Content
- Origin of the Irish Lebrel
- Physical Characteristics of the Irish Lebrel
- Irish lebrel personality
- Irish lebrel care
- Irish lebrel training
- Irish lebrel health
O irish hare, also known as irish greyhound or irish wolfhound (irish wolfhound), is one of the most beloved and appreciated breeds of dog in Ireland. Its history is old and remote, being even mentioned by Julius Caesar in the comments on the Gallic War. At the time, the Irish lebrel was valued for its combat skills, being famous for the ferocity with which it attacked the enemy.
However, currently the Irish lebrel stands out as one of the most docile and affectionate dogs. For centuries, this breed defended land and animals from predators, especially wolves, being recognized as an especially brave dog. Gentle and very friendly personality, this dichotomy surprised those who enjoyed her company. On this PeritoAnimal breed sheet, you will discover the tallest dog in the world. Let's meet the Irish lebrel!
Source
- Europe
- Ireland
- Group X
- Rustic
- muscular
- Extended
- toy
- Small
- Medium
- Great
- Giant
- 15-35
- 35-45
- 45-55
- 55-70
- 70-80
- more than 80
- 1-3
- 3-10
- 10-25
- 25-45
- 45-100
- 8-10
- 10-12
- 12-14
- 15-20
- Low
- Average
- High
- Balanced
- Sociable
- very faithful
- Intelligent
- Active
- Tender
- Kids
- floors
- Houses
- Shepherd
- Surveillance
- Older people
- Cold
- Warm
- Moderate
- Long
- Hard
- thick
Origin of the Irish Lebrel
Old and with a lot of history, this is the Irish lebrel breed. These dogs are believed to descend from the first egyptian hares, who came to Ireland through the Celts, who were interested in raising tall, large dogs. The existence of these dogs was already recorded in 391 AD, when the Roman consul Aurelius it exposed the amazement with which all Rome saw the seven animals that had arrived there as a gift. In ancient times it was also known as "cú", because in ancient Rome it was baptized as "Cú Faoil", which in Gaelic means hunting dog.
In the 19th century, the decline of the breed was so pronounced that its disappearance was feared, as populations of large animals that used to hunt such as the irish moose, which is twice its height, had already diminished. It was thanks to a British army captain named George A. Graham that the race was able to resurface from its ashes, for it was he who rescued it by crossing Irish hares with Dogos and Scottish hares.
Physical Characteristics of the Irish Lebrel
We're talking about the tallest dog, because even when competing with the colossal Great Dane, the Irish lebrel wins in height. Specifically, the minimum height at the withers for an Irish lebrel is 79 centimeters, with an average between 81 and 86 centimeters, being at least 71 in the case of females. Obviously, this great height is accompanied by a high weight of 54.5 kg for males and 40.5 kg for females at the very least. Unfortunately, the life expectancy of an Irish lebrel is between 6 and 8 years old.
This great giant has a long body and a broad chest, with a slightly arched back and a long tail, slightly curved and covered with a good coat of fur. The head of the Irish lebrél is elongated, having the same width at the skull and the length of the muzzle, which has a pointed shape. The ears are small and their shape is similar to a rose, just like the English greyhound. The eyes are dark and medium in size.
The coat of the Irish lebrel is composed of hard, long and strong hair, wire, especially in regions such as the lower jaw or around the eyes. This cloak may be grey, brindle, dark red, pure white, brown or any other color that appears in the Scottish or deerhound.
Irish lebrel personality
Due to its warlike and combative history, it is possible that the Irish lebrel is seen as a dangerous or hostile dog. However, this couldn't be further from reality. these dogs are extremely docile and very peaceful. In the past, they were known by the saying "Lambs at home, lions on the hunt", from which we can deduce that, as companion animals, they are friendly and very loyal dogs, being known as the "gentle giants" from the canine world.
These dogs adapt to almost any type of coexistence, whether with children, the elderly, pets, other dogs... Their nobility is such that there will hardly be any confrontations with those who are part of their family, which they defend without hesitation, being excellent protective dogs.
Irish lebrel care
care for the irish wolfhound they should focus on brushing their long coat, which should be done at least twice a week, preventing knots or tangles from forming, and bathing should be limited to when strictly necessary. These dogs need to perform at least one hour of physical exercise a day, which is of high intensity. This exercise must be complemented by a balanced diet, which covers your energy and nutritional needs, but control the amounts, since they are quite greedy.
As for the space, it is recommended to have an Irish lebrel in a spacious place, such as a country house or some land where he can move, not being the best option to have him in an apartment. Even so, it is not a race that should live in exile outside. His sociable and affectionate character demands a family that includes him in the family nucleus and that allows him free access to the interior of the house.
Irish lebrel training
Irish hares are a relatively simple breed to train as they are intelligent and respond wonderfully to positive education, thus using positive reinforcement as the main tool. You should start when the dog is still a Cub, promoting domestic rules that must be defined by all members of the family unit. It is not necessary to always use snacks for positive reinforcement, you can also use your voice or cuddling to reinforce your behavior. You will teach him to gently bite and urinate on the newspaper.
The dog's socialization will be another fundamental and essential aspect, as it will depend on it to learn to relate correctly with all types of people (children, adults and elderly), animals and environments. Likewise, you should also initiate him in the basic obedience commands, fundamental for a good communication with tutors and appropriate behavior. Thereafter, you can start advanced education.
Irish lebrel health
The Irish lebrel is one of the dog breeds with the most health problems. Some of them are common in giant breeds, such as hip or elbow dysplasia. Likewise, they tend to have a tendency to develop bone cancer, or osteosarcoma, hypersensitivity to anesthesia or drugs, portosystemic bypass or heart problems such as heart failure caused by dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart muscle thins so much that it alters its capacity of contraction.
However, one of the most relevant dangers when talking about the Irish lebrél, as is typical of giant or large dogs, and deep-breasted dogs, is the dreaded gastric torsion. In this condition there is a swelling of the stomach, which distends as a result of excess air or gas, twisting and preventing the release of this gas, which affects the blood flow and can cause the animal's death in a short time.
Some recommendations to avoid stomach twisting are to place the food on a level higher than the ground level, avoid the dog performing physical activity right after eating, and avoid large amounts of food in just one meal. To act quickly, it's important to recognize symptoms, which include lethargy, distended abdomen, unproductive attempts to vomit, or restlessness. If you notice these symptoms, must go urgently to the veterinarian to try to save your pet and get it back.
In addition to these conditions, it is necessary to keep your pet with the vaccines in day, deworming regular against parasites, internal and external, and regular veterinarian visits to perform periodic exams every 6 or 12 months.