Scottish Deerhound

The Scottish Deerhound ranks among the tallest dogs in the world, a sighthound bred in the Highlands of Scotland to run down red deer over rough, open ground. A dog of this breed typically stands 76 to 81 cm at the shoulder and weighs between 38 and 50 kg, which puts it in the same size bracket as the Irish Wolfhound, a breed it resembles more than a little. For all that bulk, the Deerhound covers ground with the light, springing stride you would expect from a coursing hound.

The coat is harsh and wiry, generally 7 to 10 cm long, in shades of grey, brindle, and fawn. Picture a larger, rough-coated Greyhound and you have the general idea. Temperament-wise, the breed is gentle and reserved rather than boisterous. Deerhounds are devoted to their own household, settled and quiet indoors, and polite rather than standoffish with visitors.

This is very much a breed of two speeds. Give an adult Deerhound one proper gallop a day in a secure space and it will spend the rest of its time stretched out near its owner, perfectly content. The hunting instinct that once made it so effective on the hill has not gone anywhere, so cats, rabbits, and other small creatures on the move can still set off a chase.

Who suits this breed

The Deerhound suits an owner who can offer a daily off-lead run, or a good stretch on a long line, on ground that is properly fenced, plus enough floor space indoors for a very large dog to lie out flat. It is generally quiet and undemanding around the house but does not do well left alone for long stretches and needs to be near its people. Anyone keeping cats, poultry, or small dogs should bear the breed's hunting instinct in mind before taking one on.

Big, rough-coated coursing hounds have been part of life in the British Isles for centuries, and Ireland's own coursing tradition, still marked every year at the National Coursing Meeting in Clonmel, grew up alongside it. In the Scottish Highlands, though, one strain was shaped specifically for red deer, the largest land animal on the hill, over ground too rough and open for scent hounds to work well. Stamina and speed counted for more than nose.

The breed became bound up with the Highland clan system and with Scottish nobility. Ownership was, by tradition, reserved for those of high rank, and a Deerhound was considered a fitting gift between noble houses. That exclusivity kept numbers low and tied the breed's survival to a handful of families.

When the clan system broke down after the 1700s, and hunting and land use changed with it, the population fell sharply. By the early 1800s the breed was on the brink of vanishing altogether. Credit for pulling it back is usually given to two brothers, Archibald and Duncan McNeill, who set about rebuilding type and numbers from the 1820s onward.

Formal dog shows took the breed on board later in the 19th century, and written standards followed as kennel clubs, the Irish Kennel Club among the later arrivals, organised themselves around the country. The Scottish Deerhound has stayed a scarce breed ever since, kept mostly by enthusiasts drawn to its working history and its unusually calm nature as a house dog.

The Scottish Deerhound has the deep chest, tucked-up loin, and arched back you would expect of a coursing hound, all carried on a tall, rangy frame. The head is long and tapers to the muzzle, and the small ears fold back against the neck at rest, lifting only when something catches the dog's attention. Every line of the dog suggests speed, but with enough bone and muscle behind it to bring down a stag.

Coat and colour

The outer coat is crisp under the hand and stands up well to Irish weather, with a bit of a beard and eyebrows that give the face its look. Dark blue-grey tends to be the preferred shade, though grey, brindle, fawn, and sandy red all turn up regularly. A small bit of white on the chest or toes passes muster under most standards, but large white patches are marked down. The coat is never clipped and keeps its rough texture through regular hand grooming.

The Scottish Deerhound has a quiet, composed temperament that sets it apart from livelier sighthounds. Around the house it is settled and undemanding, happy to doze near its family for most of the day. The breed forms close bonds with its people and is patient by nature, which suits households with older children who know how to behave sensibly around a dog this size.

With strangers, a Deerhound is generally civil and a bit aloof rather than wary. It makes a poor guard dog, since standing up aggressively to people simply is not in its make-up. With other dogs it tends to be sociable, especially with ones it has grown up around.

The one thing owners need to watch is prey drive. Bred to run down deer, the Deerhound is switched on by anything moving fast, and a cat or small dog out in the open can trigger a chase in an instant. Early exposure to household pets helps, but a properly fenced garden and a long line in open country remain sound precautions. Deerhounds do not take well to being left on their own for long periods and can grow miserable without company.

Grooming

• Brush the coat once or twice a week to clear out dead hair and stop mats forming.
• Hand-strip the dead coat a few times a year to keep the wiry texture; steer clear of clipping, which softens it.
• Check the beard after meals and clean it out, since food and water tend to collect there.
• Trim the nails every few weeks and check the ears and teeth at the same time.

