Scottish Deerhound Breed Magazine - Showsight

HEAD (Point #4): Long, level, well balanced, carried high . The head should look like that of a large, strong jawed Grey- hound. The length of the muzzle should appear and be, longer than the length of the skull as the jaws need length and strength to seize and hold the quarry. BODY (Point #5): Long, very deep in brisket, well-sprung ribs and great breadth across hips. A Deerhound is a “long- dog” in hunting nomenclature ... a dog that is slightly longer than tall. The croup should not be too steep nor too level: too steep a croup places the hindquarters too far under the galloping hound so all the power from the rear is lost; too level a croup forces the dog to work too hard to get suffi- cient leverage for a power take-off from the rear. The hips are the driving force of the Deerhound, so the rear must be broad at the pelvis with wide parallel hocks. This is the num- ber one fundamental requirement for a functional Deerhound due to its breed specific galloping style. To see the Deer- hound constantly leaping in the air to remain sighted as it bounds through heather or tall grass is to understand why the Standard says the rear must be “...as broad and power- ful as possible, the hips being set wide apart...”. FORELEGS & THIGHS (Point #6, #7): Legs should be well muscled with a well defined and muscled first and sec- ond thigh. Bend of stifle should be moderate, neither too straight nor sickle-hocked as the former does not provide sufficient leverage for springing through heather and uphill work and the latter is too weak and inefficient, breaking down with hard use. THELOIN (Point #8) which is the area between the end of the ribs and the pelvis, should be well arched , and belly well drawn up with the topline maintained while moving. The loin should be muscular (not fat), showing strength and flexibility as it provides propulsion in uphill work. COAT (Point #9): There are striking differences in Deer- hound coats today although the Standard specifies “harsh and wiry about 3 to 4 inches long” . This is the mature coat of a 4 to 5 year old. A puppy exhibiting this length of coat will generally be over coated as an adult and need strip- ping. The Deerhound is a natural breed that should be shown tidied up, but without stripping or sculpting the coat. A Deerhound should grow a correct coat by inheri- tance and have the correct body shape without needing it stripped, scissored, “Furminated” or plucked to meet the Standard. Coats are a result of genes, not climate. As de- scribed by Captain Graham in 1881, “The coat should be coarse and hard … a well covered head gives much “char- acter” … Some breeders hold that no Deerhound is wor- thy of notice unless he has a good rough head, with plenty of beard and coat generally … Here, however they are at fault as several of the best known dogs have nearly smooth heads.” (in Vero Shaw, 1881 p. 229-230)

Photo courtesy of Dan Gauss

(Stonehenge, British Rural Sports , 1875) note this head - neck carriage and describe it as a feature that distinguishes the rough Scotch greyhound from other regional greyhound types... “...the deerhound gallops with his head in the air, and his body raised off the ground, ready for a spring at the throat or ear...while the greyhound, with his head close to the ground, lies down ventre à terre; and he is also prepared to pick up his game, not pull it down” . That characteristic is captured in easy and active . SIZE (Point #3) has been an ongoing debate for the past two hundred years and continues to this day. While the Standard reads as tall as possible consistent with quality Deerhounds greater than 30 inches at the shoulder are generally not func- tional on deer…that was a known fact. We know the measure- ments of two of the best working Deerhounds…Buskar and Bran (previous page). The Standard recognizes the “modern Deerhound” size and the show world’s expectation that “big- ger is better”, but this needs to be balanced by the knowledge that those famous for their functionality were not more than 30 inches. The battle over size will continue but moderation appears to be the most reasonable approach if type and breed health is to be maintained in the long term.

Photo courtesy of Annemiek Hawkins

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