6i4 The Dog Book 



The Irish Wolfhound Club standard is the only one that has ever been 

 published and it is as follows: 



Descriptive Particulars 



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 otherwise resemble. 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 toward 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 de- 

 barred 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 inches to 34 

 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. 



2<[eck. — 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. 



Forequarters. — Shoulders muscular, giving breadth of chest, set sloping. 

 Elbows well let under, neither turned inwards nor outwards. 



Leg. — Fore-arm muscular, and the whole leg strong and quite 

 straight. 



Hindquarters. — 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 nor out- 

 wards. Toes well arched and closed. Nails very strong and curved. 



Hair. — Rough and hard on body, legs and head; especially wiry and 

 long over eyes and under jaws. 



