Editing Scottish Deerhound (section)

== Description ==
[[File:Scottish-deerhound-dog-large.jpg|thumb|Mrs. Armstrong's champion dog "Talisman" in about 1910]]

In outward appearance, the Scottish Deerhound is similar to the [[Greyhound]], but larger and more heavily boned. However, Deerhounds have a number of characteristics that set them apart. While not as fast as a Greyhound on a smooth, firm surface, once the going gets rough or heavy they can outrun a Greyhound. The environment in which they worked, the cool, often wet, and hilly Scottish Highland glens, contributed to the larger, rough-coated appearance of the breed.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

The Scottish Deerhound resembles a rough-coated greyhound. It is however, larger in size and bone. Minimum desirable height at withers of males is 30 inches (75–80&nbsp;cm) or more, weight {{convert|85|to|110|lb|kg}}; height of females from {{convert|28|in|cm}} upwards, weight from {{convert|75|to|95|lb|kg}}. It is one of the tallest sighthounds, with a harsh {{convert|3|-|4|in|cm|sigfig=2|adj=on}} long coat and mane, somewhat softer beard and moustache, and softer hair on breast and belly. It has small, dark "rose" ears which are soft and folded back against the head unless held semi-erect in excitement.<ref name="AKC Standard">{{cite web |title=Scottish Deerhound Standard |url=https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/ScottishDeerhound.pdf |website=American Kennel Club |access-date=9 February 2024}}</ref>

The harsh, wiry coat in modern dogs is only seen in self-coloured various shades of grey (blue-grey is preferred). Historically, Deerhounds also could be seen with true brindle, yellow, and red fawn coats, or combinations.<ref name="AKC Standard"/> 19th century Scottish paintings tend to indicate these colours were associated with a wire haired coat, but, with show breeders preferring a dark, longer coat, these genes now appear to be lost. The geneticist R. Jödicke said – During the 20th century the Deerhound evolved to a single-coloured breed by selection for a grey coat. Some other coat colours are documented in historical sources but have definitely been lost.<ref name="Jodicke"/> The recent colour of adult Deerhounds shows little variation. i.e. in the degree of darkness of the grey colour and the occurrence of a fawn shade. Altogether the Deerhound must be characterised as the breed with the most uniform colouration within all sighthounds".<ref name="Jodicke">Jödicke, R., Coat Colour Inheritance in the Deerhound. ''The Claymore'' Newsletter of the Scottish Deerhound Club of America January/February 1992 pp16-18</ref> A white chest and toes are allowed, and a slight white tip to the tail; a white blaze on the head or a white collar are not accepted.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

The head is long, skull flat, with little stop and a tapering muzzle. The eyes are dark, dark brown or hazel in colour. The teeth should form a level, complete scissor bite. The long straight or curved tail, well covered with hair, should almost reach the ground.<ref name="AKC Standard" />

[[File:Modhish Archie MacTavish-foto hanna Woźna-Gil.jpg|thumb|The head of a Deerhound]]