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SCOTTISH DEERHOUND — BREED DESCRIPTION & INFORMATION
Breed Description / Health Issues / Breed Standards / Grooming / Training / Additional Information
Breed Description
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Note: The breed registries indicated above are the most recognized all-breed registries. The breed may also be recognized by other registries not indicated here. For further details about dog registries, please see the document: Dog Breed Registries in North America.
* — The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) is the World Canine Organisation, which includes members (one member per country) that each issue their own pedigrees and train their own judges. The FCI recognizes 332 breeds, with each being the "property" of a specific country. The FCI is not a breed registry nor does it issue pedigrees. |
| Origin: |
Great Britain |
| Height: |
Male — 30 to 32 inches (76-82 cm) at the shoulders;
Female — 28 inches and up at the shoulders. |
| Weight: |
Male — 85 to 110 lbs.; Female — 75 to 95 lbs. |
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The Scottish Deerhound is one of the largest of the Hound breeds and was originally used for his combination of strength and speed necessary to chase and catch deer weighing as much as 250 pounds. The Deerhound usually hunted alone or in pairs. He also has a keen sense of smell which has been used for tracking.
It is unclear when the breed became known as the Deerhound; however, as early as the third century, dogs of the Greyhound type were used for hunting. By the middle of the 18th century, there were two distinct types of Deerhounds — the Highland and the Lowland — with the Highland being taller, stronger, and with a heavier coat than the Lowland. These ancient hounds were powerful, courageous and moved with tremendous speed. During midieval times, only very high ranking noblemen were allowed to own the Scottish Deerhound, also known as the "Royal Dog of Scotland." Old Scottish tales state that the breed was highly regarded for his courage and tenacity as a stag hunter and for his loyalty to the chieftain and his family.
The Deerhound resembles a rough-coated Greyhound but larger in both size and bone structure. He is an obedient, quiet mannered, easy-going dog and a faithful companion. Affectionate, friendly and excellent with children, the Deerhound carries himself with quiet dignity and should never be aggressive or nervous.
He has a long, harsh, wiry coat that that sheds very little and comes in various shades of grey, brindle or fawn with dark ears and a dark muzzle.
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Health Issues:
- Anasthetics — Like all members of the Sighthound family, the Scottish Deerhound is sensitive to a number of anesthetics. It is very important to discuss this with your Veterinarian in advance of any required surgery. For additional information, see: Anesthesia in Sighthounds from the Saluki Club of America, as well as A Safe Method of Sighthound Anesthesia by Rodger I. Barr, DVM.
- Bloat — As with any deep-chested dog, the occurrence of Bloat or Gastric Torsion is a real possibility in the Scottish Deerhound. If you are not familiar with this condition, it is absolutely necessary to learn about it and know the symptoms — This is a real emergency and a life threatening condition that requires immediate Veterinary attention. See Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (GDV) — Bloat in the Health and Nutrition section of Canada's Guide to Dogs for more information and First Aid for Bloat for an article describing some of the things you can do if you are faced with this situation.
- Osteosarcoma (Bone Cancer) — This is a cancer that almost always appears in a leg bone and is more common in large and giant breed dogs. The first signs are typically lameness or a lump in one leg. Once the cancer appears, it grows and spreads rapidly to the lungs. The average age of onset in Deerhounds is 8 years old and females are at a greater risk.
- Cardiomyopathy (Heart Disease) — Cardiomyopathy can occur in most large and giant breeds. The heart muscle gradually deteriorates in dogs affected with this condition and they may develop arrhythmias, go into heart failure, or die suddenly. While medications can treat irregular heartbeats and heart failure, there is no cure for the underlying heart disease. The average age of onset of this disease in Deerhounds is 6 1/2 years and it is four times as common in males as it is in females.
Additional Health Resources:
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Breed Standards:
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AKC SCOTTISH DEERHOUND VIDEO
18 Min. Video Edition, Published by the AKC
Discussion of the breed standard: good structure and movement, acceptable colors, correct head, size. Developed for breeders, exhibitors and judges.
Available from Dogwise.com |
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Grooming:
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Training Resources:
- Training — For information on training your Deerhound, see this growing section of Canada's Guide to Dogs for tips, articles, as well as listings of training centres across Canada.
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Additional Information:
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Last Updated: 3 December 2008
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