This section is from the book "All About Dogs - A Book For Doggy People", by Charles Henry Lane. Also available from Amazon: All About Dogs: A Book For Doggy People.
I think nearly all persons who take any interest in this grand old breed, stated to have been well known to and greatly prized by "the Romans," in old times, are aware that no one of the present generation has devoted more time and trouble, in diving into the history of the breed in the past, and doing his utmost, both by experimental breeding, and stirring up a similar ardour in others, to revive at least some of the past glories of the breed, in the present and future, than Captain George Graham, of Dursley,and I venture to make some quotations from an excellent and interesting article of his on the subject, as being the highest authority procurable: "The form of the old Irish Wolfhound should be that of a tall, heavy Scotch Deerhound, much more massive, and very majestic looking, active and fast, perhaps less so than our present breed of Deerhounds; neck thick in comparison to his form, and very muscular, body and frame lengthy. Head, long but narrow, coming to a comparative point towards the nose, which is rather large; and head gradually getting broader from the same evenly up to the back of the skull, not sharp up to the eyes and then suddenly broad and humpy. Coat, rough, hard and long all over the body, head, legs and tail.
Hair on head, long, but rather softer than on body, standing out boldly over eyes, beard under jaws, very marked and wiry. Colours: black, grey, brindle, red, and fawn, though white dogs were esteemed in former times. Ears, small in proportion to size of head, and erect, as in Smooth Greyhounds. If dark in colour, to be preferred. The tail, should be carried with an upward curve only, and not be curled as is the case with many Greyhounds. Size. We may safely deduce that the height of these dogs varied from thirty-two to thirty-four inches, and even thirty-five in the dogs, and from twenty-nine to thirty-one in the bitches. The other dimensions would naturally be about as follows for well shaped and true formed dogs. Girth of chest. Dogs thirty-eight to forty-four inches; bitches thirty-two to thirty-four inches. Weight. Dogs one-hundred and fifteen to one hundred and forty pounds; bitches ninety to one hundred and fifteen pounds. Girth of forearm. Dogs ten to twelve inches; bitches eight and one-half to ten inches. Length of head. Dogs twelve and one-half to fourteen inches; bitches eleven to twelve inches.
Most modern authors, and all practical lovers of the canine race whom the writer has consulted, are agreed that the foregoing is the correct type of dog beyond question".
IRISH WOLFHOUND CH. "SHEELAH" CAP GRAHAM owner.
Skull, long but rather narrow in proportion to the animal's height and weight, very gradually tapering to the nose, which should be large; ears small; eyes dark hazel; neck of fair length and very muscular; shoulders sloping, chest rather wide and very deep; body long and very powerful, though free from any suspicion of clumsiness; forelegs, straight, and heavy in bone; feet, compact, and of a good size and well padded; hindquarters, very muscular, with bent stifles and hocks; tail carried rather upward in similar form; coat, profuse, hard, and weather resisting; brindle, black, or fawn are the most usual colours, though whites are known. Size, as tall as possible.
 
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