Scottish deerhounds

[StephyMei1112]

Don't know much about them - but they are certainly really interesting. I've heard them to be really lazy with moderate exercise needs only. There's a lady with a huge Irish wolfhound that we sometimes meet out on walks in afternoons - totally cool dog, very relaxed yet sociable and inquisitive.

Agree with the point about them being hard to actually acquire though, I've met a few people that are more than qualified to own one contact breeders only to never have gotten a response or been blown off after an exchange of one or two emails.

The Borzoi is the love of my life hound wise and I really hope to own one someday, but Scottish Deerhounds/Irish Wolfhounds are great too =) Good luck in your search/decision and keep us posted!

 

[SarahHound]

I absolutely love them. I was on a waiting list for one before getting Maddy. Completely fell in love with her, I'd called her Freya. However in the end, I felt guilty going to a breeder, and not rescuing. So I cancelled my puppy, lost my deposit I wish I had realised BEFORE booking her.

Anyway, they tend to have a silly streak until they hit 3ish, when they start to settle. They are a bit like greyhounds in that they will take all the exercise you want to give them, or, they will be happy with just a short walk. They aren't demanding, they are happy to try and please you.

Sometimes I wish I had got my pup, but then, I wouldn't have had Maddy, and reserving the puppy made me realise, I'm not one for going to a breeder. I just felt terrible. Deerhounds come up in rescue a lot though, so one day, I'm sure I'll get one

 

[Romy]

there are extra large & giant breeds that are as long lived as healthy medium & large breeds. the problems arise when you start from a small gene pool & narrow it further by focusing breeding on a very specific look or trait rather than a well rounded healthy dog. not sure how it happened to the deerhound other than an excessive focus on increasing & limiting height. w/ the Irish it stems from pretty much the whole breed stemming from Major Richardson's & Captain Graham's deerhound/dane line. both breeds would be well served by carefully controlled outcrosses to staghounds.

Part of the problem with deerhounds, breeders have told me, is at one point the silvers became extremely fashionable to the point where people culled all the other colors and let other colored lines die out. They used to come in wheaten, red, white, black, brindle, etc.

And I definitely agree with you about the staghound outcross. That would be an excellent thing for the breed.