History and Judging of the Scottish Deerhound

History

The Scottish Deerhound is an ancient breed, whose exact origins are unknown; but clearly they are a development from the old coursing Greyhounds, and are related to the larger Irish Wolfhounds. Names for the breed in history have included Scotch Greyhound and Highland Deerhound. Reference is made to their development in a passage in English Dogges (1576), referring to Greyhounds: “Some are of the greater sorte, some of a lesser; some are smoothe skynned and some curled, the bigger therefore are appointed to hunt the bigger beastes, the buck, the hart, the doe.”

By the 17th century, the term Deerhound was applied to the type used to pursue and bring down the Scottish Red Stag, akin to the American Elk, which is a very large deer. From these came the Deerhound seen today, known as the Scottish Deerhound in America.

Throughout history, Deerhounds were greatly valued for their hunting prowess and companionable nature, primarily owned by the nobility, who had the large tracts of land needed for deer coursing. Legend has it that a nobleman condemned to death could buy his freedom with a “leash” of Deerhounds, with “leash” meaning three in number. As the Stag became rarer in England and southern Scotland in the 1700s, breeding of Deerhounds became more confined to the northern Scottish Highlands, with the smaller Greyhound being used for hare coursing in other areas.

The collapse of the clan system in the mid-1700s further reduced the number of breeders and Deerhounds. It wasn’t until Archibald and Duncan McNeill (later Lord Colonsay) worked to restore the breed in the 1820s that numbers began to increase gradually, and the quality regained. They started appearing at dog shows in England in the mid-1800s. Queen Victoria became a Deerhound fancier and helped its popularity to expand, as did Sir Walter Scott, a Deerhound owner, who deemed the breed “the most perfect creature of heaven.”

The breed came to America originally for hunting purposes—General Custer kept Greyhounds and Deerhounds and their crosses, for instance—and was recognized by the American Kennel Club for showing purposes in 1886.

The World Wars hurt breeders of many breeds and the number of dogs being bred. During World War II, the Deerhound was precariously preserved by a few dedicated British Isles breeders, including the kennels of Ardkinglas, Rotherwood, Ross, Enterkine, and Geltsdale, who worked hard to keep the breed alive. American breeders gradually increased, and Deerhounds have been exported to Australia (where they are used successfully on kangaroos) and mainland Europe, with a few in other areas of the world. They remain quite a rare breed, though the spectacular Best in Show win by a Deerhound at Westminster Kennel Club in 2011 has made more people aware of the breed.

It is claimed that the Deerhound of today is still very similar to the Deerhounds of yesteryear, and old prints attest this to be true. Though the Breed Standard of the late 1800s, still used today, allowed for a slight increase in size, the capability to work and hunt big deer should still be apparent when viewing a modern Deerhound.

Judging

What many judges notice when viewing the Scottish Deerhound ring is that the dogs, while having a certain natural presence and elegance, are often not sparkly show dogs. The handlers are often owners and/or amateurs. While many of them are quite competent, a number of them are not. It is therefore incumbent upon the judge to look past handling ability to the dog itself and judge each individual on its relative merits, rather than just their presentation, and to be helpful to handlers still learning the ropes.

That said, the dog should be immediately identifiable as a Deerhound—specifically, a larger rough-coated coursing type Greyhound—with no confusion as to whether it’s a Wolfhound. One should get a strong impression of a good blend of ruggedness and elegance, of strength and speed, of dignity with a sense of humor.

The dog should be temperamentally stable, friendly enough without necessarily being effusive, and not offering aggression towards other dogs (or humans, naturally, but that is rare). It has been said that the Deerhound, while sweet and gentle, should still own the ground it stands on.

The Standard outlines the various important features of the breed and should be closely studied by anyone looking to judge the breed. The standard was not reformatted, and is the same as it’s been for many years, so some references are historic and specific to the breed.

The size of Deerhounds was raised by a couple of inches with the current Standard, but it is cautioned that very large Deerhounds may not be functional; excessive size is generally not championed in the breed unless it is accompanied by great quality, which it only sometimes is.

Balance is greatly valued, though it also offers a quandary—if a dog is balanced because it is lacking on both ends, is that better than a dog who is correct on one end but not the same on the other? As a breeder, I would personally rather only have one end to fix genetically; obviously having both ends match and be proper is ideal.

Most often, an unbalanced dog has more rear than front angulation, though occasionally it’s the other way around. How the dog puts its various parts together on the move can be the deciding factor.

Many judges will have the dogs go around the ring together first to help settle them and get an idea of how they handle themselves. In the exam, functional aspects should be considered more important than cosmetic ones, though of course the best dogs have both.

The judges who consider the whole dog, mentally adding up the virtues and then subtracting the faults, and giving those with the highest “score” the nod, are better. Rather than eliminating a dog from consideration just because of a particular fault (being a “fault judge”), they should do so only if that fault is excessive shyness or aggressiveness.

Puppies and newcomer dogs obviously should be forgiven some nerves or hijinks, and should be judged compassionately and patiently.

Movement—the standard gives it just three words, but they are telling ones—it says that the Deerhound’s movement should be “easy, active, and true.” Easy and true are fairly self-evident; the easy meaning a nice flowing side gait, and the true meaning sound coming and going.

