HoundScotland

Scottish Deerhound

A Greyhound wearing a wire-wool sweater.

Weight: 75–110 lbs
Height: 28–32 in
Lifespan: 8–11 yrs

In short

The Scottish Deerhound is a giant Hound bred in Scotland to course red deer by sight, weighing 75–110 lbs and living 8–11 years. Gentle and quiet indoors, it will chase anything that runs, so it needs a fenced area to sprint and a leash everywhere else.

Is it right for you?

A great match if you…

want a gentle, quiet giant
have a large, securely fenced area
love sighthounds and lure coursing

Think twice if you…

live in an apartment
keep cats or small pets
want a dog with a long lifespan

The daily plan

Exercise: 60–90 min
Training: 2–3 × 5–10 min
Treat limit: 160–210 kcal

At a glance

TrainabilityWilling learner7.0/10

EnergyModerate5.0/10

Calm at homeCalm indoors9.0/10

SheddingSheds seasonally6.0/10

What sets it apart

01
Giant sighthound frame
Tall and long-legged, built for speed and endurance; give it room to run and soft bedding.
02
Harsh, wiry coat
A crisp coat that needs only weekly brushing and occasional tidying.
03
Chase instinct
Bred to course deer by sight, so recall fails when something runs.

Size & coat

Specification	Male	Female
Weight	85–110 lbs	75–95 lbs
Height	30–32 in	28–30 in
Lifespan	8–11 yrs
Coat	Harsh, wiry, ragged coat about 3–4 in long

Side profile 28–32 in at the shoulder

Back in stock soon

Personality

Deerhounds are gentle, dignified and quiet, happy to sleep most of the day once exercised. They are polite with everyone but devoted to their own people.

With kids

Gentle with children, but their size can knock small kids over. Supervise play.

With other pets

Usually fine with other dogs; cats and small animals may trigger the chase instinct.

With strangers

Friendly or politely reserved with strangers; not a guard dog.

Alone time

Tolerates moderate alone time well if exercised, but they are happier with company.

Training

Scottish Deerhounds are sensitive and independent, bred to hunt without direction. Gentle, short, reward-based sessions work; harsh handling makes them shut down.

How often

2–3 sessions a day of 5–10 minutes each, ending while the dog still wants more.
Socialize early (8–16 weeks)

Between 8–16 weeks, prioritize calm exposure to cats and small animals at a distance, plus handling and vet visits so a giant dog stays easy to handle.
Self-control

Loose-leash walking and a 'wait' at doors and gates matter most. A dog that bolts after a deer can pull you over, so practice both from puppyhood.
What it works for

Food and gentle praise work best. Use small, high-value pieces within 10% of daily calories, and keep sessions short so they stay keen.

Exercise

Deerhounds need daily walks plus regular chances to gallop in a secure area. Short sprints and long walks suit them better than steady jogging.

Exercise a day 60–90 min

CouchModerateAthlete

Good outlets

Sprinting in a large, securely fenced field
Lure coursing or Fast CAT
Long leashed walks

Brain work

Lure coursing trials
Scent games
Basic obedience and manners

Best home

Needs a house with space and a tall, secure fence; not suited to apartments.

Watch for Avoid forced running before growth plates close, and never let them off leash in unfenced areas.

Feeding

Adult maintenance for a typical Scottish Deerhound (75–110 lbs) lands around 1,575–2,100 kcal a day. Feed to body condition, not the bag's chart alone, and keep treats inside the 10% rule.

Puppy (to 12 mo)

Daily calories: 1,975–2,625 kcal
Protein: 26–30%
Fat: 16–20%
Treat limit, all treats: 200–265 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 10–13 pieces a day

Adult Maintenance

Daily calories: 1,575–2,100 kcal
Protein: 24–28%
Fat: 14–18%
Treat limit, all treats: 160–210 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 8–11 pieces a day

Active / Working

Daily calories: 2,175–2,900 kcal
Protein: 26–30%
Fat: 18–22%
Treat limit, all treats: 220–290 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 11–15 pieces a day

