Irish Wolfhound
History/
The Irish Wolfhound is the largest breed of greyhound dog
chasing mobile prey, as well as the tallest dog in the world. One of the first
mentions of these animals dates back to 391 AD, when the Roman consul Aurelius
wrote of the "great surprise and delight" experienced by the
inhabitants of Rome and the aristocracy, at the sight of seven wolfhounds
brought by legionaries from the campaign.
In Ireland, these dogs were extremely appreciated for their
fighting qualities, fearlessness, and immense strength. In battle, the Irish
wolfhound was used to knock a rider off a horse, and, often, on the ground,
this same rider was with the horse. They hunted big game, Irish elk, wolf, and
bear.
The legislation of Ireland in the Middle Ages allowed only
royalty and nobles to have an Irish wolfhound. Moreover, the number of dogs
that could be kept directly depended on the height of the title.
Irish tradition says that the folk hero Finn McCoumhill had
at least 500 Irish wolfhounds, of which two were favorites - their names were
Bran and Schiolan. They occurred, allegedly, as a result of magic and magic.
Irish wolfhounds were often used by nobles and kings as an
expensive gift. Moreover, this gift was often delivered in an expensive collar
made of pure gold or silver. One of the most popular and beloved stories of the
Irishman, tells about a dog named Gellert, which was presented to the Prince of
Wales Llewelyn by the English King John in 1210.
One day, a dog protected the Prince of Wales's son from a
wolf by killing him while his father was hunting. When he returned from the
hunt and saw the dog in blood, he thought that the dog had killed his young
son, and hacked him to death with a blow of the sword. However, he later
discovered the body of a wolf and an unharmed baby, which was smeared with the
blood of a dead predator. In honor of his devoted dog Gellert, the prince
erected a commemorative tomb in Caernarvon, Wales - it can be seen in our days.
A huge role in reducing the population of Irish wolfhounds
was played by the hunting of large elk and wolves in Ireland. Since they were
practically exterminated, the dogs simply ceased to be bred, which is why the
breed for some time was even on the verge of extinction.
In the mid-19th century, he wrote a book where he suggested
that the Irish wolfhound and the mountain deer were of the same origin (today
such a ridiculous assumption will cause laughter). He began breeding Irish
wolfhounds, basing his breeding program on the Glengarry reindeer herders, and
achieved considerable success. Later, George Augustus Graham, another breeder, was added to the breeding program. Tibetan mastiffs, greyhounds, and great
at.
Irish wolfhound breed
characteristics / Characteristics
of the breed
popularity 05/10
training 05/10
size 10/10
mind 05/10
protection 05/10
Relationships with children 09/10
Dexterity 07/10
Molting 05/10
Breed Information /wolfhounds about the breed
Country |
Ireland |
Lifetime |
8-10 years |
Height |
Males: 75-90 |
Weight |
Males: 45-55 |
Length of coat |
average |
Color |
white, red, gray, fawn, black |
Price |
1500 - 2600 $ |
Description / Irish wolfhound temperament
The Irish Wolfhound is a really huge breed. They are the
tallest dogs in the world and some of the largest dogs on the planet. The
limbs are long, and the chest is pronounced, wide, and voluminous. The physique is
muscular and powerful. On the head, the transition from the forehead to the eyes
is clearly pronounced. The ears hang down the sides of the head, and the tail is
longer than average.
Personality / Irish wolfhound temperament
Despite its huge size and intimidating appearance, the Irish
wolfhound in the circle of his family is an extremely affectionate, loyal, and
loving dog. For a long time, he is away from his family and the owner he cannot.
Children will ride it like a pony, you can be sure of this since your pet
simply will not be able to resist the childish charm.
He loves children very much, loves to play with them, and
just loves to be in the circle of children's attention. However, it is
impossible to allow children to ride a dog like a pony, since the joints of
these animals, including the spine, will be injured. And given that the Irish
Wolfhound breed in principle has many health problems and skeletons,s in
particular, it is better to take care of their health.
By the way, they also do not live long - only 6-8 years, a
maximum of 10 but very rarely, and no more. The Irish Wolfhound dog breed has
an average level of energy, but this does not mean that he can lie at home on a
pillow all day. This is absolutely not the case. They need an active lifestyle
to keep their large body in good shape, as muscles and joints require movement
and load, but the load is correct.
The Irish Wolfhound is normal towards strangers, and if they
are family friends, then seeing the location of the owners, the dog will treat
them with friendliness. Their fighting nature can mostly manifest itself when
confronted with another dog, although they may well be friends with dogs
without conflict. Small pets may be perceived as potential prey, due to the hunter's
rich past, so that with cats they should be introduced at an early
age, and early socialization should be carried out.
The Irish Wolfhound breed is not very often used as a
watchdog, as it is not very territorial and does not give a voice too actively.
However, they may well be aware of themselves in this capacity and are quite
capable of learning.
In addition, the huge size of the dog and its frightening
appearance can make the attacker change his mind. After all, to remain unharmed
after a fight with such an animal is simply unrealistic - moreover, the
attacker can simply remain crippled. In any case, it is a faithful companion
and a reliable defender.
Teaching
The dog of the Irish Wolfhound breed normally perceives the
learning process and is amenable to education. They need physical exertion, and
the training process is necessary food for the mind.
You should definitely teach your pet basic commands, in
addition, great emphasis should be placed on obedience in case of distractions.
This is necessary so that you can stop your dog in any conflict situation since a fight with any other dog (with rare exceptions) in the park is likely
to end very badly for the opponent, if not fatally.
It cannot be said that the Irish wolfhound is distinguished
by special aggression and bloodlust, but it is not worth discounting its deep
past as a hunter and fighter.
Care
Hard curly hair needs to be combed once or twice a week.
During walks in the park or forest belt, the Irish wolfhound can
enthusiastically climb the bushes, and therefore after a walk be sure to inspect
it for ticks.
Ears should be cleaned 2-3 times a week, eyes - daily. The
claws are trimmed three times a month, and bathe the animal once a week.
Common diseases
- sensitivity to anesthesia;
- hip dysplasia is a hereditary disease;
- elbow dysplasia - a hereditary disease;
- liver shunt;
- heart disease – Irish wolfhounds may be prone to heart disease, primarily heart failure caused by dilated cardiomyopathy;
- fibrocartylaginic embolic myelopathy;
- osteochondrosis;
- osteosarcoma;
- progressive retinal atrophy;
- gastro-dilatation volvulus, or gastric torsion, or in the people volvulus.
Beautiful Pictures of Irish Wolfhound Dog
Puppies of Irish Wolfhound dog |
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