The active is more open to interpretation, but the typical Deerhound trot has a lovely and rather unique “lilt” and suspension, covering a little extra ground in the air with each stride without being extreme or too bouncy. This trait may have descended from those needed for the rough terrain the Deerhound used to hunt on in the Scottish moors, where having a certain tendinous and ligamentous elasticity allowed the dog to spring over heather and gorse in pursuit of its quarry.

Active should NOT be interpreted to mean hackneyed gait at the trot—this seems to be one trotting trait that does translate to the gallop, and negatively so. A hackneyed gallop is energy-wasting and not fast and ground covering, or especially agile. Hackneyed gait is not often seen in Deerhounds, happily, but should be appropriately faulted when it is seen.

It’s unknown whether the order of the movement traits (easy side gait, active side gait, and true coming and going) was meant to be put in descending order of importance, but many fanciers consider that a typical side gait is most highly important in a quality Deerhound. Sound coming and going is also important, but if it’s at the expense of side gait, may not be quite as much so.

Deerhounds in general are sounder now than they were many years ago; but again, it should not be at the expense of the typical way of moving from the side. For those into horses, a Deerhound’s typical trot can perhaps be compared to a Third Level dressage horse doing a working or medium trot—big and open and flowing but not excessively fast or flashy.

Other aspects to consider—conditioning and musculature are very important in any sighthound, but this can also present another quandary: how to compare a well-made but “soft” or underconditioned dog to one who is less well made but well conditioned?

Again remember genetics and value inherent genetic traits more than developed ones, and functional traits more than cosmetic ones. If possible, knowing which traits are easier to fix genetically can help—the more genetically persistent bad traits should perhaps be faulted more heavily than others which are known to be faster to change.

In the case of a good dog with less good developed traits (conditioning, grooming, show manners, etc.), a brief polite discussion with the handler might alert them to what they could do to present their dog better in the future.

In conclusion, when judging the Scottish Deerhound, think “Big Deer”—the Deerhound’s original prey, the Scottish Red Stag, is like our American Elk, so a formidable foe requiring enough speed and endurance to catch up to, and enough strength and persistence to bring to bay or bring down.

This royal hunter also had to be a great companion in the manor or castle to adults, children, and other animals; and be stable, quiet, and dignified while still fun to be around. The “fun” part of a Deerhound’s personality may not be readily apparent at the show grounds, but at least the dignity and the look of the original purpose can be.

And finally, thank you for judging our Deerhounds fairly and kindly; we do appreciate it!

The post History and Judging of the Scottish Deerhound appeared first on Showsight Magazine.

In 2017, I was invited by a Scottish friend to come with her to a parade, not knowing what to expect. What I found was a joyful event filled with music that lifted the soul, Scottish dancers dancing in the street, and many Scottish breeds of dogs.

New York City Tartan Week 2024 culminated with the joyful Tartan Day Parade, which celebrates the contributions that the people of Scotland have made to the United States for hundreds of years, and the continuing bond of friendships between them.

The Tartan Day Parade was started back in 1999 by two bagpipers and a bunch of friends who definitely hit a note that will never be silenced. The following of this parade has grown experientially with each passing year.

On April 6th, 2024, on 44th Street and 6th Avenue, there was no shortage of Scottish dancers and bagpipers, drummers, beautiful kilts, marching bands, or Scottish breeds of dogs. The energy of this small yet mighty parade continues to grow, and this year’s parade had packed sidewalks for the whole length of the parade.

The historical impact these Scottish breeds of dogs have made in the world of dogs is unquestionable, and seeing them in the middle of this parade is amazing considering how rare many of these breeds are.

The breeds that came to meet, greet, and walk in the parade were a fine gathering that included five magnificent Scottish Deerhounds, a Skye Terrier, four Dandie Dinmont Terriers, four Scottish Terriers, 15-20 West Highland White Terriers, four Shetland Sheepdogs, two Gordon Setters, one Collie, one Cairn Terrier, and one Golden Retriever. By the time these dogs hit the parade route, all the spectators were cheering the dogs on and wanting to meet them.

In the end, the dogs did get to have one-on-one time with many spectators. The big crowd-pleasers were the Scottish Deerhounds, which one couldn’t walk past without wanting to shower them with hugs while asking lots of questions.

We look forward to hearing the sounds and sights of Scotland next time while sharing the space with all those majestic Scottish breeds along the parade route.

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An Interview with Barb Heidenreich, Breeder of Fernhill Scottish Deerhounds

Where did you grow up?

Barb Heidenreich: I grew up in Toronto, Ontario, with summers at a family property (since 1886) on Lake Simcoe, 45 minutes from downtown Toronto. Relatives in England, Scotland, Haiti, Schleswig-Holstein, and Bodensee kept me travelling from an early age.

Did you come from a doggy family? If not, how did the interest in breeding and showing purebred dogs begin?

