632 The Dog Book 



As most wild animals are fought and killed by the dogs which hunt 

 them it is well to state that the Russian wolfhound is not supposed to kill the 

 wolf. When a wolf is driven into the open it is the custom to slip a brace of 

 wolfhounds, unless the dog is a large and powerful one. The dogs slipped 

 are always well matched in speed so as to reach the wolf together if possible. 

 They range up on either side of the fleeing wolf and pin him back of the ears, 

 holding him till the mounted huntsman, who follows, can reach them. 

 The huntsman then muzzles the wolf, which is taken to the kennels for use 

 in teaching the younger dogs their business. Many wolves are killed 

 when not so wanted, but the object of the hunt may be said not to be that 

 of the fox hunt or hare coursing, which is the kill, but the capture of the wolf. 



The Russian wolfhound has been styled the aristocrat of the canine 

 family, which is a well-earned name and a very excellent one in illustrating 

 his distinguishing feature, as compared with other breeds. It will be seen 

 that the descriptive particulars of the standard call for a dog on greyhound 

 lines, the differences being a narrower skull, with an indication of angle at 

 the brow, up to which the nasal line is carried without any indication of drop 

 in the outline, in fact it is more often Roman nosed. From the angle at the 

 brow the outline is fairly straight to the occiput; the other differences are the 

 longer coat, sometimes with a curl, and the somewhat straighter hindquart- 

 ers when the dog is standing. 



Descriptive Particulars 



Head. — Skull slightly domed, long and narrow, with scarcely any 

 perceptible stop, rather inclined to the Roman-nosed; jaws long, powerful 

 and deep; teeth strong, clean and even; neither pig-jawed nor undershot; 

 nose large and black. 



Ears. — Small and fine in quality, lying back on the neck when in repose 

 with the tips when thrown back almost touching behind occiput; raised 

 when at attention. 



Eyes. — Set somewhat obliquely, dark in colour, intelligent, but rather 

 soft in expression, never full nor stary, light in colour, eyelids dark. 



Neck. — Clean, free from throatiness, somewhat shorter than in the grey- 

 hound, slightly arched, very powerful, and well set on. 



Shoulders. — Sloping, should be fine at the withers and free from coarse- 

 ness or lumber. 



Chest. — Rather narrow, with great depth of brisket. 



