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Tall, graceful and hairy is the typical description of the Deerhound. Related to the Greyhound, this breed originated in Scotland as was known as the 'Royal Dog of Scotland' as they were only allowed to be owned by nobility at one point.
Closely related to the Greyhound, the Deerhound is another sight hound and was once known as the Scotch Greyhound or Highland Deerhound. In Scotland it became a district breed in the 16th century and was given the name the Scottish Deerhound, with its rough, harsh coat being suitable to withstand the colder and wet climate of the far north. Used to bring down large quarry including deer, they became known as the 'Royal Dog of Scotland' as no one ranking below the title of Earl was permitted to own one. Queen Victoria was known to own a pack of Deerhounds. With their strict ownership rules the dogs were not very numerous and when hunting changed with the invention of the gun, the population of Deerhounds were hit even further, bordering on extinction.
Two brothers by the name of Archibald and Duncan McNeill saved the breed in the 1800s when they started a breeding program. Once again in Britain during World War II, like many breeds the dogs fell very low in numbers. It was very difficult to feed the large dogs, and many people destroyed them for food for their own survival.
Average height to withers: Both males and females can be up to 32 inches in height.
Average weight: Usually between 35-50kg for either males or females.
The Deerhound is tall and slim with the appearance of a rough-coated Greyhound, but is larger and heavier boned than its counterpart. Its body is designed to move swiftly and confidently across rough terrain in pursuit of large quarry and therefore it also has the stamina to spend a full day in the field. The head is flat and broad between the ears, with a muzzle that tapers at the nose. The nose is black and sometimes lighter on blue or fawn dogs. The eyes are dark, either brown, or hazel with black eye rims and a steady gaze. The ears are high set, folded back like a greyhound. The chest is deep not broad but not too narrow. The front legs are very strong and straight. The tail is long, narrow and almost touches the ground. The wiry coat is longer and harsher on the body, neck, beard and moustache but is shorter and softer on the head and belly. Coat colours include shades of gray, brindle, blue and black, yellow and sandy fawn. Occasionally, the ears and muzzle may present a black mask.
The Deerhound is a quiet, dignified and gentle soul with a friendly and laid back approach to life despite the tough job for which it was bred. They are natural with people and love to be with a family who can show it love and attention. Given their large size, they can have a tendency to be clumsy, especially as youngsters, but any accidents that occur are always due to this and not to any aggressive tendencies. With early socialisation, Deerhounds are very patient with children and can live with other dogs, even given their hunting heritage, but caution should always be observed if they are to live with smaller pets, especially cats as they would usually give chase, resulting in the injury or death of the smaller animal.
The Deerhound is a quiet, dignified and gentle soul with a friendly and laid back approach to life despite the tough job for which it was bred. They are natural with people and love to be with a family who can show it love and attention. Given their large size, they can have a tendency to be clumsy, especially as youngsters, but any accidents that occur are always due to this and not to any aggressive tendencies. With early socialisation, Deerhounds are very patient with children and can live with other dogs, even given their hunting heritage, but caution should always be observed if they are to live with smaller pets, especially cats as they would usually give chase, resulting in the injury or death of the smaller animal.
As a larger breed of dog, the Deerhound lives to around 10-11 years of age. They do not exhibit many congenital diseases but they are prone to bloat, a sometime fatal build up of gas within the stomach. Because of this it is best to feed the Deerhound more frequent smaller meals a day and let it have access to water in a more upright or raised position. The owner of this breed needs to avoid exercising directly after meals to minimise the chance of bloat.
The harsh coat of the Deerhound requires grooming at least twice a week, and may also require hand stripping. If this is not something the owner feels confident with, then a professional groomer can easily do this. A large proportion of time needs to be spent exercising this breed as it has bags of energy and stamina. Daily runs and walks are essential, but the owner needs to make sure it can be trusted off the lead as it will take off at any given moment if it sees any animal it regards as possible quarry.
