Editing Scottish Deerhound

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{{Redirect|Deerhound}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox dog breed
| name           = Scottish Deerhound
| image          = Karrie.JPG
| image_alt      = 
| image_caption  = 
| image2         = 
| image_alt2     = 
| image_caption2 = 
| altname        = 
| nickname       = 
| stock          = 
| country        = Scotland
| height         = 
| maleheight     = {{cvt|30|in|cm}} minimum
| femaleheight   = {{cvt|28|in|cm}} minimum
| weight         = 
| maleweight     = ≈ {{cvt|100|lb|kg}}
| femaleweight   = ≈ {{cvt|80|lb|kg}}
| coat           = wiry
| colour         = blue-grey, grey, brindle, yellow, sandy-red or red fawns with black points; white on chest, toes and tip of tail is permissible
| litter_size    = 
| life_span      = 
| kc_name        = [[The Kennel Club]]
| kc_std         = https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/breed-standards/hound/deerhound/
| fcistd         = http://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/164g10-en.pdf
| kc2_name       = [[American Kennel Club]]
| kc2_std        = https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/ScottishDeerhound.pdf
| note           = 
}}

The '''Scottish Deerhound''', or simply the '''Deerhound''', is a [[dog breed|breed]] of large [[sighthound]], once bred to hunt the [[red deer]] by [[coursing]]. In outward appearance it is similar to the [[Greyhound]], but larger and more heavily boned, with a rough coat.

== History ==
The [[Hilton of Cadboll Stone]] dates from around 1200 years ago, and depicts at the bottom of the panel a deer being chased by two large dogs and two armed horsemen.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-collections/stories/scottish-history-and-archaeology/hilton-of-cadboll-stone/ | title = Hilton of Cadboll stone | publisher = National Museum of Scotland| website =nms.ac.uk | date =| accessdate =}}</ref> However, systematic [[zooarchaeology]] and genetics have yet to show any connection between those symbolic representations of dog types and the modern breed, which only became widely known as the ''Scottish Deerhound'' related to English regional greyhounds, such as the Highland greyhound in the early 19th century.<ref>{{cite book|last=Brown|first=T.|title=Biographical sketches and authentic anecdotes of dogs|publisher=|year=1829|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_cC6FoV8cND4C/page/n95 95]}}</ref> The Deerhound was in earlier times believed to be descended from old Gaelic hounds, and therefore closely related to the [[Irish Wolfhound]],<ref>{{Cite book|last=Bell|first=E. Winston|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K958CgAAQBAJ|title=The Scottish Deerhound With Notes On Its Origin And Characteristics|date=5 March 2013|publisher=Read Books Ltd|isbn=978-1-4474-8889-7|pages=24–25|language=en}}</ref> it was in fact the major foundation breed in the late 19th century of the modern Irish Wolfhound.

The Deerhound was bred to hunt [[red deer]] by [[coursing]] and [[deer-stalking]]<ref name= Hbook>{{cite book | last = Macrae | first = Alexander | title=A Handbook of Deer-stalking |place =Edinburgh | publisher =William Blackwood | year =1880 | page=[https://archive.org/details/ahandbookdeerst00macrgoog/page/n91 91]  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= https://archive.org/details/sportbrom00bromrich | title=Sport | first = W. Bromley | last = Davenport | year=1885 | access-date=20 January 2009}}</ref> until the end of the nineteenth century. With modern rifles and smaller deer-forests, slower tracking dogs were preferred to fast and far-running Deerhounds. In coursing deer, a single Deerhound or a pair was brought as close as possible to red deer, then released to run one of them down by speed, which if successful would happen within a few minutes<ref name= Hbook /> — rarely were there successful sustained chases.

[[Anne of Denmark]], queen consort of [[James VI and I]], sent deer hounds as gifts to her brother [[Christian IV of Denmark]].<ref>[[Agnes Strickland]], ''Lives of the Queens of England'', 7, p. 360.</ref> With the eventual demise of the [[clan system]]s in Scotland, these hunting dogs became sporting animals for landowners and the nobility, but were also bred and hunted with by common folk when feasible. As fast and silent hunters they made quick work of any game the size of a hare or larger and were highly regarded by nobility and [[Poaching|poachers]] alike. One of the most precarious times in the breed's history seems to have been towards the end of the nineteenth century, when many of the large Scottish estates were split into small estates for sporting purposes, and few then kept Deerhounds. The new fashion was for stalking and shooting, which required only a tracking dog to follow the wounded animal, using a collie or similar breed. Although a few estates still employed Deerhounds for their original work, the breed was left in the hands of a few enthusiasts who made them a show breed.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

