THE DECORATIVE DEERHOUND.
The Deerhound is one among the most decorative of dogs, impressively stately and picturesque wherever he is seen, whether or not it be amid the environment of the baronial hall, reclining at luxurious length before the open fireplace in the fitful lightweight of the log fire that glints 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 each movement and perspective, and even to the foremost prosaic mind there’s about 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 nice drives, which often lasted for several days, were created to round up the herds into given neighbourhoods for the pleasure of the court, as within the reign of Queen Mary. But the organised coursing of deer by courtiers ceased throughout the Stuart troubles, and was left in the hands of retainers, who thus replenished their chief’s larder.
Head:-
The top should 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 pinnacle should be long, the skull flat rather than round, with a very slight rise over the eyes, but with nothing approaching a stop. The skull should be coated with moderately long hair that 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. Within the lighter-coloured dogs a black muzzle is preferred. There ought to be a sensible moustache of rather silky hair, and a fair beard.
Ears:-
The ears ought to be set on high, and, in repose, folded back like the Greyhound’s, though raised higher than the top 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’s the better. It ought to haven’t 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 final color, the ears should be black or dark-coloured.
Neck and shoulders:-
The neck should be long that’s, of the length that befits the Greyhound character of the dog. The nape of the neck should be very prominent where the pinnacle is about on, and therefore the throat should be clean-cut at the angle and prominent. The shoulders ought to be well sloped, the blades well back, with not an excessive amount of width between them.
Stern:-
Stern should be tolerably long, tapering, and reaching to inside one-one/a pair of inches of the ground, and regarding one-1/two inches below the hocks. When the dog is still, dropped perfectly straight down, or curved. When in motion it should be curved when excited, in no case to be lifted out of the road of the back. It ought to be well coated with hair, on the inside thick and wiry, underside longer.
Eyes:-
The eyes should be dark: usually they are dark brown or hazel. The eye is moderately full with a soft look in repose, however a keen, so much-away gaze when the dog is roused. The rims of the eyelids should be black.
Body: The body and general formation is that of a Greyhound of larger size and bone. Chest deep rather than broad, however not too slim and flat-sided. The loin well arched and drooping to the tail.
Legs and feet:-
The legs ought to be broad and flat, a smart broad forearm and elbow being desirable. Fore-legs, in fact, as straight as possible. Feet shut and compact, with well-arched toes. The hind-quarters drooping, and as broad and powerful as doable, the hips being set wide apart. The hind-legs ought to be well bent at the stifle, with great length from the hip to the hock, that should be broad and flat.
Coat:-
The hair on the body, neck, and quarters ought to be harsh and wiry, and regarding three inches or four inches long; that on the head, breast, and belly is abundant softer. There should be a slight bushy fringe on the within of the fore and hind-legs, however nothing approaching to the feathering of a Collie. The Deerhound ought to be a shaggy dog, however not over coated.
Colour:-
Colour is much a matter of fancy. But there is no manner of doubt {that the} dark blue-grey is the most preferred. Next come the darker and lighter greys or brindles, the darkest being usually preferred. Yellow and sandy-red or red-fawn, especially with black points i.e., ears and muzzle are also in equal estimation.
Height:-
From twenty eight inches to thirty inches, or perhaps additional if there be symmetry without coarseness, which, however, is rare. Height of bitches: From twenty six inches upwards. There will be no objection to a bitch being massive, unless she is just too coarse, as even at her greatest height she does not approach that of the dog, and, thus, might not well be too big for work, as over-big dogs are.
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