Barb Heidenreich: My love of dogs was limited, as my childhood dogs were terriers. One had “Springer rage” and my scars reflect eleven years with this dog. Arabian horses and cats were my passion. In 1963, a solo bicycling venture as a young teen around Scotland exposed me to my first Deerhound on a couch at the Kilmartin Hotel, Argyll… the perfect cross between a horse and a cat! Acquiring one in Canada finally happened in 1970 with Jan Buchanan’s Alistair Of Auldstane.

Who were your mentors in the sport? Please elaborate on their influence.

Barb Heidenreich: Lack of mentoring was the norm… real learning started in 1968 with visits to “Auldstane,” “Gayleward,” “Sirhan.” My first pair of Deerhounds in 1973 precipitated my most influential “mentor” experience. They coursed and damaged a Whippet in a park. The owner was kind enough not to sue me but explained that I owned a sighthound, bred to chase and kill… “Start doing your breed research!” What a shock, as my single Deerhound helped me raise raccoons and kittens and showed no prey drive! So, the research began—and in this breed it never stops. There is always something new to learn. I have learned the most from:

• Attending 48 SDCA National Specialties (starting in 1973) watching/entering both conformation and coursing events;
• Attending three Dava Quaich Coursing meets in Inverness and the Borders… Deerhounds coursing on their home terrain is an INCREDIBLE learning experience!;
• Open field coursing in the 1970s-early ‘80s with M.H. Dutch Salmon in Manitoba (after European hare), the Dakotas, Colorado, and New Mexico (after Blacktail, Whitetail and Antelope Jackrabbits) as well as countless NOFCA/ASFA coursing meets.

Starting in 1977, I have attended eight UK Breed Shows over the years and have had the privilege of judging Deerhounds in the UK (2000), a Deerhound Specialty in Finland (2007), and recently, I had a wonderful entry at Västerås, Sweden (2022). I met the key British breeders in 1977: Marjorie Bell (Enterkine), Anastasia Noble (Ardkinglas), Agnes Lynton (Geltsdale), Norah Hartley (Rotherwood), Leslie Edmunds (Duchally), Mary Girling (Pyefleet), and Kenneth Cassels (Sorisdale). They taught me so much! My visits over the years and their letters/photos are a treasure.

Before my first litter in 1975, a course by Canine Consultants Canada Ltd. taught me “puppy evaluation” at various ages from 2-3 days to 12 weeks. I still have the goniometer and measuring stick that help to find structurally balanced puppies in a litter, avoiding the pitfall of seeing the largest as the “pick.” Lack of mentors in the breed prompted me to publish Your Scottish Deerhound Primer in 1989 as a puppy raising handbook for newbies. A fifth edition (2023) is here: https://fernhill.com/about-deerhounds/your-scottish-deerhound-primer/.

Fernhill Deerhounds are widely known, successful in the ring and coursing field. What breeding philosophies do you adhere to?

Barb Heidenreich: My vision of the “ideal” type is a functional, rough-coated, large Greyhound. Reading the incredible historical legacy on coursing red deer, measurements, illustrations of breed “greats” in the 1800s, and being heavily involved in open field coursing on my own 200 acres (deer and hare), but also in North America and Scotland, has given me my vision of “perfect type.” This includes Arthur Wardle’s 1908 drawing of Ch. Ayrshire, so like Ch. Ardkinglas Sonnet that I saw win the 1977 UK Breed Show and Coronach Luckpenny that blew the field away to win the Dava Quaich in 1996.

I search for mates that bring me closer to that ideal. Eclipsing all to me is health-longevity, temperament, and function. I must see the dog, research health, and never rely on pictures and show wins. Keeping size moderate also helps with health and longevity. My sales contract has, for decades, guaranteed my puppies on a replacement basis up to “veteran” status should they die from the major breed health issues we know are hereditary: heart, bone cancer, GDV.

How many dogs do you currently house? Tell us about your facilities and how the dogs are maintained.

Barb Heidenreich: We average 5-10, all house pets. We field course daily on our fenced 200 acres. That has had its perils with porcupines and deer coursing, but their sheer joy of the chase would never let me deny them this freedom. Whelping takes place in my “study,” and from four weeks on they live in a puppy room off the kitchen with their own stereo set. Youngsters join us on a daily 1-2-mile hike from eight weeks on, learning how to track back to us (thanks to an ultra loud STORM® whistle) after running off. The varied terrain helps to build muscle, appetites, strong bones, and especially their gut flora as they sample soil, plants, and turkey poop. Unlimited free-play is required to raise a Deerhound puppy properly.

Who were/are some of your most significant Deerhounds?

Barb Heidenreich: Kira in my first litter was placed First by Miss Noble (entry of 24) in the Open Bitch class at the 1977 SDCA Specialty. A star, living well past 13 years. From Kira in 1978 came two-time BIS Ch. Carerra Genoble Of Fernhill. Then Trefor x Kira produced Int. Ch. Fernhill’s Thor O’ Maropa’s Arran, 1985 World Dog Show (Amsterdam) Best of Breed. Ch. Crannoch’s Fenris Of Fern Hill, F.Ch., entered my life in 1982 finishing in the US with three straight 5-point majors. At the 1983 Specialty, Fenris was ASFA BOB/Best in Field (over an entry of 42) and he then at the 1985 SDCA Specialty went Best of Opposite as a dual Ch. & F.Ch., a breed first!

