by Gara (or Fingal) ex Zarah
Published by Our Dogs Publishing Company (no date of publishing given but after 1907)
This is without doubt one of the oldest breeds known to the British Isles, but as to his exact origin no sufficiently reliable data exists that will fix it. One thing is certain - viz., that 100 years or so ago the breed was very nearly extinct, since which it has been resuscitated - some will probably say manufactured - by crosses with the Great Dane and Deerhound, which were undoubtedly resorted to. The original Wolfhound was, according to ancient writings - some of them legendary - and illustrations, shown to be a veritable giant - a huge, grizzly shaggy-coated, long-groined, powerful, yet fleet-looking Hound. Reinagle's picture, however, corrects this idea, and gives us the outline of a dog more in keeping with our modern example.
Doubtless when wolves became extinct in Ireland, early in the 18th century, the breed would degenerate, until, as I have already pointed out, it became either wholly or all but extinct.
It was not until the advent of dog shows that breeders turned their attention to the once famous Irish Wolf-dog, and probably Captain Graham's monograph on the breed gave a fillip to the desire for its resuscitation and cultivation. Ultimately a club in the interests of the breed was formed, and still exists, and to the efforts of its devotees do we owe the magnificent Hounds England possesses today. In fact, at no period in the history of the breed, as it has been ascertained from research into kennel archives, from family paintings, books, and other data, did more imposing and typical specimens exist than are to be found in England to-day. Singularly these efforts to revive the ancient Hibernian breed have been confined almost exclusively to Englishmen, who own all the best dogs, and, in my opinion, the largest, the soundest, and most typical representative of the breed is Major and Mrs. Shewell's young dog, Champion Cotswold, who, I believe, holds an unbeaten record on the show bench.
With all the efforts that have been put forth, the Irish Wolfhound has not "caught on" with the general public, doubtless owing to the invasion of England by so many foreign breeds, such as the Great Dane, Borzoi, St. Bernard, etc. his breeding and propagation being confined to a comparatively limited number of enthusiasts.
As in the case of most big dogs, the great difficulty in breeding the Irish Wolfhound is to ensure straight forelegs and sound hinquarters. Of course, a great deal depends on the rearing of the dogs in this particular connection. A puppy may be born sound and straight in limb, and become incurably defective by his faulty bringing up. Still, that is the tendency, and such faults as cow hocks (which are very prevalent in the breed), crooked forelegs, or splay feet, once established, become hereditary, and should be carefully avoided. There is a certain amount of similarity between the Scottish Deerhound and Irish Wolfhound, some of the blood of each of which no doubt course through the veins of the other, but the Irish dog is bigger, less elegant in outline, and a heavier and more powerful dog. He has, too, or should have, a harder texture of coat and more powerful jaw. A little white on the chest or feet is perfectly immaterial, and colour is of but secondary importance, the most favourite colour being grizzle or wheaten.
The chief points to look for in the selection of Irish Wolfhound puppies at from two to four months old and after are:- A long, level head, great strength of muzzle, big nostrils, enormous bone, big body, deep chest, big hindquarters, moderately short body.
The following are among the more successful breeders and exhibitors, past and present:- Major and Mrs. Shewell, Mr. J.F.Baily, Capt. G.A. Graham, Mr. L. Irwell, Mr. R. Hood-Wright, Mr. G.E. Crisp, Mr. R.B. Townshend, Mr. J.W. Benyon, Mr. J.B. Waldy, Mrs. Gray, Mr. J. Traynor, Mrs. G. Williams, The Hon. Miss Dilton, and Mr. R.T. Martin.
Some time ago a correspondence raged in Our Dogs on the breed, and a writer (who is a reliable authority) over the nom de plume of "Breeder", gave his views in the following very succinct description and scale of points:-
| Height, 34in.; weight, 140lbs.; girth, 38in.; head, 14in.; avoiding the broad forehead, and with strong muzzle. Eyes small and dark. Ears neatly tucked and cocked. Body long, deep, and supple. Tail long and lashing. Neck clean and arched. Hocks well let down, and with a suspicion of "cow". Legs like parallel rulers. Coat rough and wiry. Beard and eyebrows plentiful. Colour, any met with in the Deerhound. Muscular all over, of course. |
The following scale of point-values has been suggested by "Breeder" in the paper above named:-
| HEAD | .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. | 25 | |
| Length and shape of .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. | 10 | ||
| Ears .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. | 8 | ||
| Beard and eyebrows.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. | 5 | ||
| Eyes .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . | 2 | ||
| BODY | .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. | 25 | |
| Height at shoulder .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. | 12 | ||
| Substance and girth. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. | 7 | ||
| Length and symmetry of body. .. .. .. .. .. | 6 | ||
| LIMBS | .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . | 25 | |
| Loins and hocks.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . | 10 | ||
| Forelegs.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . | 8 | ||
| Feet.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . | 7 | ||
| THE REST | .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. | 25 | |
| Coat.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . | 12 | ||
| Neck. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . | 6 | ||
| Tail .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. | 3 | ||
| Nails. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. | 2 | ||
| Teeth. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . | 2 | ||
| Total points in all | 100 |
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| Brian II by Gara (or Fingal) ex Zarah |
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