Hi All, My wife and I are fulltime RV'rs. in other words we live in a 40ft 5th wheel trailer and travel around the US and Canada. we have two furry kids that travel with us "Bubba"is an Airedale, and Serra is a Lab cross. As much as I hate to think about it both are getting old and will be crossing the Rainbow Bridge sooner than we want to admit. I am intrigued by the Deerhound although I've never met one. My question to the group is do you think a Deerhound would do well in this type of lifestyle. Our "kids" are only left alone infrequently a for a few hrs at a time if we visit a museum or some such. Most of the time they are with us 24/7. We take our dogs for atleast two extended walks every day. sorry for the long post, but I've not been able to find out alot about the Deerhound.

Thanks, Barney

Hi Barney and welcome, check out Dan Gauss's Shot on Site website (http.shotonsite.blogspot.com from memory) - he and Margaret were RV-ers for some years and travelled with sighthounds before settling down in New Mexico. I don't see any reason why a Deerhound would have a problem with your lifestyle, but do make sure you can handle a Deerhound's need to run free and chase stuff. Probably not an issue if you're in the more rural parts, but might be a problem if you're parked up in towns.

Thanks for the link Sid. do the hounds handle change well? I mean the house stays the same, but the front yard changes. I love it when we get out west. Last time we were in Palasade Co we took the Dogs out for a run in a Prarie Dog City. 50+ acres, lots of critters, boy were the dogs busy!!

Barney

I don't think it's fair to a young Deerhound puppy to be living in an RV. They need huge amounts of free running exercise for hours each day which could not be given to them if you are travelling. I think an older adult however would do just fine as they are after all just big couch potatoes!. How about rescuing a Staghound or Lurcher, they are coming up for rescue here the States very often now. You could contact Deerhound Rescue in the USA and tell them you are looking for an older Deerhound, they do sometimes come up looking for a home.
If you are ever coming through beautiful New Mexico you are more than welcome to stop here and meet my 3 Deerhound girls, just email me
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
All the best on your travels.

Would very much consider a rescue. both my dogs now were once rescues. Love New Mexico, Alamagordo has some of the worlds best sunsets! just to clarify what is a Lurcher or Staghound?
Barney

If you decide to have a deerhound there is no difference between a “rescue” or one purchased from say a breeder, other than possibly the age of the hound, although I know of pups that have been re-homed young. I myself have to work for a living & mine happily travel with me in my VW transporter. I do exercise them whether they come with me or stay at home sleeping all day. (my son says he needs a “jack hammer” to raise then to go into the garden for a wee in the middle of the day). There are hounds who do not get regular exercise even though they have access to big gardens & open areas. PS. welcome to this site from John, Bookle, Brodie, bird & all at Lodhainn xx

The reason I suggested a Rescue is that it is very rare for a young pup to end up in rescue here in the States!. Older hounds do come up and I think that would be a better option for these folk as would a beautiful Lurcher/Longdog or Staghound.
Someone mentioned Dan and I know that his Deerhound Randir was not a puppy when he aquired him and did start life out living in a home with a garden and access to regular exercise.

Hello Barney,

Welcome to the site from Deerhounds.

Best regards
Joerg and Yoki

Hiya and welcome to the site from Trisha, Murray and Carys deerhounds. We are in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
How I envy you your lifestyle - it sounds fab I would say that deerhounds are much more adaptable than people give them credit for. As long as they are with their beloved humans and have the level of exercise for their age then it will be fine.
Let us know when you get one - your life will never again be the same

Hi and welcome to the site. A little earlier you asked what Staghound/Lurchers are. I think Staghounds very from country to country, here in Australia they are usually Deerhound/Greyhound and were used for hunting Roos. A Lurcher is a first cross of two dogs used for hunting, so if it had Deerhound in it would be a first cross with a another breed and they are usually very attractive dogs. I'm sure that some on the Lurcher forum here could give you more information. Good luck in finding the right dog and enjoy your travels.

Pam

Hi there and welcome Barney and (travelling ) family !

I live in Canada/BC with 4 dhs - not travelling as much , more hiking .
In your quest to find the right hound , you might try to contact Dan Gauss / " Shot on site " photography - he lives in the states and travels a lot with a whole assortment of sighthounds and lurchers , taking part in sighthound events of all kinds ( shows , lurecoursing , open field coursing ) , does always have deerhounds or deerhound crosses , too - you should find his website/blog with google , perhaps I can post a link later on . I think , he might be one , to give you really good advice on how it is to " live on the road " with sighthounds.
Staghounds are , as far as I know , usually scenthoundcrosses ( perhaps some Greyhound in ) , used to hunt deer/stag... Lurchers are - officially -a sighthoundbreed corssed with any other breed (often collie or terrier ) and then there are " longdogs " , which means a cross between 2 sighthound breeds. Good on you to start collecting infos early on - deerhounds are wonderful.....


Verena

Here just briefly the link to Dan's blog

shotonsite.blogspot.com/

He makes his living , or at least some of his income , by takig pics - mostly of sighthound events - and selling them - and is basically a " very famous institution " in the states - I never met him but do enjoy seing his pics/reading his blog ( Dan just took in a 1/4 deerhound who needed a home ...).

And here the link to his actual photography ( business ) , shot on site -

photoreflect.com/pr3/store.aspx?p=22977

it has some phenomenal (lure)coursing photos on it .

Welcomt to the site Barney from Helen and Murphy the Deerhound in Londond England.

What a fantastic life you live, I do envy you, infact I envy most of you around the states and Cananda especially! I don't think it matters what breed of dog he is, Lurcher, Deerhound or Mongrel, I think your life sounds perfect for a dog, as you say, the house stays the same, just the front garden changes and no doubt you travel to some of the prettiest parts of the country, how exciting for a dog of any breed. Good luck in aquiring a DH, we look forward to his/her travel diaries!!

Thanks for all the welcomes and suggestions. we are in Alabama right now, any deerhounds in the South?

Its a Dogs Life for sure. the 2 dogs we have now have waded in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and swam in the Chesapeke Bay and the Gulf of Alaska. Trying hard to get them to the Gulf of Mexico! Half the fun is watching them enjoy the new Smells every time we stop.

Barney

our first puppy a small lurcher was brought up from 8 weeks and lived with us for a couple of years by the sea in our old vw camper
From my experience my dogs have allways loved camping trips we now have a caravan as its got more room. but plans for later in life include a large RV and some serious euro touring with our doggie gang

Sounds like any dog would be very lucky to join your pack, sounds like the perfect life to me

Claire