In 1991, Ch. Fernhill’s Phantom became the first Deerhound to win the Hound Group at Westminster. Lots of BIS and BISS over the years (honestly, I can’t bother counting!), especially by Am. Can. Ch. Fernhill’s Esprit, Am. Can. Ch. Fernhill’s Kendra (#1 in Canadian-bred of all time), and Am. Can. Ch. Wyvern (#1 in the US 1996 and Canada in 1995, 1996). Breed history was again made by GCh. Fernhill’s Opal At Jeffcairn, winning a Specialty ASFA Coursing BOB/BIF in 2018 (over 28 Deerhounds) and a BISS at the 2021 SDCA National Specialty.

Please comment positively on your breed’s current condition and what trends might bear watching.

Barb Heidenreich: Since its function was displaced by the Purdey rifle, Deerhounds have gradually increased in size. The show ring has rewarded size and coat, and the Breed Standard has been altered several times with size increases from the original 1892 Standard. A segment of our breed is tending to morph into a “smaller, more athletic Irish Wolfhound” and current DNA testing is even finding some purebred Deerhounds with IW genes! But there are still lots of wonderful “large rough-coated greyhounds” in North America (and Scandinavia) in the ring and coursing fields.

The sport has changed greatly since you first began participating. What are your thoughts on the state of the fancy and the declining number of breeders? How do we encourage newcomers to join us and remain in the sport?

Barb Heidenreich: Breeder-judges in the past, like Anne Rogers Clark, knew breed history, form, and function. That seemed to change in the 1990s as retired handlers became judges and professional handlers began to dominate our show ring. Adding Owner-Handled classes seemed to confirm the dog is no longer only being judged. Better informed breeders and judges, and more accurate judges’ education material, could guide the breed back to a functional type. Certainly, more affordable 2- to 3-day Specialties as in the past, with conformation one day and coursing the next, would attract more attendees. Mentoring newcomers is key.

Finally, tell us a little about Barb outside of dogs… your profession, your hobbies.

Barb Heidenreich: Professionally, for 45 years, I have focused on environmental protection, research, and university teaching: https://www.conservecanada.org/about-us/our-board/. Currently, my goal is to complete a book on Scottish Deerhounds that compiles work from a range of experts and my 50 years of breed research. It is almost ready! Thank you for this opportunity!

The post Interview with Barb Heidenreich – Fernhill Scottish Deerhounds appeared first on Showsight Magazine.

We have lure coursed with all our Deerhounds, raced most of them, and even open field coursed a few. We have helped with countless Deerhound specialties and all-breed meets, and Bayard is a familiar sight hunt-mastering in his kilt. Over these years, we have been able to see Deerhounds that course well and hold up, those that show and course, and those that show but are never seen at a running event. Of course, many people who show choose not to run their dogs; however, nevertheless, we have made some observations that we feel hold up.

Deerhounds are rarely allowed to perform their original function of chasing and taking down a mature stag, often as a single dog or brace, by grabbing the ear and having the neck snap, which has been described in detail in so much of our breed’s historical accounts. Today in Scotland, Deerhound function is illegal. That makes it hard for breeders to understand the relationship between size and structure reflected in field performance and, as a result, for the breed to maintain the form necessary for its function. Yet compared to many breeds, many Deerhounds today are remarkably similar to their working ancestors. As sprinters, they need to have the speed and agility of a Greyhound, with the size and strength to handle the 200-300-pound Scottish red stag, yet not be weighed down by excessive size and bulk. Thanks to breeders who have paid attention to function, most are still recognizable as Deerhounds, with their characteristic shape and type: rough-coated Greyhounds of larger size and bone. Some functions, such as speed, agility, and drive, can be tested with lure coursing, even though a plastic bag is never as interesting as a fleeing animal.

The American Sighthound Field Association (ASFA) was founded in 1972 and its lure coursing events have been a part of the Scottish Deerhound Club of America’s (“SDCA”) national specialties since the first SDCA-hosted ASFA lure field trial at its St. Louis specialty in May, 1976. It was the largest group of Deerhounds to course at one stake in North America, ever. John Wiley was the organizer, Ch. Gayleward’s Tippity Witchet, owned by Bobbi Longfellow, was Best in Field, and the ASFA trial has continued in partnership with the SDCA’s specialty to this day. Over time, additional performance events joined the coursing program at specialties; AKC lure coursing, Large Gazehound Racing Association racing, and AKC Fast CAT are now included at all specialties. In 2023, it was a three-day event under Field Chair Dr. R. Scott Dove, DVM and Huntmaster Bayard Smith, with its own Coursing Events Program and a huge entry of “form follows function” believers who know how much this breed loves the chase. In the “olden days” it was a day of conformation showing, the next day we hit the lure-coursing field, and then headed back home with exhausted dogs. Today, conformation and fields events are given equal time at SDCA specialties.

