Irish Wolfhound standard

Domicile of origin: Ireland

FCI Classification: Group 10-Greyhounds, Section 2- rough-coated Greyhound-like breed

FCI-standart: No. 160 Irish Wolfhound

General Appearance: Of great size and commanding appearance, the largest and tallest of the deerhounds. He is very muscular, strong though gracefully built with easy and active movement. Head and neck carried high, the tail carried with an upward sweep with a slight curve towards the extremity.

Muzzle: Long and moderately pointed

Bite: Perfect is scissorbite, lighter allowance

Ears: Small Greyhound-like in carriage, not hanging close to face

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

Belly: Well drawn up

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

Forequarters: Shoulders muscular giving breadth of chest, set sloping. Elbows well under, neither turned inwards nor outwards.

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 the body, legs and head, especially wiry and long over eyes and under jaw.

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

Weight and height: The minimum height and weight for of dogs should be 79 cm (32 inch) and 54,5 kg (120 pounds), of bitches 71 cm (30 inch) and 40,5 kg (105 pounds). Anything below this should be barred from competition. Great size, including height at the shoulder and proportionate length of body is the desideratum to be aimed.

Faults: Too light or heavy a head, too highly arched frontal bone, large aers and hanging flat to the face, short neck, full dewlap, too narow 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 liver-coloured or lacking in pigmentation

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