Create Your Deerhound's Shop
Deerhound Breed Summary
Gentle, Loving, Affectionate, Intelligent and Energetic
These dogs are a very large breed and are often discussed as being both tall, graceful and hairy! It's thought that they were probably related to the Greyhounds and that they first came about just north of the border in Scotland.
They are brilliant characters and best suit a lifestyle in the countryside, where they have plenty of space to stretch their legs! Although they make lovely pets, their size means that they can be quite an expensive breed to look after, both from an insurance and food perspective.
Fun Fact: Queen Victoria used to own a pack of Deerhounds!
Kennel Club Group | Hound |
Lifespan | 8 - 11 years |
Height (at the withers) | Males and Females 71cm - 76 cm |
Weight | Males and Females 45.5 kg - 36.5kg |
Coat | Coats are Shaggy, Thick and Close-Lying. It is Ragged in Appearance and also Crisp to the Touch |
Colour | Black & Grey, Blue Brindle, Blue Grey, Brindle, Dark Brindle, Dark Grey, Grey, Grey Brindle |
Eye colour | Hazel or Dark Brown |
Common health issues | Portosystemic shunt (congenital), Factor VII Deficiency, Von Willebrand’s Disease (vWD), Craniomandibular Osteopathy (CMO), Osteosarcoma (bone cancers), Urolithiasis, Heart problems, Bloat/gastric torsion |
These sleek beauties are well known for their gentle and loving ways. Naturally, the breed is fairly quiet and are extremely laid-back when it comes to life! They are naturally good with young children and can also be fairly playful, which means they make great family pets. However, their large size and tendency to be fairly clumsy means that they're not suitable for living in small homes. They need to be in a larger house with lots of outdoor space where they can stretch their legs! These guys are very intelligent, and their need to please means that are very easy to train! However, in order to have a well-rounded and happy dog, they need plenty of socialisation and training from a young age. They are very sensitive and don't react well to any form of harsh treatment, so will need lots of positive reinforcement. That said, they make lovely family pets and have the ability to provide you with years of joy and happiness!
It's thought that dogs like Deerhound's have been around since the 3rd century, working alongside hunters. However, it wasn't until the 15th century that specific breeds were referenced. The records showed them as having the same lineage and that they were being developed across much of the UK! Essentially though, as the name may suggest, these guys were bred to bring Deer closer to the hunters and were very good at it, due to their slim and athletic build, which meant they were able to keep up with the Deer. Unfortunately, the introduction of guns and the issue of estates being divided up into smaller ones saw a decline in the breed and by the 19th century, the breed was almost extinct. This continued on down during WW1 and WW2 and only survived due to a small number of breed enthusiasts who endeavoured to bring the breed back into the light! Bloodhounds and Borzoi's were bought into the mix due to the very small gene pool and eventually a new breed standard was set in 1948. The breed is still fairly rare within the UK and interest needs to be registered with the Kennel Club if you're wanting to share your home with a Deerhound!