Fashion has influenced what we see in the ring. Early on, the first 1892 Standard (ratified by the UK Club in 1901) was changed from ideal hunting characteristics with a little leniency to not totally exclude the growing popularity of show Deerhounds, or “the Modern Deerhound” as they were referred to then. Today, in the winning line-ups, we see quite a few impressive animals of great height, heavy build, extreme rear angulation, and flashy movement. They may take your breath away, but most wouldn’t have the speed, agility, or durability to take down deer in rough country. We also see a few refined, delicate beauties that look like sculptures. They may be pretty, but they wouldn’t have the strength or durability to hold up to frequent hunting. As with most things in life, moderation will get the job done—moderate in height and build, with a well-muscled engine and efficient movement.

Our hope is that breeders, judges, and fans of Deerhounds will remember their history and not be seduced into choosing extreme characteristics driven by the show world over functionality. Encouraging judges, new breeders, new owners, and especially those who haven’t open field coursed their Deerhounds, to attend the running events at sighthound specialties could really help in understanding what should be desirable in the conformation ring.

Our “Opal” (GCh. Fernhill’s Opal At Jeffcairn SC GRC JOR) was Best of Breed at the ASFA trial (entry of 28) at the 2018 SDCA National Specialty and Best of Breed in conformation at the 2021 SDCA National Specialty, and is the breed’s only Deerhound with both a national specialty lure course Best of Breed win and a national Best in Specialty conformation win; the magic confluence of form, function, and fashion… and fun!!!

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Preface

The preface to the Scottish Deerhound Club of America breed standard and the Australian National Kennel Council breed standard reminds the fancy (if you look hard) of the historic function of the Deerhound. Brief mention is made of “coping with large Scottish deer (often weighing 250 pounds)” and much is made of the mythology of the “Royal dogs” owned by earls and noble lords.*

More on function would have been helpful in interpreting the standard, in particular helping to grade the severity of “faults,” “undesirables,” and other deviations noted in the standard by assisting the reader in understanding to what extent the deviation affects the original purpose of the breed.

Two key elements are instrumental in understanding Scottish Deerhound conformation: (a) its quarry, the Red deer (Cervus elaphus scoticus) and (b) the terrain over which this breed coursed. Red deer are smaller than an elk, but larger than a white-tailed deer.

The Scottish Red deer, smaller than the Western European Red deer thanks to the inhospitable windswept hills of its habitat, weighed 225 to 300 pounds with a shoulder height of about 40 to 47 inches.

The terrain is extraordinarily rough: peat bogs, stony hills covered with coarse heather, rocky crags, and rushing burns. Watching Deerhounds work in their home terrain illuminates how this breed needs to be constructed and the standard is the breed experts’ attempt to describe this.

*Fortunately, the revised AKC The Complete Dog Book has a new introduction to the standard, correcting this historically inaccurate romanticism encouraged by that great Deerhound fancier Sir Walter Scott.

Those few paragraphs adopted as the Scottish Deerhound breed Standard in 1935 by the AKC and subsequently immortalized by the show fancy as the “ideal” Scottish Deerhound have an interesting and rather chequered history. Early in the 1800s, Archibald MacNeill of Colonsay revived the sport of coursing Red deer with the “Highland deer-hound” or “rough Scotch greyhound” on the islands of Colonsay and Jura.

He describes a day of deer coursing (August 11, 1835) on the Island of Jura that saw six sportsmen, a piper, and a deer-stalker watch two deerhounds, “Buskar” and “Bran,” take down a 308-pound stag that was 3 feet 11-1⁄4 inches at the shoulder. Buskar, his “best in field” dog, was painted by Sir Edwin Landseer, carefully measured, and an account of this event was published in William Scrope’s The Art of Deerstalking (1838). There was no Sight and Scent Magazine or Sighthound Review in those days! This description became an important benchmark in understanding the working Deerhound.

By the mid-1800s, J.H. Walsh (“Stonehenge”) began pressing for the development of breed standards as the sport of showing dogs increased in popularity. So began the very public debate about how a Scottish Deerhound should look. Weston Bell started the task in 1892 with his seminal book, The Scottish Deerhound with Notes on its Origin and Characteristics. This provided a first prototype breed standard developed with the assistance of the Duchess of Wellington, the Marquis of Breadalbane, Captain Graham, G.W. Hickman, and Robert Hood-Wright.

Hickman summed up their conclusions:

“Between the large greyhound and a small deerhound there was no difference in outward characteristics… the deerhound is simply a rough greyhound raised to a larger size by selections, common to the whole of Scotland… the Highlands of Scotland, being the only place where the stag has remained in a wild state in any numbers…”

Bell makes a clear distinction that while his description is of the “modern Deerhound” with measurements of specimens currently appearing in the show ring, the working Deerhound forms the basis of his written “ideal.” So, in deference to the working Deerhound, he capped size at “29 to 30 inches, but not over 30 inches” for males and “26 to 27” inches for bitches.

“To run into and hold a full-grown stag, a large and strong animal, is certainly required and it was found that a dog averaging 29 to 30 inches was the correct animal.”

Hickman and Hood-Wright then went on to reformat this description by Bell (with one crucial difference) into a Deerhound Standard which was formally amended and approved at a meeting of the UK Deerhound Club, November 26th, 1892, and again endorsed in 1901. It was recognized by that time that the breed had, in effect, been saved from extinction by this new sport of dog showing in England. Specimens that were “over-big” for deerstalking had regularly been sent south to compete in the show ring, which they did with distinction, and the breed became very popular.

