There are many tales of this Irish Wolfhound being ferocious, aggressive and strong. Easily one of the most recognizable emblems of Ireland, the Irish Wolfhound boasts a long and noble history. They originated from Ireland and were originally allowed to be owned by only the rich and noble Irish men. Currently holding 166,038 irish wolfhounds. However, despite their role in our history and their symbolic importance, the breed, or at least in its original form, died out almost entirely in the nineteenth century. Factual information on the early history of the Irish Wolfhound is not easy to come by. But they soon neared extinction. The Irish Wolfhound has been a popular choice of dog for centuries (Picture: The Curious History of Irish Dogs) An unlikely champion Then, towards the end of the nineteenth century, an unlikely champion of the breed emerged, and he was determined to restore Irish Wolfhounds to their former glory. The Irish wolfhound is an animal which is not only symbolically linked with Ireland but also highly steeped in Irish history. When the Celts first arrived in Britain decades before Christ was born, it was overrun with wild deer and wolves. The story of the Irish Wolfhound, "like all Gaul," may be divided into three parts: the data regarding the ancient wolfdog with his romantic historical background; the extraordinary feat of Captain G.A. History of Irish wolfhound and German shepherd Mix. The main purpose of dogs of this breed was hunting for wolves, hares, wild boars and deer. The visage of the wolfhound not only can be found on the coat of arms of early Irish kings, but it has also graced all things Irish from coins, to postage stamps to Balleek china. Irish Wolfhound 1803. One Irish wolfhound named Aibe is indirectly credited with starting a war in the 12th century, when his owner refused an offer from the King of Ulster of 4000 cows in trade for him. The Irish wolfhound was used in other countries for hunting wolves, bears, cougars, wild boar, and other creatures. Share. Here are ten snippets of history and fun facts you might not have known about the Irish wolfhound breed: 1. These dogs are mentioned, as cú (variously translated as hound, Irish hound, war dog, wolf dog, etc.) By this point the dogs were a symbol of Irish identity. The Irish Wolfhound has always been a highly valued dog in all of its history. They are also used to give you access to the trial-matings you created. Share on Pinterest Share on Facebook Share on Twitter. Irish Wolfhound - one of the oldest breeds in the world, the national pride of Ireland. Search. #1 The history of the Irish Wolfhound begins more than 2500 years ago. Irish Wolfhound information including personality, history, grooming, pictures, videos, and the AKC breed standard. History Irish Wolfhounds have a history that goes back to 273 BC, possibly earlier. It's a lovely poetic line but it doesn't tell us how or when the Irish Wolfhound became a part of Ireland's history and heritage. So large hunting dogs were required to hunt prey from which they derived their respective names. In 1863, Captain George Augustus Graham decided to revive the Irish Wolfhound. In 391 AD, Irish Wolfhounds were prized. By this point the dogs were a symbol of Irish identity. Source. They did their job too well and practically made their prey extinct. History of the Irish Wolfhound and the Deerhound. All dog experts agree that the Irish have possessed a massive sight hound breed for untold centuries, but they disagree on what happened to the original type. Daniel O'Connell dressed as an Irish Chieftain with a trusty wolfhound by his side. Wikipedia does better research than anyone else and we can find good information about the history of this Breed Mix. In ancient Ireland, the Wolfhound was given the name “Cu” which has many different meanings including wolf dog, Irish hound, war dog, and hound. The breed itself is very, very old- dating back as far as 7,000 BC. CLUB HISTORY. Around this time,… Search for: Search. Search. To celebrate National Dog Day, we examine the history of this beloved creature. In the 15th century, Irish Wolfhounds were bred to hunt elk and wolves throughout the countryside. Search for: Search. A BIT OF HISTORY . The Irish wolfhound is a persistent symbol of ancient Celtic nobility and integrity. Male Irish Wolfhound weigh 54 kg (120 pounds) and females weigh 47 kg (105 pounds). By the 18th century most of the breed was dying out, but we were able to locate information that in 1879, Capt. Irish Wolfhound – one of the oldest breeds in the world, the national pride of Ireland. This site uses cookies. This site uses cookies. The Irish Wolfhound has long been regarded as one of the Emerald Isle’s most cherished breeds. In Ireland, the early hounds were bred with large, indigenous, hairy dogs to produce a big dog that was impervious to bad weather and able to tackle wolves and boar. By the middle of the 19th century the original Irish wolfhound had all but disappeared, along with its foe the Irish wolf, and no one really had a clear idea of what it had looked like in its heyday. But do we really need to know the history of these breeds and how they came into the picture. The early 1900’s brought change in Ireland, World War 1, Irish War of Independence and the Irish Civil War changed the social fabric of Ireland and Britain. The breed was used as a war dog for the purpose of pulling riders off their war chariots and horses. These dogs are mentioned, as cú (variously translated as hound, Irish hound, war dog, wolf dog, etc.) Early History of the Breed From The Complete Irish Wolfhound, Revised Edition (2nd) by Alma J. Starbuck. The Irish Wolfhound is among the tallest dog breeds in the world, competing with the Great Dane.The minimum height at the withers for a male Irish Wolfhound is 79 centimeters and at least 71 centimeters for females. 