The Scottish Deerhound, also known simply as the Deerhound, is a friendly and sensitive dog that makes a great companion. These devoted and dignified dogs are also brave if there is danger around. However, these affectionate companions are not aggressive. They are simply protective and love to take care of their humans. They also like the company of other dogs, as long as they are big enough not to trigger the prey instinct that a Deerhound has. Some highlights:
Deerhound puppies and adult dogs are very affectionate by nature. They are also completely loyal to their humans. This makes them a loving companion to have around the home.
The Deerhound is a dog that has a tall and elegant appearance. Deerhounds are also great athletes that enjoy going for long walks and runs with people.
Deerhounds are quiet canines. Unlike some dogs, they do not bark a lot. This means that they should not lead to any problems with the neighbours.
Some downsides to the Deerhound:
Due to their breeding, Deerhounds have a strong prey instinct. This means that they are not good housemates for cats or other small pets.
Deerhound puppies and older dogs are sensitive souls. This means that they do not deal well with change. It can lead to them becoming stressed.
The Deerhound has an independent nature. This can cause these dogs to be stubborn. They do not always like doing as they are told when they are being trained. This means that a lot of patience is often needed.
Deerhounds were originally put to work hunting wolves and deer. This hunting took place way back in the 16th century. Deerhounds were only owned by noblemen and were respected for their elegance and power. Over the years, the Deerhound has almost become extinct on a couple of occasions. The last time this happened was during World War I. The Deerhound is still not a common breed of dog. However, people who are lucky enough to have a Deerhound their lives value the love, devotion and companionship that they bring.
Deerhounds are tall and elegant dogs. They usually measure between 71 - 81 cm. This means that they can take up a lot of room around the home.
Deerhounds have a weight that is related to their large size. They usually weigh between 75 and 110 pounds.
Deerhounds are usually self-coloured dogs. They sometimes have a limited amount of white present on their coat. The self-coloured coats of these dignified dogs can be grey, brindle, yellow, sandy red or red-fawn. The coat can have black points.
Deerhounds are affable and warm natured souls. This means that they are not an ideal companion for someone who is looking for a guard dog.
One of the biggest attractions of a Deerhound, for many people, is that they do not bark a lot. This means that they are unlikely to disturb the neighbours.
Deerhounds can be infuriating to train. This is because they have a willful and independent nature. They like to do as they please. Anyone who is training a Deerhound needs to be patient. They also need to be confident and firm while also being fair.
Due to their original breeding, Deerhounds have a strong prey instinct. This means that they should not be welcomed into a home where there are smaller animals. Even with socialisation, Deerhounds may be tempted to chase and injure these smaller housemates.
Deerhounds love the companionship of humans. They like to be around people all of the time. This means that they are not suitable for a home where there is no one around during the day.
Deerhounds have a medium length of life, if they are well cared for and provided with the right amount of exercise. They usually live for 8 – 11 years.
Deerhounds need a lot of exercise. So, anyone who is looking at Deerhound puppies to buy needs to be prepared to keep up. These energetic dogs need at least 2 hours of exercise each day. They should always be kept on a lead when out in public, due to their prey instinct. When they are running lose, Deerhounds need to kept in a large, secure enclosed space that they cannot escape from.
Although, as a breed, Deerhounds are relatively healthy, there are some health problems that they can be prone to. Bone cancer occurs at a higher rate in Deerhounds than in many other breeds. It's almost always fatal. Deerhounds can be prone to developing cardiomyopathy. This can lead to an enlarged heart and can have an adverse effect on the performance of the heart. Testing for the problem is available. However, a puppy that has two healthy parents can still develop the disease. Deerhounds do not always react well to anaesthetic drugs. For this reason, their humans need to seek veterinary advice if an operation is necessary. Bone conditions such as panosteitis and osteochondrosis can lead to pain for Deerhounds. They can also cause movement to be restricted. Deerhounds (especially males) can suffer from cystinuria. This is a genetic problem with the kidneys that leads to the formation of bladder stones. It's often necessary to operate in order to remove these stones.
Deerhounds are happy to curl up and relax with their humans. However, they also need a lot of exercise. This means that do not make great housemates in a small property. Anyone who is thinking of welcoming a Deerhound into their family needs to have plenty of room. Their home should include a large outdoor space that is securely fenced.
Deerhound puppies and adult dogs do not need a lot of grooming. It's usually sufficient to give these dogs an overall brushing and combing once a week. A Deerhound's nails and ears should also be checked on a regular basis. Nails should be clipped if they have not worn down naturally and ears should be cleaned when necessary. Bathing is only usually needed on an occasional basis, unless a Deerhound has waded through mud while out for a walk.
As a rough guide in pricing: Cost to buy: roughly £1,100 for a well-bred Deerhound puppy Other costs (Vet, Food etc): £105 per month
You can read our general buying guide here (/advice-on-buying-a-puppy/), with the most important thing being going to view your Deerhound Puppy, seeing it with its mother, and checking the quality of the breeder. More specifically, here is some Deerhound puppy buying advice:
Anyone who is looking at Deerhound puppies for sale needs to think carefully about other pets that are already in the home. Deerhounds are friendly with humans but are not good companions for small pets. This is due to their natural prey instinct. They are liable to chase, and possibly injure, smaller animals.
People who are thinking of bringing a Deerhound puppy home need to make sure that they have a lot of space available. Deerhounds are big and active dogs that need a lot of space inside and outside. The outside space needs to be securely fenced, in order to prevent a Deerhound from running off after potential prey.
A big thank you to the following sources who helped to shape this article:
https://www.dogbreedinfo.com/scottishdeerhound.htm
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/scottish-deerhound/
https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/hound/deerhound/
