Irish Wolfhound

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History/Origin
Irish Wolfound is a dog breed of very ancient origin, dating back to as early as first century B.C. The early Celts principally bred it for war purposes and referred to it as Cu Faoil. Later, Irish folks took over the breeding chores and retained the combat usage of the Wolfhound, while assigned the dog with additional tasks such as providing protection to their stock and serving as a guard to their homes.
There are many accounts that show Irish Wolfhound getting engaged in dog combats, though some are based on Irish folklore. Apparently, the most popular of these is the story of Cuchulain, a legendary Irish folk hero known to have a favorite Irish Wolfhound pet.

Nevertheless, in the real world, Irish Wolfhound can be a fierce fighter, its fierceness often being compared to that of the king of the jungle. It is likewise a good hunter, specifically of wolves and wild boars, with many of its kind ending up being exported to other places such that the breed has become practically non-existent in Ireland.

Description
Considered as the tallest of all dog breeds, Irish Wolfhound shows very swift movements and possesses good eyesight. The average height of this variety is around 86 centimeters or about 34 inches from its whithers. It has a fairly rough coat that often come in various colors including red, gray, black, brindle, pure white, and fawn. Meanwhile, its head is usually large and arrow-shaped, while its neck is often long and muscular.

Temperament
Irish Wolfhound is a dog breed known to be quite friendly and gentle, despite its enormous size and often intimidating appearance. Inside the house, it is known to be very calm and enjoys long hours of sleep. Nevertheless, it exhibits great energy when taken out for long walks.

Irish Wolfhound has the tendency to become sensitive, so when being corrected, care should be taken that it be done so in a firm but less offensive manner on the part of the dog. Getting it socialised at an early age will also enable it to learn significant life experiences. Also, while various historical accounts tend to indicate that Irish Wolfhound exhibits strong guarding instincts, the modern variety, temperamentally speaking, is not cut out for the role of being a watch dog.