Scottish Deerhound - Top 10 Interesting Facts

The original purpose of Scottish Deerhound dog breed was to hunt and bring down the Scottish roe deer, a magnificent beast twice or more their size.
There are TOP 10 interesting Scottish Deerhound.

1) Origin

The Scottish Deerhound's exact origins have been lost to the mists of the Scottish Highlands. Greyhounds with rough coats were known from very early times, and by the Middle Ages these dogs were well established in Scotland. These coarse-haired coursers were unequaled when it came to catching stag in the harsh conditions of the Scottish Highlands, so much so that they were hoarded by the Highland chieftains. With the demise of the clan system, the breed's numbers fell, until they teetered near extinction by the mid-19th century.

2) Appearance

The Scottish deerhound is best described as a large greyhound cloaked in a wiry coat. The breed has the typical greyhound family traits of long, slender legs, relatively narrow body, deep chest, tucked abdomen, arched loin and long tail. At first glance this dog could be confused with the Irish Wolfhound, but the Scottish deerhound is far more slender and refined, and these traits are especially evident in its long, elegant head. Although smaller than the Irish wolfhound, the Scottish deerhound is still a very large and, especially, tall dog. Male deerhounds average 30 to 32 inches in height and weigh 85 to 110 pounds (38 to 50 kilograms).

3) Sensitive Breed

Like so many other hound breeds, the Deerhound is a sensitive character by nature and as such they do not respond well to any sort of harsh correction or heavy handed training methods. With this said, they answer very well to positive reinforcement which has to involve them being trained with a firm, fair and gentle hand.

4) Temperament

The Deerhound is a quiet, dignified and gentle dog that boasts a friendly and laid back approach to life. They are among the breeds that seem to have an affinity with children and there is nothing they like more than to be in a loving, family environment. Given their large size, they can have a tendency to be clumsy, especially when they are still youngsters. They are not the best choice for first time owners simply because they need to be with people who have a deep understanding of the breed and what it takes to look after and care for such a large hound.

5) Living With

Deerhounds need room to stretch out, whether sleeping in a bed or running in a field. As with any exceptionally large dog, guardians need to consider the larger feed, medicine and boarding bills they entail. It is not fair to get a deerhound and expect him to squeeze into a miniature world. After all, this breed evolved living in castles and running amidst great expanses.

6) Trainability

In the right hands Deerhounds are quick to learn new things and will always try to do what is asked of them. They are intelligent, obedient characters that like to please. However, early socialisation is a must with these large dogs which means introducing them to as many new situations, people, animals and other dogs as soon as they have been fully vaccinated. Their training has to start early, it has to be consistent and always fair throughout their lives because Deerhounds are never happier than when they know who they can look to for guidance and direction.

7) Coat

The harsh coat is best described as crisp to the touch, about three or four inches at its longest. Not only is such a coat ideal for warding off damp, cold weather, but also it sheds dirt easily, and it does not shed itself. The deerhound's profuse eyebrows and beard add to the breed's regal expression.

8) Gentle Giant

Despite their large size, the Deerhound is known to be a real gentle giant and this includes when they are around children. With this said, they may well accidentally knock a child over because they are known to be a little clumsy which is especially true when they are going through the adolescent stage of their lives. As such any interaction between toddlers and these large dogs has to be supervised by an adult to make sure playtime does not get too boisterous which could end up with someone getting hurt or frightened.

9) Exercise

Deerhounds need to be given a ton of exercise on a daily basis and ideally this has to be a minimum of 2 hours. A shorter walk in the morning would be okay, but a much longer and more interesting one in the afternoon is a must to keep these dogs happy and healthy. They also benefit from being allowed to roam around a back garden as often as they can, but the fencing has to be very secure to keep these dogs in. However, they are definitely not the sort of dog that would adapt well to life in the city, whereas they thrive in a country environment.

10) Grooming

The Deerhound's coat is harsh and wiry which means it needs to be brushed on a regular basis to prevent any matts or tangles from forming. They do not which means their coats should also be hand stripped at least twice a year and this is best left up to a professional groomer. It's also important to check a dog's ears on a regular basis and to clean them when necessary. If too much wax is allowed to build up in a dog's ears, it can lead to a painful infection which can be hard to clear up. In short, prevention is often easier than cure when it comes to ear infections.

Source:
http://www.hillspet.com/en/us/dog-breeds/scottish-deerhound
http://www.dogscope.com/scottish-deerhound