| General Information |
| Group(s):
Hounds, Sighthound |
Height: minimum 28-30 inches |
| Weight: minimum 80-100 pounds |
Longevity: usually under 10 years |
| Colors: shades of gray, brindle, yellow or red with minimal white if at all |
Coat type: thick, close lying and ragged, harsh and crisp to the touch, not wooly or excessive |
| Recognized Registries: NCA, UKC, CKC, AKC, ANKC, TKC, FCI and others |
| Overall Appearance: Rather reminiscent of a large greyhound with a shaggier coat. While the lines of the Scottish Deerhound are not as overdone in their curves, there is distinct similarity with the Scottish Deerhound also being larger. |
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| Personaility - Behavior - Training |
| Energy Level: low to moderate |
| General Nature: |
quiet, gentle, docile, friendly, high eagerness to please, devoted |
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with Children: Generally good but its gentle, tolerant nature means that the children must be supervised to be sure the dog is not mistreated. |
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with other pets: Variable as the dog is developed as a sighthound |
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with dogs: Generally very good |
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| Socialization requirements: moderate: the gentle nature of the Scottish Deerhound leaves them inclined to shyness and nervousnss if not properly reared. |
| Ideal home characteristics: One that is prepared for the challenges of a giant breed including increased costs for supplies and care, need for larger furniture, and shortened lifespan. Otherwise a pleasant companion with few demands. |
| Temperament Notes: Friendly, quietly dignified, relatively low energy (any quiet moment is good for a nap). |
| Training requirement: minimal: socialization and basic manners. |
| Trainer notes: Training sessions are typically more effective if kept short. For the Scottish Deerhound (and most sighthounds) this is a necessity. Woe be to the trainer that bores one of these dogs, as the dog will disengage much like someone tired of a conversation. Additionally, while the Scottish Deerhound is exceptionally intelligent and has a high desire to please, they do lack a certain agility enjoyed by other breeds (if only due to their size). While they are capable of great excitement and stamina, this is typically reserved for lure-coursing and similar activities (like chasing the wind in the backyard) and difficult to harness in a "training situation". Thus, keeping the sessions short and upbeat helps serve to build the motivation of the Scottish Deerhound as well as preventing the shutdown that often comes with long sessions. |
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| Background Information |
| Year range of first recognition: Older than the 16th century but by then names and type seem to be reasonably well defined. |
| Country of Origin: Scotland |
| Original Function: sighthound, hunter of hart and deer |
| History: Prized by the royalty of Scotland as a hunter and companion to the degree that one could pay the fine of giving up a Scottish Deerhound for reprieve if condemned to death. Such exclusivity nearly made the breed extinct in earlier eras. |
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| Adoption Information |
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| Deviations from Standard: |
| Health Notes: bloat, bone cancer, heart problems, hypothyroidism, anal gland infections |
| Health Testing: Thyroid panel, heart evaluation, CERF and OFA |
| Questions to ask Breeder:
http://www.digitaldog.com/breeder_questions.html - The Breeder Questions as listed here provided with explanations and answers you will want to be looking for
How long have you had Scottish Deerhounds?
Why do you have Scottish Deerhounds (show, performance, hunting, etc.)?
What do you consider to be the most important single characteristic of a Scottish Deerhound?
What health issues have you seen in the breed?
What criteria do you set for your breeding stock?
Do you plan to keep a puppy from this litter?
How often do you have puppies?
Do you have a written contract and puppy guarantee?
At what age do you send your pups to their homes?
How would you describe the ideal Scottish Deerhound?
How would you describe the ideal Scottish Deerhound home?
Are your puppies whelped in your home?
What advice would you offer someone in raising and training a Scottish Deerhound?
How do you assist or help Scottish Deerhounds in need of rescue? |
| Web Sites: http://www.deerhound.org/rescue.htm - National Scottish Deerhound Rescue
Also check for sighthound rescue with your favorite search engine |
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| Other Resources |
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