I live in Shetland with plenty of open space. I am a fit and healthy teacher with two grown children (10 and 15). I am cosidering introducing a dog to our family and would like comments as to my suitability as an owner of a deerhound and a deerhounds suitability as a member of our family.

Hello Dogless, it might help if you tell us what you are looking for in a dog.

I entered this forum because I like deerhounds. I have read they are family friendly. I admire their movement especially at speed. The deerhounds I have met have impressed me with their good looks and personality.
I have a roomy house and large garden, surrounded by miles of open space. I will take care to avoid problems with sheep, but my main concern is my absence from home between 8am and 4pm during the working week. I propose to kennel the dog during the day and have it in the house overnight when people are home. I want it to be part of the family.

It will be lonely for him while you are out all that time - you might consider daycare? I have mine in daycare and my previous one also. It made a lot of difference to them.

We are home most of the time with our dogs and I can honestly say they are fast asleep on their beds between 8 and 4 and ignoring us completely. I can't say that their knowledge of our presence doesn't allow them to be so relaxed but they do spend a lot of time with their eyes closed I think if you got it/them into a routine they would settle and sleep while you wern't there. I do know people that have them and work full time so it is possible.

Are you thinking of getting two dogs or just one? Two might keep each other company while your gone? They are great family dogs butI would probably be more worried about cats than sheep

Are you after a puppy or a mature dog (Rosie and Alice in Spain are looking for new homes)? Puppies of any breed are very high mantinance and would not take well to being left so much.. any chance you could take it to work with you for the first few months?

Hope that helps, probably more questions than answers:)

P.S just reegistered that you are a teacher... there are a few schools over here that are introducing dogs to the classroom. Teaches the kids about responsible pet ownership and teaches the dog to be good with kids. You might need to run it past the parents first

I don't think that that would be a problem. Like Bundaleer said, they sleep most of the time. If they get a nice run in the morning and then again when you get home, the dog will be fine. When we lived in Perth, we both worked full time and Dana was fine as long as she got her walk. Now, I still work full time but OH only works part time but the dogs still sleep most of the day. If you get 2 they can keep each other company.
The property sounds lovely and as long as it is fully fenced so they can't roam, it sounds ideal.

I work, leaving home about 7.30, getting back about 2. My husband goes at 9.45, so they are on their own, I have been off for 3 weeks with back problems and I must say they sleep ALL day! I say they, we bought a Border Terrier to keep the Deerhound happy, he thinks he is a Deerhound and also sleeps all day.
They are in a routine, depending on the light, they have a good 1-2 hours excercise afternoon/evening. My hound is a great house dog, never messed in the house, not even as a puppy, but a puppy is extremely hard work. He was the puppy from hell!
They can be quite destructive, even though his damage only ever occured when we were home??? They are loving, loyal and great with kids. The 2 sisters in Spain sound great to me, none of the destructive behaviour, a ready made pair of beautiful hounds!!