Scottish Deerhound

The Scottish Deerhound ranks among the tallest dog breeds in the world, a sighthound developed in Scotland to run down red deer across open moorland. Males typically stand 76 to 81 cm at the shoulder and weigh 38 to 50 kg, which puts the breed solidly in the giant category recognised by KUSA. Despite this bulk, the Deerhound covers ground with the light, springy gait typical of coursing hounds.

The coat is harsh and wiry, usually 7 to 10 cm long, and comes in shades of grey, brindle and fawn. The overall picture is of an oversized, rough-coated Greyhound. Temperament is gentle and dignified: Deerhounds are affectionate with their own people, settled and quiet indoors, and reserved rather than standoffish with strangers.

This is a breed of two speeds. Given a daily gallop in a secure camp, an adult Deerhound spends the rest of the day resting, content to lie near its owner on the veranda or in front of the fire. The strong prey drive that made it an effective hunter has not faded, so small, fast-moving animals can still set off a chase.

Who it suits

The Deerhound suits an owner who can offer daily off-lead or long-line exercise in a securely fenced camp, plus enough room indoors for a large dog to stretch out fully. It tends to be quiet and undemanding at home but needs company and copes poorly when left alone for long stretches. Households with very small pets should factor in the breed's prey drive before bringing one home.

Large, rough-coated coursing hounds have existed across the British Isles for centuries. In the Scottish Highlands these dogs were shaped specifically for hunting red deer, the largest land mammal native to the region, over rough, open ground where stamina and speed counted for more than scent work.

The breed became closely bound up with the Highland clan system and with Scottish nobility. Tradition held that only those of high rank could own a Deerhound, and the dogs were prized gifts among the aristocracy. This restriction kept numbers low and tied the breed's survival directly to the fortunes of the families who kept them.

The breakdown of the clan system after the 1700s, combined with shifts in hunting practice and land use, cut the population sharply. By the early 1800s the breed teetered on the edge of disappearing altogether. Credit for its deliberate revival generally goes to brothers Archibald and Duncan McNeill, who worked from the 1820s to rebuild both type and numbers.

The breed entered formal dog shows later in the 1800s, with breed standards following as kennel clubs took shape. In South Africa the Scottish Deerhound remains a rare sight, recorded through KUSA and kept mainly by enthusiasts who value its working history as a coursing hound alongside its calm temperament as a companion.

The Scottish Deerhound has the deep chest, tucked-up loin and arched back of a coursing hound, carried on a tall, lean frame. The head is long with a tapering muzzle, and the small ears fold back against the neck at rest, lifting halfway when the dog is alert. The whole shape suggests speed paired with enough substance to hold a deer once caught.

Coat and colours

The outer coat is crisp to the touch and sheds rain and cold reasonably well, with a slight beard and eyebrows that give the face its distinctive look. Dark blue-grey is often the preferred shade, though grey, brindle, fawn and sandy red all occur. A modest patch of white on the chest and toes is tolerated by most standards, but large white markings are not wanted. The coat needs no clipping and keeps its rough texture through regular hand grooming.

The Scottish Deerhound carries a quiet, dignified temperament. At home it is settled and undemanding, happy to rest near its family for much of the day. The breed forms close bonds with its people and is gentle and patient, which makes it a sound companion for households with older children who know how to behave around a very large dog.

With strangers the Deerhound is usually polite and reserved rather than suspicious. It makes a poor guard dog by nature, since aggression toward people sits outside the breed's character. With other dogs it is generally sociable, especially with dogs it has grown up alongside.

The one lasting caution is prey drive. As a coursing hound the Deerhound is wired to chase fast-moving animals, and a cat or small dog crossing its path outdoors can set off a pursuit. Early socialisation with household pets helps, but a securely fenced camp and a long line in open veld remain sensible precautions. Deerhounds dislike long stretches alone and can become unsettled without company.