10,782 sires and 20,303 dams in the database . The Irish Wolfhound is a historic sighthound dog breed from Ireland that has, by its presence and substantial size, inspired literature, poetry and mythology. Graham in reviving the breed in the nineteenth century; and the dog among us today. What is the history of the Irish Wolfhound? About IWDB. 10,787 sires and 20,310 dams in the database . The Irish Wolfhound, known as Cú Faoil in Irish, is the tallest breed of dog in the world. History. The Irish Wolfhound and Coursing. by Olena Prokopchuk. There are many sites relating to the history of Irish Wolfhounds. The Paws . It is said that their motto is, “gentle when stroked, fierce when provoked.” What are the characteristics of a Siberian Husky? Graham, a Scotsman, began to help recreate this wonderful breed by using the small numbers of surviving wolfhound and outcrossing the breedings with Great Danes, Scottish Deerhounds, Borzoi and English Mastiff dogs, which has given us what we have today. In early childhood, we are introduced to the Wolfhound through the stories of Irish Myth and Legend, most notably through the legend of CuChulainn. There is little doubt, however, that the Irish Wolfhound stems from the hounds of ancient Egypt and arrived in Ireland circa 300-500BC with marauding Celtic tribes who had acquired them from Phoenician traders. The Irish Wolfhound presents an example of a dog breed with an extraordinarily well-documented genetic history, making it possible to track almost every modern dog's ancestors back to 1862. The Irish Wolfhound – The Myth and Legend Posted in News on 26th September 2018 A Dog breed older than Christ himself, the Irish Wolfhound was depicted on the Coat of Arms of the High Kings and was believed to be a fierce hunter and protector. The Irish Wolfhound is the tallest of all dog breeds, it’s a hound who hunts on eyesight and chases moving prey. History of the Irish Wolfhound. Not wether this history is true…. The Irish Wolfhound Club was established in 1885 its founding members coming from the Islands of Ireland and Britain. They are also used to give you access to the trial-matings you created. The Paws . in Animals. by the Celts. Although the name Irish Wolfhound is fairly new, Irish hound, War dog and Wolf Dog have been original names for this historic breed. The breed is frequently mentioned by authors of historical sagas and romantic tales, but there is a tendency for them to be portrayed as having mythical properties and qualities. Depending on who you believe, the Irish Wolfhound’s history may go back thousands of years or less than 200. It is an animal which is instantly recognizable and one that is held in high regard by the Irish people. the 'Irish Wolfhound' The Irish Wolfhound is one of the largest breeds of dogs in the world. The main purpose of dogs of this breed was hunting for wolves, hares, wild boars and deer. The Irish Wolfhound originated in Ireland and is a very ancient breed. About IWDB. Cookies are used to identify who you are and record your history. Menu. The calm, dignified, and kindly Irish Wolfhound is the tallest of all AKC breeds. The Irish Wolfhound - A Brief History. Irish Wolfhound History. In this article, we will take an in-depth look into this dog and touch on its personality, history, and other valuable information about its lifespan and type of breed. Gentle when stroked, fierce when provoked", appears on the coat of arms of early Irish kings along with a shamrock and a harp. Currently holding 166,073 irish wolfhounds. The breed is very old; there are suggestions it may have been brought to Ireland around 3500 BC by early settlers, further genetic testing may help clarify a point of origin. The Irish cu, the Irish greyhound, the slaughter dog, the Irish wolf dog, these were the ancient predecessors of today’s Irish wolfhound and after all the wolves of Ireland were hunted down, after the Irish Potato Famine, they were practically extinct. The Irish Wolfhound Club was founded in 1885. These dogs were brought over around 1500 B.C. but as I watch my Keva, sound asleep on a leather lounge with blanket and a teddy, I can’t help but laugh at the thought of her living the life of her ancient ancestors. Ireland cherishes its animals and of them all, the wolfhound is revered as the greatest symbol of Irish Heritage. Irish wolfhound has a great history from 273 bc and GSDs had taken a shape in 1850s. This site uses cookies. The history of the Irish Wolfhound. The Irish wolfhound was originally a war dog used to drag men off horseback or off chariots. History: The Irish wolfhound is of ancient origins, mentioned as long ago as 391 AD in Rome, where it was famed as a gladiator and courser. More. Sometimes I question the history of the Irish Wolfhound and the past lives these gentle giants lived. Cookies are used to identify who you are and record your history. One of the most prolific and best-researched on this breed is "History of the Irish Wolfhound". 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