Recently our Elemementary School PTO
commissioned me to do a PET PORTRAIT of
our retiring Vice Principal’s Dog…
or rather of the Breed of dog, for as it turns out,
the Vice Principal is foremost in the field of
Breeding and showing
Irish Wolfhounds.
The eyes! Tonuchka Irish Wolf Hounds |
I learned so much about the breed in my research,
and when it came to naming the painting
I thought myself a tad clever when I named the Dog in the Painting
“Graham”.
Apparently, in the late 1800,s
a Captain George Augustus Graham
who was an officer in the British Army
did work to save the breed, which was in danger of extinction.
When he began his quest to save them in 1862, there were fewer than
a half dozen…!
Can you imagine if there were only 6 Yellow Labs
or Springer Spaniels
or Poodles…
or Terriers…
or German Sheperds!
Or ANY of the breeds of dogs we love.
Graham bred together
a few other similar breeds,
like Scottish Deerhounds and Great Danes and Mastiffs
and by 1885
he had a NEW Irish Wolf Hound Breed.
How cool is that!
friends… |
Learn something new every day!
Thank you Mrs King!
We will Miss you!
We will Miss you!
Wow, I had no idea that breed was so close to disappearing. Great story and GREAT painting!! You captured the eyes magnificently!