These large Sighthounds were originally bred to help hunters take down red deer. Today, of course, they do not take part in hunting, but they still have a strong prey drive! The modern type Scottish Deerhound was developed in the early 16th century, but the ancestors of this breed go back to the 3rd century where they lived and hunted with the Picts – an early Middle Ages group of people who lived in eastern and northeastern Scotland. No matter the exact date of origin, one thing is certain, they haven’t changed much, and they need an experienced owner or someone who can spend a lot of time outdoors and a lot of money on these giants to keep them happy and healthy.

Size

The Scottish Deerhound is a large and strong dog, with long legs, a strong arched neck, and a deep chest. Male dogs are larger than female dogs.

• Male height: 30 to 32 inches (76 to 80 cm)
• Male weight: 85 to 110 pounds (38 to 50 kg)
• Female height: from 28 inches up (from 70 cm up)
• Female weight: 75 to 95 pounds (34 to 44 kg)

Even though they are big, these dogs have an effortless movement, active, and without restraints. Their true beauty, though, shows up when you can see them running full speed on the open field.

Color

You can see Scottish Deerhounds in one coat color: gray. They can be dark gray, almost black, or light gray, with a white patch on the chest or paws. However, a long time ago, you could find a Scottish Deerhound in sandy red or red fawn colors as well. But, breeders preferred shades of gray, so today, that’s the only breed coat color.

Social Traits

The Scottish Deerhound is not for everybody. Not because they are aggressive or too stubborn, but because they are not what most people expect a dog would behave like. Once again, I have to say, you cannot expect every dog to behave like a Labrador Retriever. There is a reason Labs and Goldens are the most popular family dogs. But Scottish Deerhounds are a bit different.

• They are not very affectionate. When they want to cuddle, you’ll know (you’ll feel the weight of a 100-pound dog on your lap), but they like to be left alone as well.
• They get along with children; however, they do not tolerate the pinching, poking, and pulling that a lot of small children do. So, don’t let the children do that and teach them how to behave around a dog!
• They get along with small animals they grow up with, but everything else outside their home is potential prey! Be serious about this; don’t let them off-leash in unsecured areas.
• They get along well with other dogs.
• Their puppy phase lasts longer, so brace yourself.

The bigger the dog, the bigger the chaos of a puppy phase. Don’t get disheartened with this; just make sure you know what you’re getting into.

Trainability

The Scottish Deerhound is easy to potty train, but the process can be physically demanding if you live in an apartment. Imagine having to carry a big dog up and down the stairs or into the elevator for the first few months until they learn to hold it. (Check out: 3 Puppy House Training Methods)

They are also easy to teach basic obedience, but only as long as there isn’t something interesting they could chase. The Scottish Deerhound has a strong prey drive, which means you will always struggle with recall if it sees something it could chase after.

However, hunting was their original purpose. And, this breed has changed little since the old times, so how can we expect obedience from a herding dog if they are hound dogs?

Before you even check the breeders or local animal shelters, ask yourself a question: Why do I want a Scottish Deerhound? If the answers are: because it looks cool, because I love big dogs, or similar – don’t get a Deerhound. The proper answer should primarily be: because I admire the traits of this old Sighthound dog breed, and I want it to live a life closest to its genuine nature.

Activity Needs

The Scottish Deerhound is an active dog during the first few years. Later, they mellow down and require a good “leg stretch” after which they excel at lounging on the sofa. This doesn’t mean they don’t require more than a potty break walk. They need proper exercise, and you need to make sure they get a good run at least a few times a week.

The first few years are their puppy/teenage phase, where Scottish Deerhounds turn into Scottish Hellhounds if you don’t give them enough exercise and mental stimulation. They have to be outside and explore, run, sniff, dig, and do all other things dogs do. In short, let them be dogs!

But on the good side, once they become adults, Deerhounds are much easier to take care of when it comes to their activity needs. This trait makes them a good fit for apartment living as well.

Feeding

I’ve talked to a few Scottish Deerhound owners, and they all said the same: we do not feed our dogs kibble, but homemade cooked food. In that case, the amount depends on what food you’re feeding your dog. The rule is to give them 2% or 3% of their bodyweight (ideal bodyweight), which means they need from 1.8 to 2.3 pounds (from 800g to 1000g) a day.

If you want to feed them kibble, they need from 3.5 to 4.5 cups of kibble a day. Whether you feed them homemade or kibble, it’s best to divide the amount into two meals. One meal in the morning and the other ‌in the evening.

When in doubt, ask the breeder you got your dog from or a vet. The point is, of course, to keep our dogs’ ideal weight, not underweight or overweight, but also to make sure they get all the vitamins and minerals together with proteins.

Grooming

Grooming? What grooming? The Scottish Deerhound needs weekly brushing with a pin brush and an occasional bath – depending if they got dirty while playing outside. Some people brush their dogs every day as a form of ‌bonding ritual and to massage the skin. 

The Scottish Deerhound doesn’t need any clipping, stripping, or other kinds of coat grooming techniques. Just make sure you check the body for injuries, stuck objects, and its ears for grass seeds in spring.

Possible Health Issues

Generally speaking, Scottish Deerhounds are a healthy dog breed. But there is a certain health condition that follows all large dog breeds like a dark shadow: Bloat. Unfortunately, there isn’t much we can do to prevent it.

Other than the Bloat, these dogs don’t have a lot of genetically predisposed health issues. The key to keeping it that way is responsible breeding programs, which include screening dogs. However, they can be prone to osteosarcoma (bone cancer) and heart issues (dilated cardiomyopathy).

Life expectancy: up to 10 years

Summary 

If you fell in love with the Scottish Deerhound, first check out whether it’s the Irish Wolfhound! They are very similar to the untrained eye. But if it is a Scottish Deerhound, then get ready for a wild few years, lots of money, lots of time spent outside, and get ready to have your heart broken much sooner than you expected – they do not live long. However, Scottish Deerhounds are majestic dogs, especially when you let them do what they were meant to do: run freely as fast as they want to. Of course, safety first, which means they can do that in a safe place or a fenced area. If you know there will be small animals around, make sure they are on a leash, because it takes only a second for them to turn into ‌true Sighthound and bolt after the potential prey.

Cover photo by Svenska Mässan