Scottish Deerhound
A tall, rough-coated Scottish hound of quiet dignity, gentle at home and built to run.
At a glance
- Size
- Large
- Height at the withers
- Males 76–81 cm · Females 71–76 cm
- Weight
- Males 39–50 kg · Females 34–43 kg
- Life expectancy
- 8–11 years
- Exercise
- 60–90 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Rough, medium
- Colours
- Grey, Blue, Brindle, Yellow, Red, Fawn
- Bred for
- Hunting by sight, Companionship
- Country of origin
- United Kingdom
- FCI
- Group 10, no. 164 · Sighthounds
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 5/5 – Very high |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 4/5 – High |
| Good with other dogs | 4/5 – High |
| Good with cats | 2/5 – Low |
| Open to strangers | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Energy | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Playfulness | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Needs mental stimulation | 2/5 – Low |
| Easy to train | 2/5 – Low |
| Prey drive | 5/5 – Very high |
| Watchful and protective | 1/5 – Very low |
| Barking | 1/5 – Very low |
| Shedding | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Grooming effort | 2/5 – Low |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Suits apartment living | 2/5 – Low |
| Adaptability | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with cold | 4/5 – High |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- want a quiet, gentle large dog
- have space and access to safe running areas
- like a dog with an old, romantic history
Think twice if you …
- live near livestock or keep small pets
- want a watchdog
- cannot cope with a large breed's shorter lifespan
Care
Temperament
Gentle, quiet and friendly, the Deerhound is devoted to its family without being clingy. It is usually polite with strangers and other dogs.
Exercise
Daily walks plus regular free running in a large, safe enclosure are ideal. Lure coursing suits it well; young dogs should not be pushed too hard while growing.
Grooming
The harsh, crisp coat needs a weekly brush and comb and occasional hand-tidying. It sheds moderately.
Training
Deerhounds learn household manners readily but are independent and not interested in repetition. Kind, patient training and early lead work pay off.
Health
Deerhounds can be affected by heart disease (cardiomyopathy), bone cancer and bloat, and a bleeding disorder (factor VII deficiency) is known in the breed. Ask the breeder for heart checks and DNA results on the parents.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Heart
DNA tests
- Factor VII deficiency
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Deerhound was the hunting companion of Scottish Highland chiefs, used to course red deer over open hills. When estates changed and the deer forests shrank in the 18th and 19th centuries, numbers fell sharply, and a few devoted breeders saved it.
At home it is calm, polite and happy to lie stretched out for hours. It needs room, soft bedding and regular chances to gallop safely. Its strong chase instinct means cats, sheep and wildlife need careful management, and it is not a guard dog in any sense.
Did you know?
Sir Walter Scott kept a Deerhound named Maida, who appears in a portrait of the writer and is carved at his feet on the Scott Monument in Edinburgh.