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Scottish Deerhound

"Deerhound" redirects here. For other uses, see Deerhound (disambiguation).

The Scottish Deerhound, or simply the Deerhound, is a breed of large sighthound, once bred to hunt the red deer by coursing. In outward appearance it is similar to the Greyhound, but larger and more heavily boned, with a rough coat.

Scottish Deerhound
OriginScotland
Traits
Height Males 30 in (76 cm) minimum
Females 28 in (71 cm) minimum
Weight Males ≈ 100 lb (45 kg)
Females ≈ 80 lb (36 kg)
Coat wiry
Colour blue-grey, grey, brindle, yellow, sandy-red or red fawns with black points; white on chest, toes and tip of tail is permissible
Kennel club standards
The Kennel Club standard
American Kennel Club standard
Fédération Cynologique Internationale standard
Dog (domestic dog)

History

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The Hilton of Cadboll Stone dates from around 1200 years ago, and depicts at the bottom of the panel a deer being chased by two large dogs and two armed horsemen.[1] However, systematic zooarchaeology and genetics have yet to show any connection between those symbolic representations of dog types and the modern breed, which only became widely known as the Scottish Deerhound related to English regional greyhounds, such as the Highland greyhound in the early 19th century.[2] The Deerhound was in earlier times believed to be descended from old Gaelic hounds, and therefore closely related to the Irish Wolfhound,[3] it was in fact the major foundation breed in the late 19th century of the modern Irish Wolfhound.

The Deerhound was bred to hunt red deer by coursing and deer-stalking[4][5] until the end of the nineteenth 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[4] — rarely were there successful sustained chases.

Anne of Denmark, queen consort of James VI and I, sent deer hounds as gifts to her brother Christian IV of Denmark.[6] 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 with 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.[citation needed]

Teddy Roosevelt wrote that some Canadian and American hunters used "the greyhound, whether the smooth-haired, or the rough-coated Scotch deer-hound" on the wolf[7] and deer[8] Dr. Q van Hummell also remarks on his Deerhound pack being used on timber wolves and coyotes.[9] In Australia, Deerhounds and their cross-breeds such as the Kangaroo Dog have historically been used to hunt the kangaroo as well as wild boar,[10] modern descriptions of such hunts with Deerhounds on kangaroo and emu have been recorded by Kenneth Cassels.[11]

Description

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Mrs. Armstrong's champion dog "Talisman" in about 1910

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.[citation needed]

The Scottish Deerhound resembles a rough-coated greyhound. It is however, larger in size and bone. Minimum desirable height at withers of males is 30 inches (75–80 cm) or more, weight 85 to 110 pounds (39 to 50 kg); height of females from 28 inches (71 cm) upwards, weight from 75 to 95 pounds (34 to 43 kg). It is one of the tallest sighthounds, with a harsh 3–4-inch (7.6–10 cm) long coat and mane, somewhat softer beard and moustache, and softer hair on breast and belly. It has small, dark "rose" ears which are soft and folded back against the head unless held semi-erect in excitement.[12]

The harsh, wiry coat in modern dogs is only seen in self-coloured various shades of grey (blue-grey is preferred). Historically, Deerhounds also could be seen with true brindle, yellow, and red fawn coats, or combinations.[12] 19th century Scottish paintings tend to indicate these colours were associated with a wire haired coat, but, with show breeders preferring a dark, longer coat, these genes now appear to be lost. The geneticist R. Jödicke said – During the 20th century the Deerhound evolved to a single-coloured breed by selection for a grey coat. Some other coat colours are documented in historical sources but have definitely been lost.[13] The recent colour of adult Deerhounds shows little variation. i.e. in the degree of darkness of the grey colour and the occurrence of a fawn shade. Altogether the Deerhound must be characterised as the breed with the most uniform colouration within all sighthounds".[13] A white chest and toes are allowed, and a slight white tip to the tail; a white blaze on the head or a white collar are not accepted.[citation needed]

The head is long, skull flat, with little stop and a tapering muzzle. The eyes are dark, dark brown or hazel in colour. The teeth should form a level, complete scissor bite. The long straight or curved tail, well covered with hair, should almost reach the ground.[12]


 

Health

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Running

A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 10.5 years for the breed compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for crossbreeds.[14] A survey conducted by the British Small Animal Veterinary Association of The Kennel Club recognised breed club members found the most common cause of death was cardiac related making up nearly a quarter of all deaths. The second most common was cancer, making up 18% of deaths.[15]

Laboratory studies have established reference intervals for haematology and serum biochemical profiles in Deerhounds, some of which are shared by all sighthounds, and some of which may be unique to this breed.[16]

Dilated cardiomyopathy has a higher prevalence in the Scottish Deerhound.[17] In one American study 6% of Scottish Deerhounds had the condition, the highest of any breed.[18]

Notable Scottish Deerhounds

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Sir Walter Scott's Deerhound, Maida, was included in his statue in Perth, Scotland

