Standard du Kennel Club (UK)

General Appearance
Resembles a roughcoated greyhound of larger size and bone.

Characteristics
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.

Temperament
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 and Skull
Broadest at ears, tapering slightly to eyes, muzzle tapering more decidedly to nose, lips level. Head long, skull flat rather than round, with very slight rise over eyes, with no stop. Skull coated with moderately long hair, softer than rest of coat. Nose slightly aquiline and black. In lighter coloured dogs black muzzle preferred. Good moustache of rather silky hair and some beard.

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.

Mouth
Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

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

Forequarters
Shoulders well laid, not too far apart. Loaded and straight shoulders undesirable. Forelegs straight, broad and flat, a good broad forearm and elbow being desirable.

Body
Body and general formation that of a greyhound of larger size and bone. Chest deep rather than broad, not too narrow and flat-sided. Loin well arched and drooping to tail. Flat topline undesirable.

Hindquarters
Drooping, broad and powerful, hips set wide apart. Hindlegs well bent at stifle with great length from hip to hock. Bone broad and flat.

Feet
Compact and well knuckled. Nails strong.

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.

Gait/Movement
Easy, active and true, with a long stride.

Coat
Shaggy, but not overcoated. 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 (3 ins) to 10 cms (4 ins) 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
Height: dogs: minimum desirable height at withers 76 cms (30 ins); bitches: 71 cms (28 ins). Weight: dogs: about 45.5 kg (100 lbs); bitches: about 36.5 kgs (80 lbs).

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.

Note
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

Last Updated - September 2000

Commentaire du Deerhound Club:

Description

The Crufts catalogue used to feature a recent winning hound - the Description is Copyright, and reads as follows:
There is certainly no breed whose carriage asserts his noble descent as plainly as the Deerhound. Centuries ago he was so highly prized by the Highland Chieftains as to be jealously guarded, so much so, indeed, that a specimen was almost unknown even as far south as the Lowlands. The Deerhound today is valued for his picturesque appearance, fidelity and docility. His dignified bearing has earned for him the title of the "Aristocrat of the canine world". The gunsmith's art has practically robbed him of his natural calling in this country, but he gives a good account of himself in other lands to which he has been exported for work. A tall rough-looking dog, the Deerhound is the quintessence of grace with strength. Dogs average 30 - 32 inches, bitches 28 - 30 inches at shoulder. Colour wheaten, brindle, grey, the last being the most popular. White is a blemish save for a blaze on the chest or a tip to the tail, which should be carried low without curl. Shoulders well laid back, great depth of brisket and well-sprung ribs. A characteristic is width and strength across the loins, which should be well arched. Stifles well bent and hocks low to ground. The head carried high on a long, strong neck, with prominent nape. The clean-cut skull, flat with the ears set high, is coated with softer longer hair than the body, and plenty of shaggy eyebrow. The muzzle strong, teach and lips level. Eyes dark, deep set, full of expression. This wistful, faraway expression is the keynote of the character of the breed.

To summarise:

1	Typical - A Deerhound should resemble a rough coated greyhound of larger size and bone.
2	Movement - easy, active and true.
3	Height - As tall as possible consistent with quality.
4	Head - long, level, well balanced, carried high.
5	Body - long, very deep in brisket, well sprung ribs and great breadth across hips.
6	Forelegs - strong and quite straight, with elbows neither in nor out.
7	Thighs - long and muscular, second thighs well muscled, stifles nicely bent.
8	Loins - well arched, and belly well drawn up.
9	Coat - rough and hard, longer and softer beard and brows.
10	Feet - close and compact, with well knuckled toes.
11	Ears - small, with greyhound-like carriage.
12	Eyes - dark, moderately full.
13	Neck - long, well arched, and very strong with prominent nape.
14	Shoulders - clean, set sloping.
15	Chest - very deep, but not too narrow.
16	Tail - long and slightly curved, carried low.
17	Teeth - strong and level.
18	Nails - strong and curved.

The Deerhound, by A.N. Hartley (available from the Deerhound Club) goes on to say "One or two of these points might bear a little amplification. Movement is most difficult to describe - viewed from the side the hound should take a good free stride with both fore and hind legs, covering plenty of ground at each step. The feet should be lifted clear of the ground - 'daisy clipping' is not desirable but neither of course is anything resembling a hackney action.