Hello, I have viewed your forum frequently and found it informative and friendly so thought it was about time to join.

I am the very proud owner of a 1 year old male deerhound who pretty much goes everywhere with me, including work on most days. I also have a very old three-legged labrador and a 5 year old boy.

I have always had dogs from childhood and have had different breeds over the years, but have found the bond with my deerhound incredible and he is fantastic with my son.

I've joined for a number of reasons really:

1) to meet (?) other deerhound folk - I appear to be the only deerhound owner in my county, so if there are others out there!

2)to keep up to date with meets and events - would love to take Bailey coursing, even if only to watch

3) for advice .... which brings me to my first question

Bailey is my first deerhound and i did alot of research into the breed before buying him (I had longed for one for years - so plenty of research time!), however I have found that after a short spurt of vigorous exercise he is pooped and lies down panting heavily. Is this normal? As I said, I've had other breeds - collies, labs, retrievers - none of which have got so tired so quickly so if someone out there can tell me it's pretty normal for the breed, I'll feel alot better about it!

Sorry for the long intro... not a brief intro at all!

Hi Lisa and welcome to the forum.

I can only speak for my dog and I expect you'll get plenty of replies from others.

It sounds like pretty normal DH behaviour for your dog Bailey, sounds like my Ben. Deerhounds are really built for short sprints over rugged terrain and not for endurance. They are large dogs and have to carry a lot of weight when they run and they do run very fast indeed when they want. They do recover quite quickly and will soon be able to offer a repeat performance if needed.

I've heard others say that a good working Deerhound is able to keep going all day but most Deerhounds today are pets not working dogs.

Hi Robb

Thanks for the welcome and the reassurance! I had told myself it was down to size, being deep chested etc., but hadn't experienced it in other dogs before so was somewhat concerned!

It looks like a great, friendly forum with heaps of useful information and opportunities to meet up with other owners at various events - just what I was looking for!

I should have added that Deerhounds don't tolerate the heat very well and the weather in the UK at present is warm for a Deerhound. They usually run much better on cooler days.

Hi Lisa and Bailey! Yes I would agree with the above, they really dont get on well in the heat - mine have never wanted to sit infront of the fire in the winter, and really perk up in the cold weather and become much more active! My previous Deery's favourite weather was sleet, she would leap about in it joyfully while the rest of us froze!! Dirk is panting like mad in these warm conditions, and sometimes I throw water over him to cool him down, he loves that as you can imagine!!!

Hello and welcome Fin + dogs here in the Deerhound forum.

I have now also my first Deerhound (my Yoki is now 10 months old)and have many can
learn in this very good forum.

Best regards
Joerg and Yoki

Welcome,
This is a great forum and everyone is very helpful with their advice. The same goes for all DH owners we have met, they are always willing to help.
Re Bailey being tired our experience of Finn will back this up. He loves to have a good long walk, a lie down in the local stream (regardless of the weather) and then home for a play with his pigs ear and a race 'round the garden for a couple of minutes and then bed (ours!!) or the sofa for hours before it is time for feeding or another walk.

hi fin
we are moving to cheshire in november,my dad lives in helsby/frodsham not a million miles from you,perhaps when we move we could meet up? i have 3 lurchers and a 17month deerhound bitch.
it is my first deehound too and i too was worried by this collapse after a big run!!! we just stand about until she is ready to move on!!!

Thanks everyone for the welcome - and i feel a whole lot better knowing that flaking after a burst is normal!!!

Lurcherlover - that would be great! Be nice to meet another DH owner (rare in these parts it seems) and I'd love to see Bailey having fun with other hounds, so you're on!

lurcherlover wrote:


Hi Lisa , welcome to the site.

Excellent, it's about time there was more members from around north west.
Would be nice for Mac to have some more Houndy friends to play with.
Lurcherlover , where about's in cheshire are you moving to ? I think Delamere forest should be quite handy for both of you. Unless you fancy coming over to wales, I know lots of places for the dogs to stretch their legs unhindered.

hi CiCoch
we will be south cheshire/staffordhire border- its called scholar green which is prob about 40 mins from delamere i think,my dads(which i will be back and to from!!) is only 15 mins from delamere so that would be good for me and the hairycrew!!!
would be good to meet with you and Fin and Baily

CiCoch wrote:


Delamere is handy, but could they get a good run?

More than happy to head to N Wales, it isn't that far and if Bailey can get a good run with other hounds and I get to meet other DH owners - well worth it!

At the moment, the only place I can let him off for a good run (apart from when I take him to work) is in the enclosed dog area at the local park - he has his pals in there and gets a good play and run, but I'd love to see him running free.

they can but obviously there is the deer factor there!!!!! i would only trust 2 of mine off there!!! iam quite happy to head to north wales too my fav place where i would like to be eventually !! any excuse to go

N Wales looking like a winner!

Have to say, I wouldn't trust Bailey around Delamere off-lead either!

i would trust my lurchers less!!!!

Great ! The easiest place to get to from England is Moel Famau near Mold.

www.multimap.com/maps/?qs...;countryCode=GB

www.moelfamau.co.uk/

It's nowhere near as busy as delamere, and there's lots of forrest tracks for them to run up and down. No styles and no sheep or Deer in the forest !

Will have to sort out a weekend when were all free.

Sounds perfect!

I'm usually free at weekends so can fit in with others. Should be fun!

looks perfect!! skye could do with mixing with playmates her own size!!! may put some manners on her!!!as she does use her size to her advantage so iam too afraid to let her off with other dogs that couldnt cope!! although since her 2nd season she seems to have calmed down abit

Well I hope your feeling fit cos it's not flat !
I usually strap the dogs up to my Cani-X belt and get the to drag me up

sounds like the way to go!!! i usually find with my lot when you want them to pull they wont!!!
right better get back to grooming the rug!! i mean skye!!