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Hilton of Cadboll stone". nms.ac.uk. National Museum of Scotland.
  2. ^ Brown, T. (1829). Biographical sketches and authentic anecdotes of dogs. p. 95.
  3. ^ Bell, E. Winston (5 March 2013). The Scottish Deerhound With Notes On Its Origin And Characteristics. Read Books Ltd. pp. 24–25. ISBN 978-1-4474-8889-7.
  4. ^ a b Macrae, Alexander (1880). A Handbook of Deer-stalking. Edinburgh: William Blackwood. p. 91.
  5. ^ Davenport, W. Bromley (1885). "Sport". Retrieved 20 January 2009.
  6. ^ Agnes Strickland, Lives of the Queens of England, 7, p. 360.
  7. ^ Roosevelt, T. (1908). Hunting the grisly and other sketches. New York. pp. 194–95.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  8. ^ Roosevelt, T.; Remington, F. (2009). Ranch life and the hunting trail. Courier Corporation. pp. 140–43.
  9. ^ Shields, G. O., ed. (1891). The American book of the dog. pp. 185–87.
  10. ^ Arthur, J. K. (1894). Kangaroo and Kauri: Sketches and Anecdotes of Australia and New Zealand. Sampson Low, Marston. pp. 71–100.
  11. ^ Cassels, K.A.H. (1997). A Most Perfect Creature of Heaven: The Scottish Deerhound.
  12. ^ a b c "Scottish Deerhound Standard" (PDF). American Kennel Club. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  13. ^ a b Jödicke, R., Coat Colour Inheritance in the Deerhound. The Claymore Newsletter of the Scottish Deerhound Club of America January/February 1992 pp16-18
  14. ^ McMillan, Kirsten M.; Bielby, Jon; Williams, Carys L.; Upjohn, Melissa M.; Casey, Rachel A.; Christley, Robert M. (1 February 2024). "Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death". Scientific Reports. 14 (1). Springer Science and Business Media LLC. doi:10.1038/s41598-023-50458-w. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 10834484.
  15. ^ Adams, V. J.; Evans, K. M.; Sampson, J.; Wood, J. L. N. (1 October 2010). "Methods and mortality results of a health survey of purebred dogs in the UK". Journal of Small Animal Practice. 51 (10): 512–524. doi:10.1111/j.1748-5827.2010.00974.x. PMID 21029096.
  16. ^ K. N. Sheerer; C. G. Couto; L. M. Marin; S. Zaldívar-Lopez; M. C. Iazbik; J. E. Dillberger; M. Frye; D. B. DeNicola (July 2013). "Haematological and biochemical values in North American Scottish deerhounds". Journal of Small Animal Practice. 54 (7): 354–360. doi:10.1111/jsap.12086. PMID 23718887.
  17. ^ O'Grady, Michael R.; O'Sullivan, M.Lynne (2004). "Dilated cardiomyopathy: an update". Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice. 34 (5): 1187–1207. doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2004.05.009. PMID 15325477.
  18. ^ Fox, Philip R.; Sisson, David; Moïse, N. Sydney (1999). Textbook of Canine and Feline Cardiology. Philadelphia: Saunders. ISBN 978-0-7216-4044-0.
  19. ^ Dinesen, Isak (1937). Out of Africa. p. 308.
  20. ^ Dinesen, Isak (1981). Letters from Africa, 1914–1931. pp. 13, 14, 24, 45, 46, 48, 65, 80–82.
  21. ^ Dinesen, Isak (1960–1961). Shadows on the Grass. pp. 58, 60.

Further reading

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  • Almirall, Leon V. Canines and Coyotes. Caldwell, Id.: The Caxton Printers, Ltd., 1941.
  • Barret, Kay. Living with Deerhounds [1]
  • Bell, Weston. The Scottish Deerhound. 1892. (Reprinted by Hoflin Publishing Inc., 4401 Sephyr St., Wheat Ridge, Colorado, U.S. 80003.)
  • Benbow, Audrey. How To Raise and Train A Scottish Deerhound. Neptune City, N.J.: T.F.H.Publications, 1965, 1993.
  • Blaze, Elzear and Byng Hall, Herbert The Sportsman and His Dog London: Darling 1850 [2]
  • Cassels, Kenneth. A Most Perfect Creature of Heaven: The Scottish Deerhound. K.A.H.Cassels, 1997.
  • Crealock, Lt.-General Henry Hope. Deerstalking in the Highlands of Scotland. London: Longmans & Green, 1892.
  • Cunliffe, Juliette. Deerhound. Dorking, Surrey, UK: Interpret Publishing, 2002.
  • Cupples, George. Scotch Deerhounds and their Masters. Edinburgh: William Blackwood, 1892. (Reprinted in 1978 by Hoflin Publishing Inc.)
  • Dalziel, Hugh. British Dogs – Their Varieties, History, Characteristics, Breeding, Management And Exhibition London: The Bazaar Office circa 1879 [3]
  • Grimble, Augustus. Deer-stalking London: Chapman & Hall 1886 [4]
  • Hart-Davis, Duff. Monarchs of the Glen: A History of Deer-stalking in the Scottish Highlands. J. Cape, 1978.
  • Hartley, A.N. The Deerhound. 1986. (Available from the Scottish Deerhound Club of America and the Deerhound Club (UK))
  • Macrae, Alexander. A Handbook of Deer-stalking Edinburgh: William Blackwood 1880 [5]
  • Scrope, William. The Art of Deer-stalking. London: John Murray 1839.[6]
  • Shaw, Vero. The Illustrated Book of the Dog. London: Cassell 1881 [7]
  • St. John, Charles. Sketches of the Wild Sports & Natural History of the Highlands London: John Murray 1878 [8]
  • Van Hummell: "The Deerhound", in The American Book of the Dog Editor George O. Shields. Chicago: Rand Mcnally 1891 [9]
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