Grooming

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

Exercise

• Give at least one daily chance to run flat out in a securely fenced camp.
• Add a long daily walk on lead for steady exercise and a change of scene.
• Use a long line in open, unfenced veld because of the breed's prey drive.
• Limit hard, repetitive exercise in growing puppies to protect developing joints.

Environment

The Deerhound settles well into home life and is usually quiet indoors, but it needs floor space to stretch out fully and a soft bed to cushion its large frame and guard against pressure sores. On the highveld it copes reasonably well with winter cold thanks to its coat, while owners in hotter bushveld and lowveld regions should watch for heat stress in summer and keep exercise to the cooler parts of the day. It should not live outdoors away from its family regardless of climate. A home with a large, securely fenced garden or camp is the ideal setting.

A Scottish Deerhound does well on a complete, balanced diet formulated for large and giant breeds. Because the dog is naturally tall and lean, the aim is a fit body condition where the last ribs can be felt easily and a waist shows from above. Overfeeding piles on weight that strains the heart and joints of a giant dog. Puppies grow over a long stretch, often well past a year, and do best on a large-breed growth formula that supports steady rather than rapid development.

Treats and supplements

Keep treats to roughly 10 percent of daily calories at most, and factor them into the overall ration. Fresh water should be available at all times, especially after exercise. Most Deerhounds on a complete commercial diet need no extra supplements; discuss any joint or other supplement with a vet first, particularly for growing puppies, where over-supplementation can do real harm.

The Scottish Deerhound is generally hardy for a giant breed, but its size brings a shorter average lifespan of about 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 great deal through diet, sensible exercise and prompt veterinary attention.

Preventive care

• Keep core vaccinations and parasite control up to date, including tick prevention, since tick-borne biliary (babesiosis) is a real risk for dogs that run in veld and grassland areas.
• Keep a lean body condition to spare the heart and joints.
• Feed measured meals and limit activity around eating to cut bloat risk.
• Book regular veterinary checks, including heart screening as advised.
• Watch for any new lameness or swelling and get it checked promptly.

The Scottish Deerhound is intelligent but carries the independent streak common to sighthounds. It was bred to work at a distance and make its own calls during a 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 knock the breed's sensitive nature and tend to slow progress rather than speed it up. Recall is the hardest skill to bank, because a Deerhound in pursuit of moving prey may ignore commands altogether; for that reason secure fencing and a long line stay important throughout the dog's life.

Basics

1. Start socialisation early, exposing the puppy to people, places, sounds and other animals.
2. Teach a reliable name response and a sit using small food rewards.
3. Build loose-lead walking before the puppy reaches full size and strength.
4. Practise recall in a fenced camp first, rewarding generously every time the dog comes back.
5. Introduce a calm settle and crate routine so the dog rests quietly indoors.

Breeding Scottish Deerhounds is best left to experienced breeders who screen for the heart and bone conditions found in the breed. Dogs should be physically and mentally mature before breeding, which for a giant breed means waiting past the first season or two. Health-tested parents, careful matching and a willingness to support puppy buyers for the life of the dog mark out responsible breeding.

The female carries a pregnancy of roughly 63 days, about nine weeks. Litters tend to run moderate to large. Given the dam's size, whelping needs space, supervision and a vet on call, since giant breeds can run into complications during delivery. Puppies grow slowly and do not reach full adult size and substance until well past a year, so feeding and exercise must be managed with care to protect developing bones and joints. Early socialisation in the breeder's home lays the groundwork for the calm adult temperament the breed is known for.

Scottish Deerhound registration and microchips in South Africa

When a Scottish Deerhound lands at an SPCA branch, the scanner comes out first, and everything then rides on what the number returns. Make sure it returns you. Register your dog free with United Pet Club and the profile answers every scan with your name and number, from now until the end of his days.

A chipped Scottish Deerhound still needs the number loaded into a registry, because the vet's job ends with the implant. Register the microchip on the free lifetime plan: any brand a local vet uses qualifies, updates stay free when you relocate between provinces, and the record answers the lookups SPCA branches run daily. Create your free account and settle both records today.