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The earliest known version of points values for Irish Wolfhounds was published in The Twentieth Century Dog (Non-Sporting) compiled by Herbert Compton (published 1904).

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It assigned numerical values to the Irish Wolfhound, as follows:

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Point Values

 

Head 12 

Ears    7 

Beard and brows   3

Eyes   3

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Sub-total 25

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Height at shoulder  12

Substance and girth 7

Length of body and symmetry 6

Sub-total 25

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Loins and hocks 9

Fore legs  9

Feet   7

Sub-total 25

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Coat 10

Neck  7

Tail    5

Nails 1

Teeth 2

Sub-total 25

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Total points 100

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Some time after this, the numerical values were abandoned and the points values was replaced by the List of Points in Order of Merit, which linked more closely with the Breed Standard.

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In May1928,at the AGM of The Irish Wolfhound Club, an attempt to re-assign numerical values to the List of Points in Order of Merit was made by Reverend CH Hildebrand, who proposed:

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" That in order to emphasise the 'Club Standard-of Excellence' in judging Irish Wolfhounds, a small Committee (consisting of Miss Kearns, Mr. JF Baily and Mr. IW Everett) shall be appointed and authorised to add numerical values to the ‘List of Points in order of Merit’, and also to draw up a similar 'List of Faults’ with their negative numerical values. Such lists to be published in the 1928 Year Book, and, if necessary, revised at the next General Meeting."

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This proposal was discussed at the meeting and it was then passed back to the IWC committee to consider. The part regarding  a negative points list for faults was not accepted and in the end the IWC committee decided against re-assigning numerical values.

 

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List of Points in Order of Merit

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1)     Typical. The Irish Wolfhound should not be quite so heavy or massive as the Great Dane, but more              so than the Deerhound, which in general type he should otherwise resemble.

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2)     Great size and commanding appearance.

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3)     Movement easy and active.

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4)     Head long and level, carried high.

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5)     Forelegs heavily boned, quite straight, elbows well set under.

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6)     Thighs long and muscular, second thighs well muscled, stifles slightly bent.

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7)     Coat rough and hard, specially wiry and long over the eyes and under the jaw.

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8)     Body long well ribbed up, with ribs well-sprung and great breadth across the hips.

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9)     Loins arched, belly well drawn up.

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10)   Ears small and greyhound-like in carriage.

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11)   Feet moderately large and round, toes close, well arched.

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12)   Neck long, well arched and very strong.

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13)   Chest very deep, moderately broad.

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14)   Shoulders muscular, set sloping.

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15)   Tail long and slightly curved.

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16)   Eyes dark.

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Note

The above in no way alters the "Standard of Excellence", which must in all cases be rigidly adhered to, they simply give the various points in order of merit.  If in any case they appear at variance with the Standard of Excellence, it is the latter which is correct.

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