Teddy Roosevelt wrote that some Canadian and American hunters used "the greyhound, whether the smooth-haired, or the rough-coated Scotch deer-hound" on the wolf<ref>{{cite book | last =Roosevelt | first =T. | year = 1908 | title = Hunting the grisly and other sketches | place =New York | pages= [https://archive.org/details/huntinggrislyoth00roosrich/page/194 194–95]}}</ref> and deer<ref>{{cite book | last1= Roosevelt | first1=T. | year = 2009 | last2= Remington | first2= F. | title= Ranch life and the hunting trail| publisher= Courier Corporation | pages= [https://books.google.com/books?id=agw_AwAAQBAJ&dq=Roosevelt+ranchlife&pg=PP1 140–43]}}</ref> Dr. Q van Hummell also remarks on his Deerhound pack being used on timber wolves and coyotes.<ref>{{cite book | editor-first = G. O. | editor-last = Shields | year = 1891 | title= The American book of the dog | pages= [https://archive.org/details/americanbookofdo00shie/page/184 185–87]}}</ref>
In Australia, Deerhounds and their cross-breeds such as the [[Kangaroo Dog]] have historically been used to hunt the kangaroo as well as wild boar,<ref>{{cite book| last= Arthur | first= J. K. | year= 1894 | title= Kangaroo and Kauri: Sketches and Anecdotes of Australia and New Zealand | url= https://archive.org/details/kangarooandkaur00arthgoog/page/n71| pages= 71–100| publisher=Sampson Low, Marston}}</ref> modern descriptions of such hunts with Deerhounds on kangaroo and [[emu]] have been recorded by Kenneth Cassels.<ref>{{cite book | last= Cassels | first= K.A.H.| year= 1997 | title=A Most Perfect Creature of Heaven: The Scottish Deerhound| publisher= | isbn= }}</ref>

== 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]]

==Health==
[[File:Deerhoundy w biegu.jpg|thumb|Running]]
A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 10.5 years for the breed compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for [[Mongrel|crossbreeds]].<ref>{{cite journal | last=McMillan | first=Kirsten M. | last2=Bielby | first2=Jon | last3=Williams | first3=Carys L. | last4=Upjohn | first4=Melissa M. | last5=Casey | first5=Rachel A. | last6=Christley | first6=Robert M. | title=Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death | journal=Scientific Reports | publisher=Springer Science and Business Media LLC | volume=14 | issue=1 | date=2024-02-01 | issn=2045-2322 | doi=10.1038/s41598-023-50458-w | page=| pmc=10834484 }}</ref>
A survey conducted by the British Small Animal Veterinary Association of [[The Kennel Club]] recognised breed club members found the most common cause of death was [[cardiac]] related making up nearly a quarter of all deaths. The second most common was [[cancer]], making up 18% of deaths.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Adams | first1=V. J. | last2=Evans | first2=K. M. | last3=Sampson | first3=J. | last4=Wood | first4=J. L. N. | title=Methods and mortality results of a health survey of purebred dogs in the UK | journal=Journal of Small Animal Practice | volume=51 | issue=10 | date=2010-10-01 | doi=10.1111/j.1748-5827.2010.00974.x | pages=512–524| pmid=21029096 }}</ref>

Laboratory studies have established reference intervals for haematology and serum biochemical profiles in Deerhounds, some of which are shared by all sighthounds, and some of which may be unique to this breed.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Haematological and biochemical values in North American Scottish deerhounds |author=K. N. Sheerer |author2=C. G. Couto |author3=L. M. Marin |author4=S. Zaldívar-Lopez |author5=M. C. Iazbik |author6=J. E. Dillberger |author7=M. Frye |author8=D. B. DeNicola |journal=Journal of Small Animal Practice |volume=54 |number=7 |pages=354–360 |date=July 2013 |doi=10.1111/jsap.12086|pmid=23718887 }}</ref>

[[Dilated cardiomyopathy]] has a higher prevalence in the Scottish Deerhound.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=O'Grady | first1=Michael R. | last2=O'Sullivan | first2=M.Lynne | title=Dilated cardiomyopathy: an update | journal=Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice | volume=34 | issue=5 | date=2004 | doi=10.1016/j.cvsm.2004.05.009 | pages=1187–1207| pmid=15325477 }}</ref> In one American study 6% of Scottish Deerhounds had the condition, the highest of any breed.<ref>{{cite book | last1=Fox | first1=Philip R. | last2=Sisson | first2=David | last3=Moïse | first3=N. Sydney | title=Textbook of Canine and Feline Cardiology | publisher=Saunders | publication-place=Philadelphia | date=1999 | isbn=978-0-7216-4044-0 | page=}}</ref>

==Notable Scottish Deerhounds==
[[File:England and Scotland 218.jpg|thumb|[[Sir Walter Scott]]'s Deerhound, [[Maida (dog)|Maida]], was included in his statue in [[Perth, Scotland]]]]

