
Deerhound
These large-sized, shaggy-coated sighthounds have a very athletic appearance but are elegant despite their size. They are often described as resembling a shaggy-coated greyhound.








Deerhounds are can be prone to:
- Gastric dilatation volvulus
- Portosystemic shunts¹ which is a condition where the blood does not pass through the liver normally, which leads to toxin build-up.
- Osteosarcomas which are a serious type of bone cancer.
- Dilated cardiomyopathy² which is a condition where the heart muscle becomes progressively weak and cannot beat properly.
Priority Kennel Club health schemes and testing:
None but there are several recommended schemes that the Kennel Club recommends which can be found here.
¹L. Kerridge, 'Questionnaire study investigating congenital portosystemic shunts in Deerhounds',
²J. Dukes-McEwan, 'Proposed Guidelines for the Diagnosis ofCanine Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy', Nov 2003, Journal of Veterinary Cardiology
Gentle and unassumingly friendly, the Deerhound can make an excellent pet if their instincts to chase and hunt are taken into account. Typically a quiet and reserved hound, Deerhounds can be very demonstrative in their affections with family and friends, but not overwhelming or outrageously rude. A gentle sense of humour is to be expected, and adult Deerhounds normally seem to be aware of their size around smaller animals or children and act carefully, although every dog’s personality will be different. As with all large or giant breeds, Deerhounds take several years to mature into calm adults.