IRISH WOLFHOUND SOCIETY OF IRELAND

 

Irish Wolfhound Standard

 

This page is a compilation of the various Irish  Wolfhound Standards in Europe, the United States and Canada.

The Irish Kennel Club is now fully affiliated with the Fédération Cynologique Internationale. The FCI Standard for our breed is the one judges must adhere to when judging in Ireland.

For more background on the development of the Standards please visit the links below.


US  The Irish Wolfhound Standard - United States -AKC

US  The Irish Wolfhound Standard - IW Club of America
        
Canada  The Irish Wolfhound Standard - Canada

UK  The Irish Wolfhound Standard - United Kingdom -The Kennel Club

UK  The Irish Wolfhound Standard - IW Club of Great Britain

European Union   The Fédération Cynologique Internationale Irish Wolfhound Standard 

Additional Resources

 

                        Judging Irish Wolfhounds - Joel Samaha

ireland The Irish Wolfhound Standard of Excellence

 General Appearance:


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 resemble otherwise. Of great size and commanding appearance, very muscular, strongly 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 31 inches and 120 pounds; of bitches, 28 inches and 90 pounds. Anything below this should be debarred		 US Standard
from competition. Great size, including height at shoulder and proportionate length of body,
is the desideratum to be aimed at, and it is desired to firmly establish a race that shall average from 32 to 34  ins. in dogs, showing the requisite power, activity, courage and symmetry.

 
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. Bite, scissors ideal, level acceptable.

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

Fore-Quarters: Shoulders, 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.

Hind-Quarters: 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. Toes, well arched and closed. Nails, very strong and curved.

Hair: Tough and hard on body, legs and head; especially wiry and long over eyes and under jaw.

Colour and Markings: The recognized colors are grey, brindle, red, black, pure white, fawn, or any colour 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; pink or liver-coloured eyelids; lips and nose any colour other than black; very light eyes.



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 resemble otherwise.

 2. Great size and commanding appearance.

 3. Movements 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 nicely bent.

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

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

 9. Loins arched, belly well drawn up.

10. Ears, small, with Greyhound-like 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.

NOTE - The above in no way alters the "Standard of Excellence," which must in all cases be rigidly adhered to; they simply give the various points in order of merit. If in any case they appear at variance with "Standard of Excellence," it is the latter which is correct.