The Irish wolfhound is the largest or tallest breed of dog in the world. It is also the largest breed in the Sighthound family as well as one of the oldest.
John Entwistle, a bassist from the famous rock group, The Who, owned many Irish wolfhounds in his life and felt they were his favorite.
The Irish wolfhound has been named by many as the Official Dog of Ireland. They have also been on the front of many stamps and coins.
The Irish wolfhound has been given many nicknames in its time. Some of them are "Irish dogs", "Big Dogs of Ireland", "Greyhounds of Ireland", "Grehounds", "Wolfdogs of Ireland" and "Great Hounds of Ireland".
The Irish wolfhound was quite known in Rome in 391 AD, when Roman Consul Quintus Aurelius received seven of them as gifts. In their beginning, the Irish wolfhound was given as a gift to the king and princes until the law banned the dog being exported.
An Irish wolfhound is still a puppy for almost the first two years of his life and yet can weigh 100 pounds at this young age.
The Irish wolfhound was the first purebred dog in the New World. Did you know that one accompanied Columbus on his fourth journey?
The Irish wolfhound is a lovable, loyal and friendly dog, but is also a dog with a lot of pride and dignity and does not like to be laughed at.
Did you know that the Irish wolfhound does not run or trot like many dogs? Their best and favorite gait is a gallop, similar to what you see with a horse.
In spite of their long shaggy hair and somewhat messy overall appearance, this is part of the breed standard for this dog. They are not to be trimmed or clippered, as this would take away from their natural look.
Around the time 1014, when they were popular in Ireland, there were laws passed regarding how long the Irish wolfhound could be let loose outside. In addition, if they relieved themselves on the neighbor's property, not only did it need to be picked up, but the ground also had to be dug up so there was no evidence of them ever being there.
You all remember hearing the largest breed of dog in the world? Some believe the Great Dane has broken the record, but history still shows the Irish wolfhound as being the tallest. This dog can be up to 7 feet long and can stand taller than most men when on their hind legs.
The Irish wolfhound was ranked #84 out of the 154 dogs registered in the American Kennel Club as of the 2004 information.
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