21st Century Wolfhound & Breed Standard General Appearance: Of great size and commanding appearance, the Irish Wolfhound is remarkable in combining power and swiftness with keen sight.

The largest and tallest of the galloping hounds, in general type he is a rough coated, Greyhound-like breed, very muscular, strong 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.

Size: The minimum male height and weight of dogs should be 32in. (81cm) and 120 lbs. (54kg); of bitches 30in. (76cm) and 105 lbs. (48kg), these apply only to hounds over 18 months of age. Anything below this should be debarred from competition. Great size, including height at shoulder and proportionate length of body is to be aimed for, and it is desired to firmly establish a race that shall average from 32-34in. (81-86cm) in dog, showing the requisite power, activity, courage and symmetry.

Coat and Colour: Hair rough and hard on body, legs and head, especially wiry and long over eyes and upper jaw. The recognized colours are - grey, brindle, red, black, pure white, fawn or any other colour that appears in the Deerhound. Head: Long, the frontal bone of the forehead slightly raised and very little indentation between the eyes. Skull not too broad. Muzzle long and moderately pointed. Ears small and greyhound like in carriage. Neck: Rather long, very strong and muscular, well arched, without dewlap or loose skin about the throat.

Forequarters: Shoulders muscular, giving breadth to chest, set sloping. Elbows well under, neither turned inwards or outwards. Body: Back rather long than short. Chest very deep. Breast wide. Lions arched. Belly well drawn up.

Hindquarters: Muscular thighs and second thigh long and strong as in the Greyhound, the 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.

Tail: Long and slightly curved, of moderate thickness and well covered with hair. Faults: Too light or heavy a head, too highly arched frontal bone; large ears hanging flatly to the face; short neck; full dewlap; too narrow or too broad a cheat; sunken or hollow or quite straight a back; bent forelegs; over bent fetlocks; twisted feet; spreading toes; too curly a tail; weak hindquarters and a general want of muscles; too short in body; lips or nose liver-coloured or lacking pigmentation.