That reality and pressure from Graham and Hood-Wright who were great advocates of size (and then both went on to develop the Irish Wolfhound), ensured that the newly adopted 1892/1901 Standard provided for a size greater than 30 inches… “if there be symmetry without coarseness, which is rare.”

Then in 1914, a major change took place to the Standard with the addition of “Points of a Deerhound arranged in Order of Importance.” Type was placed where it belongs… first in order of importance. The absence of a description of movement in the original Standard of 1892 was addressed. Also slipped into the Standard was the phrase “as tall as possible consistent with quality” and the height limits were changed.

Club minutes that might have explained this change have been lost, but most likely it reflects the continuing concern expressed by some of the Deerhound fancy (letters and discussion in The Stock-Keeper) that the breed will lose popularity to its much larger competitor, the Irish Wolfhound. This, of course, is exactly what happened. Regardless, with this change the Deerhound officially became a show dog.

The breed Standard, adopted by the AKC in 1935, included these changes while also increasing the breed height by two inches “from 30 to 32” for males and for bitches “from 28 inches upwards.” Weights were correspondingly increased in the AKC version and the somewhat spurious claim that the climate of the US might produce a mixed silky and hard coat was added.

This is very important history for those judges who see the Standard as a tool for evaluating breed specimens on the basis of form following function. The Scottish Deerhound Standard already describes a modern show Deerhound, so any exaggeration of the breed characteristics described in the Standard will move the Deerhound even farther from its working roots.

Type (Point #1)

Type is the sum of those qualities that are distinctive to the breed which make the animal not a dog, but a Deerhound. Most breed Standards start with General Appearance, but the Scottish Deerhound Club of America’s Deerhound Standard follows the format of the original Hickman and Hood-Wright Deerhound Standard approved by the Deerhound Club (UK) in 1892. Head is mentioned first, but foremost in Points Arranged in Order of Importance is Type. Point #1.

A Deerhound should resemble a rough-coated Greyhound of larger size and bone. This is the General Appearance missing at the beginning of this Standard. The overall first impression of a Scottish Deerhound should be that of a large Greyhound… not a giant Greyhound and not a small Irish Wolfhound.

To quote G.A. Graham (Vero Shaw, 1881 p. 229): “The general appearance should be striking, elegant and aristocratic to a marked extent and nobility of carriage is a very strong feature of the breed.”

Scottish Deerhound’s Movement (Point #2)

Almost as an afterthought, easy, active and true was added in the Points in 1914 to describe this breed’s movement. Perhaps the lapse was in recognition that the Scottish Deerhound is above all a galloping hound, and trotting about the ring simply shows off a dog’s structure which only hints at how it may perform in the field. Deerhounds should be light on their feet, with a seemingly effortless ability to bound over rough terrain.

Propulsion in the field comes from the rear assembly and drive from the rear, with no hint of closeness or cow hocks, is extremely important. Deerhounds, unlike Greyhounds, gallop with their head up when after deer and spring (or bound) over the terrain, keeping the quarry sighted in the long, thicket-like heather.

Written reports from the 1800s (Stonehenge, British Rural Sports, 1875) note this head-neck carriage and describe it as a feature that distinguishes the rough Scotch greyhound from other regional greyhound types… “…the deerhound gallops with his head in the air, and his body raised off the ground, ready for a spring at the throat or ear… while the greyhound, with his head close to the ground, lies down ventre à terre; and he is also prepared to pick up his game, not pull it down.” That characteristic is captured in easy and active.

Scottish Deerhound’s Size (Point #3)

Size has been an ongoing debate for the past two hundred years and continues to this day. While the Standard reads as tall as possible consistent with quality Scottish Deerhounds greater than 30 inches at the shoulder are generally not functional on deer… that was a known fact. We know the measurements of two of the best working Deerhounds… Buskar and Bran (this page).

The Standard recognizes the “modern Deerhound” size and the show world’s expectation that “bigger is better,” but this needs to be balanced by the knowledge that those famous for their functionality were not more than 30 inches. The battle over size will continue, but moderation appears to be the most reasonable approach if type and breed health are to be maintained in the long-term.

Scottish Deerhound’s Head (Point #4)

Long, level, well balanced, carried high. The head should look like that of a large, strong-jawed Greyhound. The length of the muzzle should appear, and be, longer than the length of the skull, as the jaws need length and strength to seize and hold the quarry.

Scottish Deerhound’s Body (Point #5)

Long, very deep in brisket, well-sprung ribs and great breadth across hips. A Scottish Deerhound is a “long-dog” in hunting nomenclature… a dog that is slightly longer than tall. The croup should not be too steep or too level: too steep a croup places the hindquarters too far under the galloping hound so that all the power from the rear is lost; too level a croup forces the dog to work too hard to get sufficient leverage for a power take-off from the rear.

