Standard Irish Wolf Schnauzer

The Standard Irish Wolf Schnauzer is a hybrid breed and is a combination of a purebred Standard Schnauzer and a purebred Irish Wolfhound. The Standard Schnauzer is the oldest and the original prototype of the three Schnauzer breeds which also include the Miniature Schnauzer and the Giant Schnauzer. They are recognized by their arched eyebrows, bushy whiskers and moustache. They were bred as ratters around the 15th century in Germany and their name comes from the  German word “schnauze,” which means snout. Schnauzer-like dogs are believed to have been around as early as the 14th century. The ancestors of these dogs were thought to be a cross between the black German Poodle and grey Wolfspitz with wirehaired Pinschers. A standard for the Standard Schnauzer first appeared in 1880. These dogs have a long history of being working dogs and were used by the Germany army and the police. They first came to the United States in the early 1900s and the Schnauzer Club of America was formed in 1925.  The Irish Wolfhound was developed as a war hound although these days he is a gentle giant who loves children and is not aggressive at all. They are the tallest of all dog breeds and are also known for their shaggy eyebrows and gentle expression. The name comes from when they did hunt wolves and they were highly regarded in battle where they used to pull men down from horses or chariots. The Irish used them to guard their homes and protect their stock. During the English Conquest of Ireland, only the nobility were allowed to own Irish Wolfhounds. They were often given as gifts and many were exported to European royal houses. Breeders including Major H. D. Richardson and Captain George Augustus Graham are credited with making sure that numbers increased. The ancestors of the modern Wolfhound include Glengarry Deerhounds, Borzoi, and Tibetan Mastiffs. The first Irish Wolfhound was registered with the American Kennel Club in 1897.