The Deerhound is one of the foremost ornamental of dogs, impressively stately and picturesque wherever he is seen, whether or not it’s amid the environment of the baronial hall, reclining at luxurious length before the open fireside in the fitful light of the log hearth that flickers on polished armour and tarnished tapestry; out within the open, straining at the leash as he scents the dewy air, or gracefully bounding over the purple of his native hills. Grace and majesty are in his every movement and perspective, and even to the foremost prosaic mind there’s concerning him the inseparable glamour of feudal romance and poetry.
From remote days the Scottish nobles cherished their strains of Deerhound, seeking wonderful sport in the Highland forests. The red deer belonged by inexorable law to the kings of Scotland, and great drives, which often lasted for many days, were made to spherical up the herds into given neighbourhoods for the pleasure of the court, as in the reign of Queen Mary. However the organised coursing of deer by courtiers ceased during the Stuart troubles, and was left within the hands of retainers, who thus replenished their chief’s larder.
Head:-
The top ought to be broadest at the ears, tapering slightly to the eyes, with the muzzle tapering additional decidedly to the nose. The muzzle should be pointed, however the teeth and lips level. The top should be long, the skull flat instead of spherical, with a terribly slight rise over the eyes, however with nothing approaching a stop. The skull should be coated with moderately long hair which is softer than the rest of the coat. The nose ought to be black (though in some blue-fawns the colour is blue) and slightly aquiline. In the lighter-colored dogs a black muzzle is preferred. There ought to be a smart moustache of rather silky hair, and a truthful beard.
Ears:-
The ears ought to be set on high, and, in repose, folded back like the Greyhound’s, though raised above the pinnacle in excitement without losing the fold, and even, in some cases, semi-erect.The ear should be soft, shiny, and sort of a mouse’s coat to the bit, and the smaller it is the better. It ought to don’t have any long coat or long fringe, but there is usually a silky, silvery coat on the body of the ear and also the tip. Whatever the general color, the ears should be black or dark-coloured.
Neck and shoulders:-
The neck should be long that is, of the length that befits the Greyhound character of the dog. The nape of the neck should be very prominent where the pinnacle is ready on, and the throat ought to be clean-cut at the angle and prominent. The shoulders should be well sloped, the blades well back, with not an excessive amount of width between them.
Stern:-
Stern ought to be tolerably long, tapering, and aiming to inside one-one/a pair of inches of the bottom, and regarding one-one/two inches below the hocks. When the dog remains, dropped perfectly straight down, or curved. When in motion it should be curved when excited, in no case to be lifted out of the line of the back. It ought to be well coated with hair, on the within thick and wiry, underside longer.
Eyes:-
The eyes ought to be dark: typically they are dark brown or hazel. The eye is moderately full with a soft look in repose, but a keen, far-away gaze when the dog is roused. The edges of the eyelids ought to be black.
Body: The body and general formation is that of a Greyhound of larger size and bone. Chest deep rather than broad, but not too slim and flat-sided. The loin well arched and drooping to the tail.
Legs and feet:-
The legs should be broad and flat, a good broad forearm and elbow being desirable. Fore-legs, after all, as straight as possible. Feet close and compact, with well-arched toes. The hind-quarters drooping, and as broad and powerful as attainable, the hips being set wide apart. The hind-legs should be well bent at the stifle, with nice length from the hip to the hock, which ought to be broad and flat.
Coat:-
The hair on the body, neck, and quarters ought to be harsh and wiry, and concerning 3 inches or 4 inches long; that on the head, breast, and belly is much softer. There should be a small bushy fringe on the within of the fore and hind-legs, however nothing approaching to the feathering of a Collie. The Deerhound should be a shaggy dog, however not over coated.
Colour:-
Colour is much a matter of fancy. However there’s no manner of doubt {that the} dark blue-grey is the foremost preferred. Next come the darker and lighter greys or brindles, the darkest being typically preferred. Yellow and sandy-red or red-fawn, particularly with black points i.e., ears and muzzle also are in equal estimation.
Height:-
From twenty eight inches to 30 inches, or maybe more if there be symmetry without coarseness, that, however, is rare. Height of bitches: From twenty six inches upwards. There can be no objection to a bitch being giant, unless she is just too coarse, as even at her greatest height she will not approach that of the dog, and, therefore, could not somewhat be too huge for work, as over-big dogs are.
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