Shockingly, the Irish Wolfhound almost went extinct. They were mainly used for hunting and, therefore, the breed dwindled in numbers as populations of wolves and elk in Ireland dramatically decreased at one point.
By the 18th century, the breed was hard to come by. Fortunately, Capt. George A. Graham made it his mission to make sure there were still some Irish Wolfhounds left in Ireland. He found the remaining dogs and bred them.
Graham bred Irish Wolfhounds with Scottish Deerhounds to help increase the population.
Around the same time, Major H.D. Richardson started breeding Irish Wolfhounds to help save the breed.
Pure Irish Wolfhounds come in a range of colors – including the basics like black, brown, and cream, as well as more ‘extra’ shades of blue.
Technically, blue is not a color in dogs but instead, it's a paling effect that dilutes the color pigment of the coat, eyes, and skin. It's known as ‘blue dilute.’
Unfortunately, at first, ‘blue’ dogs were put down as soon as their coloring became obvious.
It did not take long for people to realize that the coloring was something to be treasured and didn't impact the health of the dog at all.
Their large size might be intimidating, but do not mistake them for an excellent guard dog. This overly friendly breed is not aggressive and tends to trust strangers too much.
Ã…sa Robertsson Nilsson (@fru_nilssons_farm) on
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