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Breed Characteristics
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Scottish Deerhound
| Other Names | Deerhound |
| Country of Origin | Scotland |
| Weight | 75 - 110 lbs. (34 - 50 kg) |
| Height (at withers) | 28 - 32 in. (71 - 81 cm) |
| Coat | The Scottish Deerhound's coat is designed to be ragged in appearance. The hair on the body, neck and quarters should be harsh and wiry and about 3 or 4 inches long. However, the hair on the head and belly will be much softer, and have a silky texture. The dog will have a slight fringe on the inside of the fore and hind legs. The ideal coat is thick, close lying and ragged. It should be somewhat harsh to the touch. A woolly coat is not desirable. |
| Colour | The Scottish Deerhound comes in several colours, but the dark blue gray is most preferred. The dogs have darker coats as puppies than they do as adults. Other dark and light gray or brindles come next, along with yellow and sandy red or fawn colours. They should have black ears and muzzles. White is allowed only on the chest and toes-and even on these areas, the less white, the better. The oldest known purebred Scottish Deerhounds were the McNeil and Chesthill Menzies. These dogs were typically sandy or red fawn with black muzzles and ears. This colouring is still considered one of the best combinations. |
| Litter Size | 4 - 7 puppies |
| Life Span | 8 - 11 years |
| Origin & History | The Scottish Deerhound's antecedents will have existed back to a time before recorded history. They would have been kept by the Scots and Picts, and used to help in providing part of their diet, mainly hoofed game. Archaeological evidence likely supports this in the form of Roman pottery from around 1st Century AD found in Argyll which depicts the deerhunt using large rough hounds (these can be viewed at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh). Other similar evidence can be found on standing stones from around the 7th century AD reflecting a hunt using hounds, such as the Hilton of Cadboll Stone. In outward appearance, the Scottish Deerhound is similar to the Greyhound, but larger and more heavily boned. However, Deerhounds have a number of characteristics that set them apart. While not as fast as a Greyhound on a smooth, firm surface, once the going gets rough or heavy they can outrun a Greyhound. The environment in which they worked, the cool, often wet, and hilly Scottish Highland glens, contributed to the larger, rough-coated appearance of the breed. The Deerhound is closely related to the Irish Wolfhound and was the main contributor to the recovery of that breed when it was re-created at the end of the 19th century. The Deerhound was bred to hunt red deer by “coursing”, and also “deer-stalking” until the end of the 19th century. With modern rifles and smaller deer-forests, slower tracking dogs were preferred to fast and far-running Deerhounds. In coursing deer, a single Deerhound or a pair was brought as close as possible to red deer, then released to run one of them down by speed, which if successful would happen within a few minutes - rarely were there sustained chases. With the eventual demise of the clan systems in Scotland, these hunting dogs became sporting animals for landowners and the nobility, but were also bred and hunted by common folk when feasible. As fast and silent hunters they made quick work of any game the size of a hare or larger and were highly regarded by nobility and poachers alike. One of the most precarious times in the breed’s history seems to have been towards the end of the nineteenth century, when many of the large Scottish estates were split into small estates for sporting purposes, and few then kept Deerhounds. The new fashion was for stalking and shooting, which required only a tracking dog to follow the wounded animal, using a collie or similar breed. Although a few estates still employed Deerhounds for their original work, the breed was left in the hands of a few enthusiasts who made them a show breed. In Australia, deerhounds have been used to hunt the kangaroo and wild boar. In addition, according to Teddy Roosevelt in "Hunting the Grisley and Other Sketches", some Canadian and American wolf hunters used them. |
| Personality | The Scottish Deerhound is a gentle, well-mannered dog. It is polite and affectionate. Loving, friendly and excellent with children. Very courageous and dignified, devoted and loyal, but it is not a watch or guard dog, for it just loves everyone. These dogs need a firm, consistent, confident pack leader who knows how to display calm, but stern authority over the dog or they will be willful at times and slow to obey commands. Although friendly with other dogs, they should not be trusted with non-canine pets. Scottish Deerhounds are quiet and rarely ever bark. |
Care Requirements
| Health | This breed is particularly susceptible to Bloat, especially if they are fed one large meal each day. For this reason, it's best to feed them 2 or 3 small meals each day and to avoid Exercise right after a meal. They should also get plenty of water. If the bloating problem is not properly managed, it can be life threatening. The breed is also prone to cardiomyopathy and bone cancer. In recent years, veterinarians have seen this breed dying at an early age more and more often from Heart disease and bone cancer. |
| Grooming | The harsh, wiry coat needs extensive grooming. Some trimming and stripping is required, but little skill is needed. This breed is an average shedder. |
| Exercise | This is a very active breed that needs to be taken on a daily, long walk or jog, making an excellent jogging companion. Always keep in mind that they have an instinct to chase. Do not let them off lead in an unsafe area. |
| Other Considerations | Scottish Deerhounds can do okay in an in apartment if they are sufficiently exercised. They are relatively inactive indoors. If they are taken for walks they can live without a yard, but they do best with a large, fenced yard. Notable deerhounds; A Scottish Deerhound named Foxcliffe Hickory Wind won Best In Show at the 2011 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show February 14–15, 2011. Maida was a cross-bred Deerhound belonging to Sir Walter Scott. |
