Irish Wolfhound Standards of the Breed

Reproduced with kind permission of Elisabeth C.Murphy from her book
"The Irish Wolfhound (3rd Edition)"

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, strong 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 (79 cm) and 120 pounds (54 kg); of bitches, 28 inches (71 cm) and 90 pounds (41 kg). Anything below this should be debarred from competition.

 Graham
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 (81 cm)to 34 inches (86 cm) in dogs, showing the requisite power, activity, courage and symmetry. Graham's Model
This picture is not dated but it represent a scale model that was constructed for Graham, with him standing beside him. On the back of the photo is written "Type of the Old Irish Wolfhound".

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 Greyhoundlike in carriage. Bite:scissors ideal, level acceptable.
NeckRather 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 under, neither turned inwards nor outwards. Leg. Forearm 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 outwards. 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 underjaw.
Color and Markings: The recognized colors are gray, brindle, red, black, pure white, fawn, or any other color 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 otherwise resemble.
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 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 Greyhoundlike 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.