Senior

Daily calories: 1,375–1,850 kcal
Protein: 24–28%
Fat: 12–16%
Treat limit, all treats: 140–185 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 7–9 pieces a day

Compare every life stage

Life stage	Daily calories	Protein	Fat	Treat limit (all treats)	Saylor's liver, suggested / day
Puppy (to 12 mo)	1,975–2,625 kcal	26–30%	16–20%	200–265 kcal	10–13 pieces
Adult Maintenance	1,575–2,100 kcal	24–28%	14–18%	160–210 kcal	8–11 pieces
Active / Working	2,175–2,900 kcal	26–30%	18–22%	220–290 kcal	11–15 pieces
Senior	1,375–1,850 kcal	24–28%	12–16%	140–185 kcal	7–9 pieces

The treat limit is the 10% rule for every treat combined. Saylor's liver is suggested at about 2% of daily calories, as a small topper: liver is very rich in vitamin A, so it should not become a staple. Check with your vet if your dog has a health condition or a special diet.

Health & grooming

Bone cancer, heart disease and bloat are the main themes, and lifespan is short. Choose a breeder who screens hearts and liver shunt, and learn the signs of bloat.

Watch for	Ask the breeder or vet for	When
Dilated cardiomyopathy	Echocardiogram by a veterinary cardiologist	In breeding dogs, ideally yearly
Factor VII deficiency (bleeding disorder)	Factor VII DNA test	Once, in breeding dogs (ask the breeder)
Liver shunt	Bile acids blood test	Once in puppies (ask the breeder)
Cystinuria (bladder stones)	Urine test for cystine	In breeding dogs (ask the breeder)
Delayed Postoperative Hemorrhage (DEPOH)	DNA test (results registered with the OFA)	Once (a DNA result does not change)

Official health tests for breeding dogs

The OFA's CHIC program asks Scottish Deerhound breeders to test for these. Ask to see the results before you buy a puppy.

Heart exam
Factor VII deficiency DNA test
Serum Bile Acid Test
Delayed Postoperative Hemorrhage (DEPOH)

Also recommended

CHIC DNA Bank

See the full list on OFA.org

Grooming Low to moderate

Brush and comb weekly; tidy stray hairs on the face and ears occasionally. Trim nails every 2–3 weeks, check ears weekly and brush teeth several times a week. Tell your vet before anesthesia, as sighthounds can be sensitive to it.

History

Ancient–1700s

Highland deer hunter

Large rough-coated hounds were used in Scotland to course red deer, kept largely by clan chiefs and nobility.
1700s–1800s

Decline and revival

Numbers fell after the collapse of the clan system, and breeders revived the breed in the 1820s.
1886

AKC recognition

The AKC recognized the Scottish Deerhound in 1886. It remains rare.

Questions owners ask

Are Scottish Deerhounds easy to train?

Moderately. They are gentle and willing but independent and sensitive, so they need short, kind sessions. Off-leash recall is unreliable.

Are Scottish Deerhounds good with kids and other pets?

Usually with kids and other dogs. They are gentle but large enough to knock over toddlers, and cats or small pets may trigger chasing.

How much exercise does a Scottish Deerhound need?

About 60–90 minutes a day, mixing long walks with chances to sprint in a securely fenced area.

Do Scottish Deerhounds shed?

A little. The wiry coat needs only weekly brushing and occasional tidying.

What health problems do Scottish Deerhounds have, and how long do they live?

They typically live 8–11 years. Bone cancer, heart disease, bloat, liver shunt and Factor VII deficiency are the main concerns, so ask for heart, bile acid and Factor VII results.

Is a Scottish Deerhound good for apartments or first-time owners?

Usually not apartments, but sometimes first-timers. Their gentle nature is easy to live with, but they need space, a secure fence and a big budget for a giant dog.

Freeze Dried Beef Liver Dog Treats

Back in stock soon

We're restocking. When it's back, a Scottish Deerhound needs only 8–11 pieces a day, well inside the 160–210 kcal treat limit.

See the product

Where the Scottish Deerhound ranks

Health tests follow the OFA's CHIC program. The treat limit is 10% of daily calories for all treats combined. Every dog is different, so use this as a starting point and ask your vet about yours.