“I would like to present you with a dog that I got from Ireland. He has huge limbs and as a companion can be equated with a man ready for battle. About it Furthermore, he has the mind of a man and he will bark at your enemies, but never at your friends. He will see on every person's face whether he has good or bad intentions towards you. And he will lay down his life for you.” –The Icelandic Saga of Nial 970-1014 AD
As early as 930 AD A wolfhound bred by the Welsh King Howel the Good was worth 240 pence. A greyhound only cost half as much and a riding horse only cost 120 pence. Even later, wolfhounds were sought-after gifts among crowned heads. There were even times when it was forbidden to take an Irish Wolfhound out of the country under penalty of death. At the beginning of the 18th century, the wolfhound had become the “prestigious dog” of a few families and was almost extinct. Around 1840, H. D. Richardson tried to save the breed from extinction by crossing Deerhounds with Great Danes and Pyrenean mountain dogs. This so-called “Kilfane tribe” was then used by Capt. G.A. Graham, who was able to set up a new line together with Sir John Power with considerable financial resources. Whether this Irish Wolfhound actually has anything to do with the dog of that time, i.e. the dog before 1850, is controversial. Some cynologists have doubts about that.
In addition to Graham, Major Garnier was also an important breeder of Irish Wolfhounds. In addition to Great Danes, Garnier also crossed Borzois and Deerhounds. In 1886, Graham and Garnier established the first breed standard, which still applies today with a few minor changes.
In 1879, a class for Irish Wolfhounds was opened for the first time at an exhibition in Dublin. Approx. By 1900, Graham and Garnier had achieved their goal. Since 1902, an Irish Wolfhound has been the regimental mascot of the Irish Guards.
The Irish Wolfhound actually only became known in Germany around 1970.
The most important kennels here are certainly Ard Ri by Marion and Theo Marpe, v. d. Oil mill by Jürgen Rösner (Rösner/Papenfuß) and Gentle Giants by Rosemarie and Willi Nebgen.
Since then, the Irish Wolfhound has enjoyed increasing popularity.