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| Irish Wolfhound | ||||||||||||||
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| Country of origin | ||||||||||||||
| Ireland | ||||||||||||||
| Classification | ||||||||||||||
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| Breed standards (external links) | ||||||||||||||
| FCI, AKC, ANKC, CKC KC(UK), NZKC, UKC |
The Irish Wolfhound is a breed of hound (a sighthound), bred to hunt. The name originates from its purpose rather than from its appearance: To hunt wolves. These dogs are the tallest breed, with a swift pace and good sight. They have a rough coat (gray, brindle, red, black, pure white, or fawn), a large arrow-shaped head, and a long, muscular neck.
The breed is very old, possibly from before 1 CE, created by the Celts as Cu Faoil. Due to a massive export into various countries as a gift for royalty and a ban that allowed only royalty to own such a dog, the breed almost vanished in the middle of the 19th century. Captain Graham rebred the Irish Wolfhound with the Deerhound, Great Dane, and other breeds; this saved the breed, but had the inevitable effect of altering its appearance. Their average lifespan is around 10 years.
Supplemental calcium shots, minerals, and vitamins need to be administered until a certain age. By the age of 8 months, the dogs 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 coursingLure coursing is a sport for dogs that involves chasing a mechanically operated lure. The AKC and AFSA ( American Field Sighthound Association) are the two main sanctioning bodies in the US. Participation is limited to purebred sighthounds. This group inc, running as a sport, and other strenuous activities.
In temperament, they are considered gentle and friendly, very calm in the house, enjoying long sleeps but energetic when taken for walks. Despite their great size and sometimes intimidating appearance, wolfhounds are sensitive and should be corrected firmly but without anger. They should be socialized from a young age so that they have a chance to gather experience.