JUDGING IRISH WOLFHOUNDS
Heavy muscles should cover both thigh and second thighs.
Stifles should bend nicely.
“MOST IMPORTANT, AN IRISH WOLFHOUND WITH POOR TEMPERAMENT POSSESSES NEITHER SOUNDNESS NOR CORRECT TYPE; IT CANNOT POSSIBLY SHOW GREAT COURAGE OR DEPICT COMMANDING APPEARANCE.”
4. Fine Points. Now is the time to consider the “finishing touches.” The following add to quality: • Face (dark eyes, nice whiskers, and expression—that sad, faraway look we have all come to know and love in the Irish Wolfhound; the flame- colored eyes have been praised by some throughout history); • Ears (tightly rosed, small); • Coat (harsh, thick, close to the body); • Feet (round toes tight and well-arched); • Condition (healthy coat, good weight and muscle tone, overall thrifty
Temperament. The Standard and the breed’s well- being demand strong, gentle hounds, never aggressive or shy, not even “edgy” ones. Edgy hounds are presently under control, but without their handler’s constant con- trol would surely at least retreat, or perhaps manifest worse characteristics of the weak temperament. One owner told me once that her shy hound stood at such alert that a judge mistook it for presence. The owner said, “I didn’t have the heart to tell her that the dog was frozen with fear.” PLEASE NOTE WELL: Do not include mis- behaved, untrained, or inexperienced dogs in this category. While all of these may detract from a dog, they do not, without more, bespeak poor tempera- ment. Most important, an Irish Wolfhound with poor temperament possesses neither soundness nor correct type; it cannot possibly show great courage or depict commanding appearance. Movement. Four aspects are critical to judging move- ment. They are: fore, aft, reach and drive or stride, and overall easy and active. All are important, but a long, easy, and active stride takes precedence over the others. Forgive some faulty movement coming toward you and going away in a dog that with long, low strides covers ground with grace and economy. The much over-criti- cized cow hocks and flapping fronts are not nearly so seri- ous as the belabored, mincing, short strides so often seen. Dogs with poor stride lack type because the Standard requires that Irish Wolfhounds move easily and actively.
with a strong constitution. THE FINAL JUDGMENT
After you have examined each dog individually, divide your final judgment into two phases. During the first, tentatively arrange the dogs in the order you prefer them, according to decisions made in your overall impressions and assessments of individual dogs. Keep in mind that the overall impression, while important, is not everything. The beautiful silhouette is sometimes weak, refined, in poor condition, and can suffer from important structural problems. These latter will always discount superior shape and soundness. Second, ask the dogs to go around the ring together one (or sometimes two, and rarely three) last time(s). This is no mere formality; neither is it a staged action to increase suspense and test the exhibitors’ endurance. You will often rearrange dogs on this final go around. Why? Not for movement as such. Instead, in this last go around you will often find the dog who excels in shape, quality, presence, and balance, both standing and in motion. Hopeful- ly, the dog you put tentatively at the front of the line will retain the best shape, display the same quality, possess the same presence, and demonstrate equal balance in motion as it did standing still. If not, another dog may replace it. In the end, the winning dog best fits the description: A LARGE, ROUGH- COATED, GREYHOUND-LIKE DOG, FAST ENOUGH TO CATCH A WOLF AND STRONG ENOUGH TO KILL IT.
216 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, MAY 2022
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