The Irish Wolfhound, The Colossus Of Dogs
The Irish wolfhound or Irish wolfhound is the tallest breed of dog that exists. After brushing with extinction, his genes were strengthened with those of the Great Dane, and although he does not appear to be, he is still taller than the latter. With a good-natured character, we introduce you to the colossus of dogs.
History
This breed is so old that its origins are lost. It is known that they arose in Ireland and that the Celts used them in hunting and in protecting livestock against wolves. The oldest mention we have of the existence of this breed is made by Julius Caesar, praising the nobility and beauty of these dogs.
These dogs are originally from Ireland, but with the Romans they spread throughout Europe. However, by 1800 they were in danger of extinction, like so many other breeds of dogs. Then it was decided to recover it: its own characteristics were strengthened when crossing it with Great Danes or the Scottish Greyhound, and thus the breed was recovered.
The Irish wolfhound is a very special breed of dog: it is classified by the FCI as a sighthound, a close relative to greyhounds and hounds, even though its appearance is rarely reminiscent of such a dog. In addition, it is a sighthound that stands up to wolves and protects livestock, something unusual in this type of breed.
features
We are facing the highest breed of dog. An adult reaches between 70 and 80 centimeters in height to the withers, without significant differences in size between males and females; It is a giant-sized dog that can weigh up to 55 kilos.
The shape of its head is reminiscent of a greyhound : it has a long, tapered snout. The stop , or what is the same, the difference between the skull and the nose is very smooth and has small, dark eyes. It also has the typical sighthound ears : small, triangular and drooping to the sides of the head.
However, he has long, hard hair. It is also longer on the limbs and thicker in relation to the tail. As for the shades it presents, it can be of several different colors: gray, brindle, black, white, etc.
The Irish wolfhound has a deep chest and a narrow belly ; the shape of its body makes it appear smaller than other giant dog breeds, but it is only a perception due to its proportions.
Behavior
They call this breed the ‘good-natured giant’, since it is one of the most docile and calm breeds that exist. The Irish Wolfhound is kind, balanced and extremely affectionate towards his family. It has an ideal character to deal with children, although due to its large size it can be abrupt or careless with them.
It has been used as a land guard dog, thanks to its imposing size, although it is actually too friendly for this job. Thus, their work capacity is restricted to the field: hunting and caring for livestock.
Additionally, it has great hunting instincts, which is why games of chasing objects such as balls or sticks are highly discouraged for this breed of dog. There are, however, many other sniffing and tracking games that you will enjoy immensely.
Care
A dog with such a large size is prone to different types of diseases or health problems, in addition to those of his breed. It should be noted that the prevention of these diseases should be supervised and advised by a veterinarian.
This breed of dog, like many of the medium, large, and giant breeds, is prone to hip dysplasia. In addition, it is especially susceptible to stomach torsion, a serious health problem with a very high mortality rate.
As diseases of this breed, there is a greater appearance of bone cancer in the Irish wolfhound than in other dogs ; as well as heart disease and eye problems such as retinal dystrophy.
All dogs should have regular check-ups with their veterinarian and special care should be taken to follow them in a dog of such a large size. In this sense, it is necessary to follow the recommended vaccination and deworming schedule.
The Irish wolfhound is a quiet dog, but large. It is not necessary to force him to exercise with games of chasing or running, but you do need to provide him with long quality walks so that he can drain his energy.
Finally, the Irish wolfhound or ‘good-natured giant’ is the tallest breed of dog out there. In addition to its size, it stands out for its affectionate and friendly character.
