THE IRISH WOLFHOUND m 



the rug or under the table cannot fail to be struck with the 

 comparatively little room that he then occupies. 



For following a trap, if the pace be not too great or the distance 

 too long, the Irish Wolfhound is admirably suited ; while he is one 

 of the very few breeds that may be taken by a lady cyclist on a 

 lonely road. In fact, we can conceive no better dog for a lady's 

 companion than a really well-trained, good-tempered specimen. 

 Our only wonder is that a dog having so many good qualities has 

 not found a more numerous following. Doubtless some of this 



FIG. 36. IRISH WOLFHOUND DERMOT ASTHORE. 



lack of appreciation of the breed is due to the fact that, so far as 

 outward appearances go, the Irish Wolthound, as judged by the 

 " man in the street," has none of the personal attractions that go 

 such a long way towards " making " a breed \ nor has he been 

 " boomed " to anything like the extent that some breeds have. 

 Where good qualities lie hidden under a somewhat rugged exterior it 

 is always a difficult and uphill task to get the merits of a variety 

 properly recognised. It is this undoubtedly that in a great measure 

 has helped to keep the Irish Wolfhound in the background. The 

 more's the pity. His day will, however, assuredly come. Forty 

 years of patient work in connection with the evolution of the breed 



