Meet the Irish Wolfhound

For centuries, the Irish Wolfhound has fascinated people across the globe – and for good reason! Many male Irish Wolfhounds grow to almost three feet in height, making us the tallest dog breed in the world. We’re sighthounds, too, a title we share with Greyhounds, Borzois, Scottish Deerhounds, and more! Cú Faoils (our Celtic name) were created when large British dogs were bred with Middle Eastern coursing hounds. In no time, our great size proved to make us furbulous hunting dogs. No one wanted to mess with us! In 391, the Roman Consul Quintus Aurelius Symmachus was given seven Irish Wolfhounds, and he famously wrote that “all of Rome viewed them in wonder.”

Fast forward a millennium or so to 15th-century Ireland. At the time, the country was overrun with wolves. It was our job to take these scary creatures down – and that we did, which is how we got the name Wolfhound! By the late 1700s, big game like wolves and Irish elk were extinct on the island – and we almost were, too. Our giant breed did such a good job at lowering the wolf population that farmers didn’t need us around anymore.

Thankfully, in 1862, British Army Captain George Augustus Graham traveled around Ireland searching for us Wolfdogs. He found an Irish Wolfhound breeding program, as did Major H. D. Richardson. Together, they helped bring our large breed of sighthounds back from near extinction. (Phew!) It’s believed that one of Graham’s dogs was the first of the breed to come to the United States.

In 1885, Graham also founded a breed club called the Irish Wolfhound Club, (He was a busy guy!) In 1925, we were officially recognized by England's Kennel Club. Across the Atlantic, in 1897, the first Irish Wolfhound, a pup named Ailbe, was registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC), and the Irish Wolfhound Club of America was founded in 1926. Ever since, we've been bringing joy to Wolfhound lovers across the country!