* "Dusk": one of a couple (including "Dawn"), a wedding gift to the Danish writer [[Karen Blixen]] a.k.a. [[Isak Dinesen]] and her husband [[Bror von Blixen-Finecke]] during her years in Kenya, frequently referenced in Blixen's work<ref>{{cite book | first = Isak | last = Dinesen | title = Out of Africa| year= 1937 | publisher =| page = 308}}</ref> and letters,<ref>{{cite book | first = Isak | last = Dinesen | title = Letters from Africa, 1914–1931 | pages = 13, 14, 24, 45, 46, 48, 65, 80–82 | year =1981| publisher = | isbn=}}</ref> with whom she can be seen in several photos,<ref>{{cite book | first = Isak | last = Dinesen | title = Shadows on the Grass| year= 1960–1961 | pages= 58, 60}}</ref> and represented in the feature film ''[[Out of Africa (film)|Out of Africa]]''.
* [[Maida (dog)|Maida]], [[Sir Walter Scott]]'s dog
* [[Foxcliffe Hickory Wind]]
* Tuck,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-01-17 |title=History of the Scottish Deerhound |url=https://deerhound.org/the-breed/history-of-the-scottish-deerhound/ |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=The Scottish Deerhound Club of America |language=en-US}}</ref> General George Custer had Deerhounds. His Deerhound, Tuck, was killed at Little Bighorn. Custer wrote of her, “‘Tuck’ regularly comes when I am writing, and lays her head on the desk, rooting up my hand with her long nose until I consent to stop and notice her. ”

==See also==
* [[Portal:Dogs|Dogs portal]]
* [[List of dog breeds]]
* [[List of domesticated Scottish breeds]]

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=

<!---ref name=Hancock>{{cite book |last=Hancock |first=David |date=2012 |title=Sighthounds: their form, their function and their future |location=Ramsbury, Marlborough |publisher=The Crowood Press Ltd |pages=68–78 |isbn=978-1-84797-392-4 }}</ref--->

<!---ref name=Morris>{{cite book |last=Morris |first=Desmond |author-link=Desmond Morris |date=2001 |title=Dogs: the ultimate dictionary of over 1,000 dog breeds |location=North Pomfret, VT|publisher=Trafalgar Square Publishing |pages=23–24 |isbn=1-57076-219-8}}</ref--->

}}

==Further reading==

* Almirall, Leon V. ''Canines and Coyotes''. Caldwell, Id.: The Caxton Printers, Ltd., 1941.
* Barret, Kay. ''Living with Deerhounds'' [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Living-Deerhounds-Kay-Barret/dp/0953392309]
* Bell, Weston. ''The Scottish Deerhound''. 1892. (Reprinted by Hoflin Publishing Inc., 4401 Sephyr St., Wheat Ridge, Colorado, U.S. 80003.)
* Benbow, Audrey. ''How To Raise and Train A Scottish Deerhound''. Neptune City, N.J.: T.F.H.Publications, 1965, 1993.
* Blaze, Elzear and Byng Hall, Herbert ''The Sportsman and His Dog'' London: Darling 1850 [https://archive.org/details/sportsmanhisdogo00blazrich]
* Cassels, Kenneth. ''A Most Perfect Creature of Heaven: The Scottish Deerhound''. K.A.H.Cassels, 1997.
* Crealock, Lt.-General Henry Hope. ''Deerstalking in the Highlands of Scotland''. London: Longmans & Green, 1892.
* Cunliffe, Juliette. ''Deerhound''. Dorking, Surrey, UK: Interpret Publishing, 2002.
* Cupples, George. ''Scotch Deerhounds and their Masters''. Edinburgh: William Blackwood, 1892. (Reprinted in 1978 by Hoflin Publishing Inc.)
* Dalziel, Hugh. ''British Dogs – Their Varieties, History, Characteristics, Breeding, Management And Exhibition'' London: The Bazaar Office circa 1879 [https://archive.org/details/britishdogstheir00dalzrich]
* Grimble, Augustus. ''Deer-stalking'' London: Chapman & Hall 1886 [https://archive.org/details/deerstalking00grimrich]
* Hart-Davis, Duff. ''Monarchs of the Glen: A History of Deer-stalking in the Scottish Highlands''. J. Cape, 1978.
* Hartley, A.N. ''The Deerhound''. 1986. (Available from the Scottish Deerhound Club of America and the Deerhound Club (UK))
* Macrae, Alexander. ''A Handbook of Deer-stalking'' Edinburgh: William Blackwood 1880 [https://archive.org/details/ahandbookdeerst00macrgoog]
* [[William Scrope|Scrope, William]]. ''The Art of Deer-stalking''. London: John Murray 1839.[https://archive.org/stream/artdeerstalking00scrogoog]
* Shaw, Vero. ''The Illustrated Book of the Dog''. London: Cassell 1881 [https://archive.org/details/illustratedbooko00shawrich]
* St. John, Charles. ''Sketches of the Wild Sports & Natural History of the Highlands'' London: John Murray 1878 [https://archive.org/details/sketcheswildspo00johngoog]
* Van Hummell: "The Deerhound", in ''The American Book of the Dog'' Editor George O. Shields. Chicago: Rand Mcnally 1891 [https://archive.org/details/americanbookofdo00shierich]

==External links==
{{Commons|Deerhound}}

* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlZnTJFl7ro&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR26E1svQUKE7a-CSeQAiiV1GamVKN4hwhVF_QCr05BY6szhoSAit8qfYfY ''How Deerhounds run'': "coursing under rules" of blue mountain hare in the breed's terrain of origin]

{{Hounds}}
{{Scottish dogs}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:FCI breeds]]
[[Category:Sighthounds]]
[[Category:Dog breeds originating in Scotland]]
[[Category:Vulnerable Native Breeds]]
[[Category:Deer in Scotland]]