Breeders

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The Irish Wolfhound is a very ancient breed that was bred by the Celts to be used as war dogs. The Celts called them Cu Faoil. The Irish continued to breed them for this purpose, as well as flock and home guardians. Regular references of the Irish Wolfhound being used in dogfights are found in many historical sagas. While many modern texts state that the this breed were used for coursing deer, their size, intelligence and speed made them ideal for wild boar and wolf hunting, and many of this breed were exported for this specific purpose. During the 19th century the Wolfhound came close to extinction, but were brought back with the help of Captain Graham, who rebred the Wolfhound with, Great Dane, Deerhound, Borzoi, and many other breeds. Wolfhounds are referred to as gentle giants with a historic motto that says "gentle when stroked, fierce when provoked".

History

The Irish Wolfhound is a gentle friendly dog that gets along very well with children, loyal to his owner and family and loves to be the center of attention. Provided they have been introduced to other animals at a young age, it should not be difficult for the dog to get along with other pets. This is a very intelligent breed and training it should be realatively easy. These are large dogs that will require a lot of space and exercise.

Behavior

Irish Wolfhounds are one of the tallest breeds in the world along with the Great Dane. They have a shape similar to the Greyhound, but larger, a large head and a muscular neck. They have a rough, coarse, hard coat that comes in a variety of colors such as; grey being the most common, brindle, red, white, black, fawn, brown, and grey roan. Regular grooming with a brush or a comb will keep the coat in good condition.

Appearance