The hips are the driving force of the Deerhound, so the rear must be broad at the pelvis with wide parallel hocks. This is the number one fundamental requirement for a functional Deerhound due to its breed-specific galloping style. To see the Deerhound constantly leaping in the air to remain sighted as it bounds through heather or tall grass is to understand why the Standard says the rear must be “…as broad and powerful as possible, the hips being set wide apart…”

Forelegs & Thighs (Point #6, #7)

Legs should be well-muscled with a well-defined and muscled first and second thigh. Bend of stifle should be moderate, neither too straight nor sickle-hocked, as the former does not provide sufficient leverage for springing through heather and uphill work and the latter is too weak and inefficient, breaking down with hard use.

The Loin (Point #8)

The loin which is the area between the end of the ribs and the pelvis, should be well-arched, and belly well-drawn-up, with the topline maintained while moving. The loin should be muscular (not fat), showing strength and flexibility as it provides propulsion in uphill work.

Scottish Deerhound’s Coat (Point #9):

There are striking differences in Deerhound coats today, although the Standard specifies “harsh and wiry about 3 to 4 inches long.” This is the mature coat of a 4- to 5-year-old. A puppy exhibiting this length of coat will generally be over-coated as an adult and need stripping. The Scottish Deerhound is a natural breed that should be shown tidied up, but without stripping or sculpting the coat.

A Deerhound should grow a correct coat by inheritance and have the correct body shape without needing it stripped, scissored, “Furminated,” or plucked to meet the Standard. Coats are a result of genes, not climate. As described by Captain Graham in 1881, “The coat should be coarse and hard… a well covered head gives much ‘character’… Some breeders hold that no Deerhound is worthy of notice unless he has a good rough head, with plenty of beard and coat generally… Here, however they are at fault as several of the best known dogs have nearly smooth heads.” (Vero Shaw, 1881 p. 229-230)

A Deerhound should grow a correct coat by inheritance and have the correct body shape without needing it stripped, scissored, “Furminated,” or plucked to meet the Standard.

Scottish Deerhound’s Feet (Point #10)

The Standard does not specify “cat” or “hare” feet, it says “feet close and compact.” The two middle toes in a Deerhound foot are always slightly longer than the side toes, but should be so strong and well-knuckled that the overall appearance of the foot is small and tight in relation to the size of the dog. Long, weak toes are a serious fault and functionally useless.

As Miss A.N. Hartley describes in her book The Deerhound (1972), “Feet are most important, the pads should be large and thick making the feet look almost as though they had little rubber balls under them.”

The Standard describes a mature Deerhound. A Scottish Deerhound generally isn’t fully mature until it reaches 4 to 5 years. Most Deerhounds are shown between the ages of one and four years. This makes judging this breed very difficult, and experience invaluable and appreciated. The Standard also describes breed features which are both aesthetic and functional.

Life Stages in a Scottish Deerhound Bitch

A JUDGE SHOULD ALWAYS…

• Judge the dog, not the handler or the “package”;
• Attend as many Deerhound Specialties/Breed Shows as possible and always watch breed lure coursing events;
• Understand that the Standard describes functional points and those that are aesthetic/cosmetic, and be able to differentiate between them;
• Reward dogs by placing a priority on functionality, as this breed is, above all, a galloping hound developed for a specific prey and terrain;
• Avoid extremes in all points: extreme size, extreme bend of stifle, extreme roach over the loin, extreme depth of brisket, extreme coat… reward moderation as the best option for the long-term health and conformation of the breed;
• And always remember that the Scottish Deerhound is not a giant Greyhound or a small Irish Wolfhound… the Deerhound is a rough-coated Greyhound of larger size and bone.

Understanding the Scottish Deerhound Standard

By Barbara Heidenreich

Courtesy of Sighthound Review Vol. 3 Issue 1, Spring 2012 pp. 140-143  and Sight and Scent October 2013 pp. 126, 129-132.

This is an abridged version of “Visualizing the Scottish Deerhound Standard” prepared in 2004, updated in 2012 for the affiliated conformation study groups of the Canadian Dog Judges Association. A copy of the full “Visualizing the Scottish Deerhound Standard” is available as a PDF on request from bh@fernhill.com.

Are you looking for a Scottish Deerhound puppy?

The best way to ensure a long and happy relationship with a purebred dog is to purchase one from a responsible breeder. Not sure where to begin finding a breeder? Contact the National Parent Club’s Breeder Referral person, which you can find on the AKC Breeder Referral Contacts page.

Want to help rescue and re-home a Scottish Deerhound?

Did you know nearly every recognized AKC purebred has a dedicated rescue group? Find your new best friend on the AKC Rescue Network Listing.

Scottish Deerhound Dog Breed Magazine

Showsight Magazine is the only publication to offer dedicated Digital Breed Magazines for ALL recognized AKC Breeds.

Read and learn more about the dignified Scottish Deerhound dog breed with articles and information in our Scottish Deerhound Dog Breed Magazine.

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Interview with Hound Group Breeder Lynne Lozano – Iron Gate Hounds

Where do I live? How many years in dogs? How many years as a breeder?

Lynne Lozano: I currently reside in Atlanta, Georgia. (Well, the suburbs; Powder Springs, to be exact.) I’ve been breeding for 22 years and showing for 25 years. I’ve been in dogs my whole life; essentially 45 years.

What is my kennel name? How many dogs do I currently keep?

