ireland