Irish Wolfhounds
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photo by Sue Nordstrom
Meet Libby.... 2007 Grey Brindle
Libby is a 4 year old AKC & CKC Registered Irish Wolfhound. In 2007 I went on the hunt for my dream dog, contacted a breeder in the U.S. named Darla Laffery and aquired Libby. Libby was just 5 weeks old and so had to wait an extra 3 weeks to get her. Darla was great, sending pictures and keeping me updated for those weeks. Libby arrived in Canada on Friday, April 13. She had missed her connecting flights and the airline had lost her; after many overdue hours she arrived finally safe and sound from her 14 hour ordeal. I remember opening the crate and out came this stinky very happy puppy. On the 4 hour drive home and she slept most of the way only waking up for a much needed potty break. We arrived home in the middle of the night, I was exhausted and went to bed. Libby had other ideas. Still in the crate beside me, she began howling to get out and play. That first week I wondered what I had gotten into but all you have to do is look into their eyes and you know why.
Reserve Winners Bitch
Winners Bitch Best of Winners Best of Opposite In 2008 I was at Pets in the Park here in Edmonton and they had a white plastic bag on a string they were pulling through tunnels and over jumps. Libby was so excited to see this thing and wanted to chase it. I paid my two bucks and let her try. Well she took after it like a rocket. Of course, she didn't fit in the tunnel but went around it and tried to catch in on the other side. I found out later it was called Lure Coursing. I googled it and found a club based out of Edmonton named the Alberta Lure Coursing Club. I contacted them and went to one of the practices and as they say the rest is history. We only went to one trial in 2008 and she was awesome stayed with the "bunny" the whole way. I was very proud of her. In 2009 we competed all over Alberta and BC going to the Irish Wolfhound Speciality in Chillawack BC and went Best of Breed finishing her Lure Coursing Championship. I was also talked into getting her shown in the conformation ring so my friend Lexy Hancock, whom I had met Lure Coursing, showed her picking up two Reserve Winners Bitch, Winners Bitch, Best of Winners and Best of Opposite. Libby only needs 3 more points for her conformation title. 2009 was a great, busy year for us. photo by Sue Nordstrom 3 points short of her
Conformation Championship.
2009 Number one Irish Wolfhound in Canada in Lure Coursing
2010 I decided to breed Libby. I bred her to Ch Taryn Tobys of Limerick JC. Toby is a dual champion and I really feel this cross was a good one. Libby whelped June 5 giving me 2 boys and 2 girls. I am keeping one in hopes she will be my next lure coursing champion. This will be Libby's one and only litter. She misses the lure coursing as much as I do.
Meet Emily and Amy photo by Sue Nordstrom 
Silhouette Spoiled Not Rotten (Emily) Silhouette In Motion (Amy)
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Irish Wolfhound Breed Characteristics
Standard General Appearance: Of great size and commanding appearance, the Irish Wolfhound is remarkable in combining power and swiftness with keen sight. The largest and tallest of the galloping hounds, in general type he is a rough coated, Greyhound-like breed, very muscular, strong though gracefully built; movements easy and active; head and neck carried high, the tail carried with an upward sweep with a slight curve towards the extremity.
Size: The minimum male height and weight of dogs should be 32in. (81cm) and 120 lbs. (54kg); of bitches 30in. (76cm) and 105 lbs. (48kg), these apply only to hounds over 18 months of age. Anything below this should be debarred from competition. Great size, including height at shoulder and proportionate length of body is to be aimed for, and it is desired to firmly establish a race that shall average from 32-34in. (81-86cm) in dog, showing the requisite power, activity, courage and symmetry. Coat and Colour: Hair rough and hard on body, legs and head, especially wiry and long over eyes and upper jaw. The recognized colours are - grey, brindle, red, black, pure white, fawn or any other colour that appears in the Deerhound. Head: Long, the frontal bone of the forehead slightly raised and very little indentation between the eyes. Skull not too broad. Muzzle long and moderately pointed. Ears small and greyhound like in carriage. Neck: Rather long, very strong and muscular, well arched, without dewlap or loose skin about the throat. Forequarters: Shoulders muscular, giving breadth to chest, set sloping. Elbows well under, neither turned inwards or outwards. Body: Back rather long than short. Chest very deep. Breast wide. Lions arched. Belly well drawn up. Hindquarters: Muscular thighs and second thigh long and strong as in the Greyhound, the hocks well let down and turning neither in nor out. Feet moderately large and round, neither turned inwards nor outwards. Toes well arched and closed. Nails very strong and curved. Tail: Long and slightly curved, of moderate thickness and well covered with hair. Faults: Too light or heavy a head, too highly arched frontal bone; large ears hanging flatly to the face; short neck; full dewlap; too narrow or too broad a cheat; sunken or hollow or quite straight a back; bent forelegs; over bent fetlocks; twisted feet; spreading toes; too curly a tail; weak hindquarters and a general want of muscles; too short in body; lips or nose liver-coloured or lacking pigmentation. |
