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Irish Wolfhound

AKC Breed Standard

General Appearance

Power and swiftness with keen sight.

Of great size and commanding appearance, the Irish Wolfhound is remarkable in combining power and swiftness with keen sight. The largest and tallest of the galloping hounds, in general type he is a rough-coated, Greyhound-like breed; 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 32 inches and 120 pounds; of bitches, 30 inches and 105 pounds; these to apply only to hounds over 18 months of age. Anything below this should be debarred 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 inches in dogs, showing the requisite power, activity, courage and symmetry.

Head & Expression

Long muzzle, keen eyes, Greyhound-like ears.

The head is long with frontal bones of the forehead very slightly raised and very little indentation between the eyes. The skull is not too broad, the muzzle long and moderately pointed. Ears are small and Greyhound-like in carriage — never large nor hanging flat to the face.

Breed Standard

Physical Characteristics

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.

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.

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 & Markings

The recognized colors are gray, brindle, red, black, pure white, fawn or any other color that appears in the Deerhound.

Movement & Structure

Straight, strong legs built for the gallop.

Heavily boned forelegs are quite straight with elbows well set under and shoulders muscular, set sloping. Thighs long and muscular; second thighs well muscled with stifles nicely bent and hocks well let down — all contributing to movements that are easy and active.

Coat & Color

Rough and hard — especially wiry over eyes and jaw.

The coat is rough and hard on the body, legs and head — especially wiry and long over the eyes and underjaw. Recognized colors include gray, brindle, red, black, pure white, fawn, or any other color that appears in the Deerhound.

Breed Standard

Faults

The following characteristics are considered faults and are undesirable in the breed.

  • 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.
  • Lips or nose livercolored or lacking pigmentation.

Breed Standard

Points of Merit

Listed in order of merit. These points do not alter the Standard of Excellence, which must in all cases be rigidly adhered to.

  1. Typical. The Irish Wolfhound is a rough-coated Greyhound-like breed, the tallest of the coursing hounds and remarkable in combining power and swiftness.
  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 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.

AKC Breed Standard

Approved September 12, 1950