Lynne Lozano: My kennel name is Iron Gate. I currently have 10 Scottish Deerhounds on the property, but co-own others that aren’t here full-time.

Which show dogs from the past have been my noteworthy winners?

Lynne Lozano: I have the 2018 BISS Scottish Deerhound and the 2018 BOB winner at Westminster, GCHB Erpingham Benvolio, aka “Ben” (an import from England). His children, GCHG Iron Gate Battle of Stirling Bridge and GCHS Iron Gate Battle of Roslin, made recorded Westminster history by being the first invited littermates to sweep BOB and BOS. “Stirling” is also the first-ever GCH GOLD male in the history of the AKC. They are Group-winning and placing, and “Roslin” is the No. 2 Lifetime NOHS Scottish Deerhound with over 12 OH BIS.

Which have been my most influential sires and dams?

Lynne Lozano: Without a doubt, GCHB Eringham Benvolio is my most influential sire. Ben’s children and grandchildren are setting records, and he brings back a strong traditional stamp to the breed.

Can I talk a bit about my facilities? Where are my puppies whelped? How are they raised?

Lynne Lozano: That’s an easy one. Our facility is our home. We are fortune to be in a substantial home on land with two additional outbuildings. All of our dogs live in the house with the family and share their home with many other species as well. All of our puppies are whelped here in our office (or at the vet’s if a c-section is called for). We have two additional staff who come in during the first 10 days after they are born. Deerhounds are so tiny in comparison to their dams that they can NEVER be left alone, even for a moment, during those crucial days. We work and sleep in shifts, and I’m quite fortunate to have a retired NICU nurse who is here around the clock with us during those early days.

I have been a trainer for many years. I apprenticed under a former Marine and police officer. As such, we employ the Super Puppy routine which is a battery of vestibular/desensitization exercises that start on day one and continue until they leave here at 12 weeks. They are raised in the house with LOTS of other animals (cats, reptiles, pigs, birds, etc.) and kids, and they spend a lot of time with the older dogs in the house. They learn how to ride in a car, walk on a lead, and become a respectful pack member.

What is my “process” for selecting show puppies? At what age do I make my decisions?

Lynne Lozano: After these many years, I certainly have a formula. I have an evaluation sheet with a scoring system that I use during every puppy party, where other breeders are invited to attend (and many actually attend “virtually”) as we stack and evaluate them. I do this at 8 weeks without fail, as I’ve found that this is my most promising age for foresight. Given the rarity of my breed and the LONG process to maturation, I rarely exclude any puppy from being show-worthy at this time. However, I do rank those that I believe have the most promise, much of which comes down to temperament and presence.

How do I prepare my pups for the show ring? Does my breed require any special preparation?

Lynne Lozano: I start my puppies in the 4-6 Month Puppy ring ASAP. I believe that early exposure and consistency at shows is what sets the dog up for greater success in the future. Many Deerhound owners wait for the dogs to grow and mature, but I feel like this makes the introduction to the sights and sounds of the show world very overwhelming and stressful. I want my puppies to arrive at a show and know that they are gonna be spoiled with pets and treats and love every minute of it. Other than some light grooming and learning how to behave in the ring and in the stack, Deerhounds tend to be eager to please.

Can I share my thoughts on how my breed is currently presented in the show ring?

Lynne Lozano: Scottish Deerhounds have normally been mostly owner-handled, but there has been a move toward professional handlers as of late. As our breed is a rare one and is usually picked up by judges as “the Balance of the Hound Group,” familiar faces tend to lend weight to the dogs they are handling.

Are there any health-related concerns within my breed? Any special nutritional needs?

Lynne Lozano: Scottish Deerhounds are healthier than many of their “cousins,” but DCM and osteosarcoma are still insidious in the breed. Nutritionally, they need a good balance of fat and protein when growing but tend to be easy keepers as adults. NO GRAIN-FREE foods, as DCM is a concern.

In my opinion, is my breed in good condition overall? Any trends that warrant concern?

Lynne Lozano: Our breed continues to lose ground. A lack of breeders and the difficulty getting Deerhounds bred, as well as bringing in new people, all contribute.

Is my breed well-suited to be a family dog? Who are the best candidates to own my breed?

Lynne Lozano: They are incredible family dogs; they are well-suited for ALL ages. Many Deerhound owners are in their 90s, and I have several in homes with toddlers as well.

Do I feel that my breed is supported by a sufficient number of preservation breeders?

Lynne Lozano: Unfortunately, there are only a handful of breeders on the planet, and some have moved away from the Standard and are breeding a different-looking Deerhound with little coat and a much sharper head.

For a bit of fun, what’s the most amusing thing I’ve ever experienced with a Hound?

Lynne Lozano: I could fill several pages with Hound antics, but one that stands out happened several years ago when my boy was Winners Dog and we were in the back of the field where 30-plus Specials were packed in. The judge was picking BOB and he points back in my general direction. I immediately look behind me and all around me, never dreaming he was pointing at me. Well, the dog knew we had won and was jumping up and down behind me, super excited, when I finally realized we had, in fact, just won the breed from the classes. The whole scene was actually captured on video, so it remains fresh after all these years.

Hound Group Breeder Lynne Lozano – Iron Gate Hounds

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