They are called the “Gentle Giant” of the doggy world. History tells us that the Irish wolfhound may have originated in Ireland sometime in 500 B.C.E. It is true that there were no wolves in Ireland, but there used to be. And before that, these so called gentle giants were renowned for hunting wolves as well as large animals. Legend and history also added that these dogs went with Irish Kings and warriors to battle, thus giving the wolfhound’s reputation as a unique breed of dog.
The dog’s gigantic size may give people the impression that they should be moved in iron cages. With the males standing about 86 cm – 90 cm in height while the females would just be a few inches smaller than the male, reaching extra food on the table is very easy. It is so amazing how a small, one and a half pounder puppy could quickly grow.
Irish Wolfhounds do not bark a lot. These dogs are more classified as the strong but the silent type canine. Yet if they bark, it is considered as a remarkable and extraordinary sound. One could define it as deep-toned and melancholic sound you can hear from a dog’s bark. In appearance, Irish Wolfhounds are also described as ferocious looking, with a piercing pair of eyes, a shaggy brows and a coarse dark-grey coats, these are the dogs you may at first want to avoid with your life. But appearance doesn’t always tell the dog’s personality. The Irish wolfhound is so kind that even children could play with it. In fact, most people who have these dogs would say they are exuberantly affectionate to their masters. And they are not always dark in color. Aside from black and dark-grey colored coats, Irish wolfhounds also have white, wheaten or red colored coats. Even the famous Irish writer Oliver Goldsmith lavishly praised them as extremely beautiful and majestic adding that it is the greatest kind of dog seen in the world. Obviously, the artist was very impressed by their sturdy, rugged good appearance which includes the brows, the eyelashes and the whiskers that brand them having the “true Irish expression.”
However, the Irish wolfhound almost died out as breed now. One of its reasons is its undying popularity. More often, people who admired them considered them as a valuable gift to be given to important people. These dogs are sought after and sent to all parts of the globe thus resulting to a scattered Irish wolfhound in small numbers everywhere. Moreover, their worth as wolf hunters ended, they have become neglected as a species in Ireland.
The Irish wolfhounds have come to a near extinction of their race without the help people like George A. Graham who noticed their plight for survival. By gathering and breeding them carefully, he has restored the dying number of Irish wolfhounds and preventing this mighty canine race from the brink of extinction. Now, the once mighty race of Irish wolfhound is back to being popular.