THE DECORATIVE DEERHOUND.
The Deerhound is one in every of the most ornamental of dogs, impressively stately and picturesque wherever he is seen, whether or not it’s amid the surroundings of the baronial hall, reclining at luxurious length before the open fireplace within the fitful light of the log hearth that sparkles on polished armour and tarnished tapestry; out in 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 attitude, 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 superb sport in the Highland forests. The red deer belonged by inexorable law to the kings of Scotland, and nice drives, which typically lasted for several days, were made to spherical 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 within the hands of retainers, who so replenished their chief’s larder.
Head:-
The head should be broadest at the ears, tapering slightly to the eyes, with the muzzle tapering additional decidedly to the nose. The muzzle ought to be pointed, however the teeth and lips level. The top should be long, the skull flat instead of round, with a terribly slight rise over the eyes, but with nothing approaching a stop. The skull ought to be coated with moderately long hair which is softer than the remainder of the coat. The nose ought to be black (though in some blue-fawns the color 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 honest beard.
Ears:-
The ears should be set on high, and, in repose, folded back like the Greyhound’s, though raised on top of the top in excitement while not losing the fold, and even, in some cases, semi-erect.The ear should be soft, glossy, 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, however there is often a silky, silvery coat on the body of the ear and the tip. No matter the overall colour, the ears should be black or dark-coloured.
Neck and shoulders:-
The neck ought to be long that is, of the length that befits the Greyhound character of the dog. The nape of the neck ought to be terribly distinguished where the head is ready on, and the throat should be clean-cut at the angle and prominent. The shoulders should be well sloped, the blades well back, with not too much width between them.
Stern:-
Stern should be tolerably long, tapering, and progressing to inside one-one/a pair of inches of the bottom, and concerning 1-1/a pair of inches below the hocks. When the dog continues to be, dropped perfectly straight down, or curved. When in motion it ought to be curved when excited, in no case to be lifted out of the road of the back. It ought to be well covered 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 attention is moderately full with a soft look in repose, however a keen, way-away gaze when the dog is roused. The edges 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 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, that should be broad and flat.
Coat:-
The hair on the body, neck, and quarters ought to be harsh and wiry, and about 3 inches or 4 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, but nothing approaching to the feathering of a Collie. The Deerhound ought to be a shaggy dog, however not over coated.
Color:-
Color is much a matter of fancy. However there is no manner of doubt {that the} dark blue-gray 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 are in equal estimation.
Height:-
From 28 inches to 30 inches, or even additional if there be symmetry without coarseness, which, but, is rare. Height of bitches: From twenty six inches upwards. There will be no objection to a bitch being large, unless she is too coarse, as even at her greatest height she does not approach that of the dog, and, thus, might not otherwise be too massive for work, as over-huge dogs are.
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