Exercise

• Give the dog at least one chance a day to run flat out in a securely fenced space.
• Add a long daily walk on the lead for steady, everyday exercise and a change of scene.
• Use a long line in open or unfenced ground, given the breed's strong prey drive.
• Go easy on hard, repetitive exercise in growing pups, to protect joints that are still developing.

Living conditions

The Deerhound settles well into ordinary home life and tends to be quiet indoors, but it needs floor space to stretch out flat and a well-padded bed to cushion a large frame and guard against pressure sores. Its coat copes reasonably well with Ireland's cool, damp climate, though it should never be kept outdoors away from its family. A house with a decent-sized, securely fenced garden suits it best.

A Scottish Deerhound does well on a complete, balanced diet made for large and giant breeds. Since the dog is naturally tall and lean, the aim is a fit body condition where the last ribs are easy to feel and a waist shows when you look down at the dog from above. Overfeeding piles on weight that puts strain on a giant dog's heart and joints. Puppies grow over a long stretch, often well past their first birthday, and do better on a large-breed growth formula that supports steady development rather than a rapid growth spurt.

Treats and supplements

Keep treats to no more than about 10 percent of the daily ration and factor them into the overall amount fed. Fresh water should be available at all times, particularly after exercise. Most Deerhounds fed a complete commercial diet need no extra supplements; run any joint or other supplement past a vet first, especially for a growing pup, where over-supplementing can do more harm than good.

The Scottish Deerhound is a fairly hardy giant breed, but its size brings a shorter average lifespan of around 8 to 11 years and a set of health concerns typical of large, deep-chested dogs. Responsible breeders screen breeding stock for heart and bone conditions, and owners can do a lot themselves through diet, sensible exercise, and quick action when something looks wrong.

Preventive care

• Keep core vaccinations and parasite control up to date.
• Keep the dog lean, to spare the heart and joints extra strain.
• Feed measured meals and cut back on activity around mealtimes to lower bloat risk.
• Book regular vet checks, including heart screening where the vet advises it.
• Get any new lameness or swelling looked at promptly.

The Scottish Deerhound is a clever dog, but it carries the independent streak common to sighthounds. It was bred to work at a distance from its handler and make its own calls mid-chase, so it lacks the eager-to-please drive found in some working breeds. Training goes best when sessions are short, calm, and consistent. Harsh corrections do real damage to a Deerhound's sensitive nature and tend to set training back rather than move it forward. Recall is the hardest thing to get solid, since a Deerhound in full pursuit of moving prey can switch off to commands completely; for that reason, secure fencing and a long line stay important for the whole of the dog's life.

The basics

1. Start socialisation early, introducing the pup to people, places, sounds, and other animals.
2. Teach a reliable response to its name and a sit, using small food rewards.
3. Work on loose-lead walking before the pup grows into its full size and strength.
4. Practise recall in a fenced area first, rewarding generously every single time the dog comes back.
5. Build in calm settle and crate routines so the dog learns to rest quietly indoors.

Breeding Scottish Deerhounds is best left to experienced breeders who screen for the heart and bone conditions known in the breed. Dogs need to be physically and mentally mature before breeding, and for a giant breed that means waiting past the first season or two. Health-tested parents, careful matching, and a genuine commitment to supporting puppy buyers for the life of the dog are what mark out a responsible breeder.

A bitch carries her litter for roughly 63 days, about nine weeks. Litters tend to run moderate to large. Given the dam's size, whelping calls for space, close supervision, and a vet on standby, since giant breeds can run into complications during delivery. Puppies mature slowly and do not reach their full adult size and substance until well past a year old, so feeding and exercise need managing carefully to protect bones and joints that are still developing. Early socialisation in the breeder's home sets the foundation for the calm, settled adult temperament the breed is known for.

How to register a Scottish Deerhound in Ireland

A dog warden with a scanner can only follow the record, and a Scottish Deerhound whose record is current is home the same day. Register your dog free with United Pet Club: your contact details, his photo, and his chip number together on one profile that never lapses and never bills you.

The implant is the vet's job; the record is down to you, and the 2015 rules assume you'll keep it current. Register the microchip free on the lifetime plan: whatever brand the vet reached for is grand, a house move costs nothing to record, and the number stays searchable day and night. Create your free account and have the pair of jobs done before the tea goes cold.