Deerhound

FCI standard Nº 164

Origin
Great Britain
Group
Group 10 Sighthounds
Section
Section 2 Rough-haired Sighthounds
Working
Without working trial
Acceptance on a definitive basis by the FCI
Friday 29 April 1955
Publication of the official valid standard
Monday 08 October 2012
Last update
Wednesday 05 December 2012
En français, cette race se dit
Deerhound
Diese Norm ist in deutscher Sprache sichtbar
Deerhound
En español, esta raza se dice
Deerhound
In het Nederlands, wordt dit ras gezegd
Deerhound

Usage

Racing dog, hunting dog, companion.

Brief historical summary

The Deerhound, known at one time as the Scottish Deerhound, has mystery surrounding his origins, but there are grounds for thinking the Deerhound may have been introduced to Scotland by Phoenician traders. Certainly there were running hounds there when the Romans arrived. The breed has hunted the red deer for a thousand years, and although today more accustomed to the show ring, he has remained similar in type over the centuries.

General appearance

Resembles a rough-coated greyhound of larger size and bone.

Behaviour / temperament

The build suggests the unique combination of speed, power and endurance necessary to pull down a stag, but general bearing is one of gentle dignity. Gentle and friendly. Obedient and easy to train because eager to please. Docile and good tempered, never suspicious, aggressive or nervous. Carries himself with quiet dignity.

Head

Cranial region

Head
Long.
Skull
Flat rather than round, with very slight rise over eyes. Broadest at ears, tapering slightly to eyes. Skull coated with moderately long hair, softer than rest of coat. 
Stop
No stop.

Facial region

Nose
Slightly aquiline and black.
Muzzle
Tapering more decidedly to nose. In lighter coloured dogs black muzzle preferred.
Lips
Good moustache of rather silky hair and some beard.
Jaws and teeth
Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
Eyes
Dark. Generally dark brown or hazel. Light eyes undesirable. Moderately full with a soft look in repose, but keen, far-away look when dog is roused. Rims black.
Ears
Set on high and in repose folded back. In excitement raised above head without losing the fold and in some cases semi-erect. A big thick ear hanging flat to the head or a prick ear most undesirable. Ear soft, glossy and like a mouse’s coat to the touch; the smaller the better, no long coat or fringe. Ears black or dark coloured.

Neck

Very strong with good reach sometimes disguised by mane. Nape of neck very prominent where head is set on, no throatiness.

Body

Body
Body and general formation that of a greyhound of larger size and bone.
Back
Flat topline undesirable.
Loin
Well arched and drooping to tail.
Croup
Drooping, broad and powerful. Hipbones set wide apart.
Chest
Deep rather than broad, not too narrow and flat-sided.

Tail

Long, thick at root, tapering and reaching almost to ground. When standing dropped perfectly straight down or curved. Curved when moving, never lifted above line of back. Well covered with hair; on upper side thick and wiry, on under side longer, and towards end a slight fringe is not objectionable. A curl or ring tail undesirable.

Limbs

Forequarters

Generality
Forelegs straight, broad and flat.
Shoulders
Well laid, not too far apart. Loaded and straight shoulders undesirable.
Elbows
Good breadth desirable.
Forearm
Good breadth desirable.

Hindquarters

Generality
With great length from hip to hock. Bone broad and flat.
Stifle
Well bent.

Feet

Compact and well knuckled. Nails strong.

Gait and movement

Easy, active and true, with a long stride.

Coat

Hair
Shaggy, but not over-coated. Woolly coat unacceptable. The correct coat is thick, close-lying, ragged; harsh or crisp to the touch. Hair on body, neck and quarters harsh and wiry about 8 cms to 10 cms long; that on head, breast and belly much softer. A slight hairy fringe on inside of fore- and hindlegs.
Colour
Dark blue-grey, darker and lighter greys or brindles and yellows, sandy-red or red fawns with black points. A white chest, white toes and a slight white tip to stern are permissible but the less white the better, since it is a self-coloured dog. A white blaze on head or white collar unacceptable.

Size and weight

Height at withers
Males: minimum desirable height at the withers 76 cms. Females: minimum desirable height at the withers 71 cms.
Weight
Males: about 45.5 kgs. Females: about 36.5 kgs.

Faults

• Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and its ability to perform its traditional work.
• Faults listed should be in degree of seriousness.

Disqualifying faults

 Aggressive or overly shy dogs.

NB :

• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
• The above mentioned faults when occurring to a highly marked degree or frequently are disqualifying.
• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding.

Bibliography

https://www.fci.be/

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