GENERAL APPEARANCE :

The Irish Wolfhound should not be quite so heavy or massive as the Great Dane, but more so than the Deerhound, which in general type he should otherwise resemble. Of great size and commanding appearance, very muscular, strongly though gracefully built, movements easy and active; head and neck carried high; the tail carried with an upward sweep with a slight curve towards the extremity. Great size, including height at shoulder and proportionate length of body, is the desideratum to be aimed at, and it is desired to firmly establish a race (that shall average 32 inches (81cm) to 34 inches (86cm) in dogs) showing the requisite power, activity, courage and symmetry.

BEHAVIOUR AND TEMPERAMENT "Lambs at home, lions in the chase".

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS HEAD: Long and level, carried high; the frontal bones of the forehead very slightly raised and very little indentation between the eyes.
CRANIAL REGION: Skull: Not too broad

FACIAL REGION
Muzzle: Long and moderately pointed. Teeth: Scissor bite ideal, level acceptable Eyes: Dark Ears: Small Rose Ears (Greyhound like in carriage)

NECK: Rather long, very strong and muscular, well arched, without dewlap or loose skin about the throat.

BODY: Long, well ribbed up.
Back: Rather long than short.
Loins: Slightly arched
Croup: Great breadth across hips
Chest: Very deep, moderately broad, breast wide.
Ribs well sprung
Belly: Well drawn up.

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

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS:
Shoulders: Muscular, giving breadth of chest, set sloping.
Elbows: Well under, neither turned inwards nor outwards.
Forearm: Muscular.
Forelegs: Heavily boned, quite straight

HINDQUARTERS:
Thighs: Long and muscular.
Stifle: Nicely bent.
Second thigh: Well muscled, long and strong.
Hocks: Well let down and turning neither in nor out

FEET: Moderately large and round, neither turned inward nor outwards.
Toes, well arched and closed.
Nails, very strong and curved.
GAIT / MOVEMENT
Movements easy and active

COAT
HAIR: Rough and hard on body, legs and head; especially wiry over eyes and under jaw.
COLOUR AND MARKINGS:
The recognised colours are grey, brindle, red, black, pure white, fawn or any colour that appears in the Deerhound


SIZE: (Height & Weight)

Desired height: averaging 32 inches (81cm) to 34 inches (86cm) in dogs.
Minimum height . Dogs 31 inches (79cm)
Minimum weight: Dogs 120 pounds (54.5kg)
Minimum height: Bitches 28 inches (71cm)
Minimum weight: Bitches 90 pounds (40.5 kg)

FAULTS
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
· Too light or too heavy a head.
· Too highly arched frontal bone.
· Crooked forelegs, weak pasterns
· Weak hindquarters and a general want of muscle
· Too short in body.
· Back sunken or hollow or quite straight.
· Large ears and hanging flat to the face
· Twisted feet.
· Spreading toes.
· Short neck; full dewlap
· Chest too narrow or too broad.
· Tail excessively curled
· Nose of any colour other than black.
· Lips of any colour other than black.
· Very light eyes. Pink or liver coloured eyelids.

NOTE: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum

LIST OF POINTS IN ORDER OF MERIT
1. TYPICAL: The Irish Wolfhound should not be quite so heavy or massive as the Great Dane, but more so than the Deerhound, which in general type he should otherwise resemble.
2. GREAT size and commanding appearance.
3. Movements easy and active.
4. Head, long and level, carried high.
5. Forelegs, heavily boned, quite straight; elbows well set under.
6. Thighs long and muscular; second thighs, well muscled, stifles nicely bent.
7. Coat, rough and hard, specially wiry and long over eyes and under jaw.
8. Body, long, well ribbed up, with ribs well sprung, and great breadth across hips.
9. Loins arched, belly well drawn up.
10. Ears, small, with greyhound like carriage (rosed)
11. Feet, moderately large and round; toes close, well arched.
12. Neck, long, well arched and very strong.
13. Chest, very deep, moderately broad.
14. Shoulders, muscular, set sloping.
15. Tail, long and slightly curved.
16. Eyes, dark.

Note: the above in no way alters the "Standard of excellence" which must in all cases be rigidly adhered to; they simply give the various points in order of merit. If in any case they appear at variance with Standard of Excellence it is the latter which is correct.