Irish wolfhound

Standard FCI N 160 (march 1990)

 

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 towards the extremity.

Characteristics - 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 81 cm (32 ins) to 86.5cm (34 ins) in dogs, showing the requisite power, activity courage and symmetry.

Temperament - (Not detailed.)

Head and skull - 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.

Eyes - Very light eyes are a fault.

Ears - Small and Greyhound-like in carriage.

Mouth - Bite: Scissors ideal, level acceptable.

Neck - Rather long, very strong and muscular, well arched, without dewlap or loose skin about the throat.

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.

Body
Chest: Very deep, breast wide.
Back: Rather long than short. Loins arched.
Belly: Well drawn up.

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, turned neither in nor out. Toes well arched and closed. Nails, very strong and curved.

Tail - Long and slightly curved, of moderate thickness, and well covered with hair.

Gait/movement - Easy and active.

Coat - Hair: Rough and hard on body, legs and head; especially wiry and long over eyes and under jaw.

Colour - Colour and Markings: The recognised colours are grey, brindle, red, black, pure white, fawn, or any colour that appears in the Deerhound.

Size - The minimum height and weight:

	of dogs should be 79cm (31 ins) and 54.5 kg (120lbs);
	of bitches 71cm (28 ins) and 40.8kg (90 lbs).

Anything below this should be debarred from competition.

Faults

• Too light or too heavy a head, too highly arched frontal bone.
• Lips and nose any colour other than black.
• Very light eyes. Pink or liver-coloured eyelids.
• Large ears and hanging flat to the face.
• Short neck; full dewlap.
• Bent forelegs; overbent pasterns (fetlocks)
• Too narrow or too broad chest.
• Too short in body.
• Sunken or hollow or quite straight back.
• Weak hindquarters and a general want of muscle.
• Twisted feet; spreading toes.
• Too curly a tail.

Note: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.