Wolfhound
The Irish Wolfhound mascot of the Irish Guards with the Queen Mother, c1990s. © Crown Copyright
A mellow mascot
The Irish Wolfhound is the mascot of the Irish Guards. The first one was given to the Regiment in 1902 and they were kept as pets until they became the official mascots in 1961. This one is meeting the Queen Mother during a St Patrick’s Day parade in the late 1990s.
The Irish Wolfhound is the one of the worlds tallest breeds of dog. When it stands on its hind legs it can reach up to 2.13 metres (7ft) in height. Although fearsome looking, Wolfhounds are generally good-natured and well behaved. They thus make perfect regimental mascots. During the Dark Ages the hounds were used as war dogs to haul men off horseback and out of chariots and there are many tales in Irish mythology of their bravery in battle.
Not all mascots are as well behaved as Wolfhounds. Billy, the goat mascot of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Welsh, recently lost his rank of Lance Corporal. When leading a parade in front of the Queen he marched out of line and tried to head butt the battalion drummers several times. His new lower rank of Fusilier means that other soldiers are no longer expected to salute him as a sign of respect.
