Scottish Deerhound
The Scottish Deerhound, or simply the Deerhound, is a breed of hound (a sighthound), bred to hunt. The name originates from its purpose: to hunt Red Deer.
Temperament
The Scottish Deerhound is a large breed that needs considerable exercise to develop properly and maintain its health. That does not mean it needs a large house to live in. They should have regular access to free running, in a fenced area, and should not be raised with access only to leash walking or a small yard.
Young deerhounds can be quite destructive, however, the average adult Deerhound (two to three years old) may spend much of the day stretched out on the floor or a couch, sleeping. They do require a stimulus, and a large area, to exercise properly and frequently. They are gentle and docile indoors and are generally good around company and children.
Deerhounds live an average of 8 years. The more common serious health problems in the breed include cardiomyopathy, osteosarcoma (bone cancer) and bloat.
History
The Scottish Deerhound was bred in parallel with the Greyhound for very similar purposes. The Deerhound was developed to hunt deer by “coursing”, and by “deer-stalking”. In coursing deer, a single Deerhound or more likely a couple of Deerhounds, would be brought as close as possible to red deer, then slipped to run one of them down by speed, which if successful would happen within a few minutes - four minutes at the most. In deer-stalking, the Deerhound would be slipped at close range, after a red deer had been singled out and shot, in the case the deer did not fall, the intention being that the Deerhound would pull the wounded deer down as soon as possible. The Scottish Deerhound is closely related to the Irish Wolfhound, and was hunted in a similar manner as the Borzoi, and other large sighthounds. Generally, these big hunting dogs were sporting animals for landowners and the nobility but similar animals were bred and hunted by common folk. These large, fast, silent hunters made quick work of any game from a hare up and were highly regarded by the nobility and poachers alike.