Hello everyone, I'm Rob from Stoke Heath,Shropshire. I've been a member on this site for a while but have not posted an introduction until now. I have a male Deerhound (Ben) aged nearly 4, my partner has a terrior and believe me the large Deerhound is far less trouble than the small terrior. I've posted a picture of him.

Hi Rob, Tell us a bit more about your lovely Deerhound (Breeding etc.)

Hi Rob, Ben looks a nice dog -he looks like he has just been running on the beech.
Welcome to the site.
Rob (teratyke)

Ben's registered name is "Blues Dream", his father was "Rosslyn Highlander" and his mother "Betts of Clachan". Here's a link to his pedigree, if it works?

kilbournedeerhounds.com/p....php?code=19442

I took Ben in at 6 months, his previous owner found that he couldn't manage him, he had to travel a lot and Ben hated cars and refused to get in, also Ben and he just didn't seem to hit it off together. Ben came to my house a lot and seemed to like it there so it was mutually agreed that I'd adopt him.

Strangely enough Ben was incidental in saving my life as before I got him I was working at a desk developing software all day and not getting enough exercise. I was also smoking and found that I couldn't keep up with Ben's long walks so I gave it up. A bit later the doctor picked up a heart problem on a routine visit and treated it before it caused a heart attack. Ben is very special to me as you can imagine. If I'd just carried on in my old ways I probably would have suffered a serious heart attack. I was also at the same age as my father when he died of one.

The picture of him is just after a run on the beach with his terrior friend.

Welcome so glad you posted and admit to a little tear welling up when I read your story with Ben

Fate is an amazing thing , it was destiny you both met:)

He looks so like his father! its amazing I am really stunned its like looking in a mirror

Your story is truly amazing

x

Hi Rob
What a great story and a lovely dog.

How could anyone not love hime, he's a beautiful boy.
We too have a Terrier (Border) and one 3 year old male Deerhound, such great friends, he is so gentle with him, even when he is flinging him around with his whole head in his mouth....honestly! He seems to know he mustn't tread on him or be too rough.
What a lovely story.
Mine too hated the car, hated it with a vengence, was violently sick after half a mile and would not come back when off the lead, knowing he would have to go back in the car. Maybe had something to do with the fact we were squishing him in a Vauxhall Corsa!! He now has his own van and after some perseverence, he is okay now, hops in of his own accord.
Well done for not smoking!

Yours looks a lovely hound. Interesting to note that you have a terrior as well. Our terrior often flies at Ben and has, on several occasions cut his face. Ben gets cross and makes a very scary noise but has never left a mark on the terrior. He will also grap him by the collar with his teeth and swing him round sometimes when provoked. Considering the damage a deerhound could inflict on a terrior he is extremely gentle with him.

Ben will get in the car now but has to be persuaded, he used to get sick but doesn't now, he was very distressed when he left his mother and had a long drive from near Glascow so maybe thats the reason.

Could be Robb, we got Murphy from Derbyshire and drove to Watford, not as far as Scotland, but he must have thought what is going on, who are these strange people!! He was sick twice on the way back, husbands car, not mine!!
Our Terrier is more like a Deerhound, quite submissive. He has been attacked by Staffordshire Bull Terriers twice when out walking and he is wary of smaller dogs now, yet he'll find the biggest to play with. I normally walk mine through the woods or golf courses, mainly because of the Deerhound, eh chases everything, horses, other dogs, people (only to say hello) but rather than get in trouble, as they do frighten people, I tend to avoid them! Shame, I would lovd another big dog for him to run with. The terrier is nervous of balls, wheels, kids, plastic bags, strangers, so not like a Terrier. He is good with Murphy, he instigates a play fight, then hides in the smallest places not to be eaten!
Just been trimming feet, it is amazing how much hair comes out from the toes and feet, we are off to Windsor Saturday, he is getting the hang of this show lark, just has to learn not to kiss the judge when she is going over him!!!

Murphy looks a very good looking dog, I expect he'll win a few shows. I live a pretty quiet life and I thought Ben would get me out to shows, however despite his excellent pedigree he has a bit of a "stop" and that doesn't go down well at Deerhound shows so I don't bother showing him anymore. I'm not that bothered as after all Ben is basically a companion.

I have to be careful with Ben out walking as well. He'll chase anything/anyone and as you say some people don't take kindly to it. I always take Ben out on a lead for walks, he's quite happy to just sniff around. I've got 2 acres of land for him to run on and play with Poggie the terrier, also there are a few rabbits in residence which keeps them busy. Also I can't take the 2 dogs out together. Poggie is quite fearful of dogs when he's on his own but when Ben's with him he thinks he's indestructable and will take on any dog regardless of size and cause trouble.

Like you I often wish Ben had another Deerhound to run with but when I got him I only had a small garden. I've now got much more land but it may be tricky introducing another dog now he's older unless it was a female and I'm probably too old now to start a Deerhound Dynasty as I'd worry what would happen to them when I die.

Hi Rob, Our stud dog is also a son of Highlander. His name is Brackenford Dalesman at Claonaiglen.

Hi Sally, saw him in the recent Deerhound magazine, I think. I understand that Highlander was a very prolific stud. A lady who lives nearby to me has a female that is a grandchild of his.

Hi Rob and All,

It's interesting to hear of other's experiences with Deerhounds. I've been lucky in that all three of my girls took to riding in the van without any problems even on mountain roads. None have ever been carsick. I too, was told by my doc. to get more exercise and of course the girls need it too, so we go out most days for a fast four to five mile walk. Most of the time it's a fine time, however there were a couple of times the three of them put me in the dirt when we surprized a cat or two. Fortunately, we've been able to get them to be a bit calmer when we might see a cat in the neighbor-hood. One of the amazing things is they remember where they saw a cat or other interesting thing to chase. They definitely keep me on my toes. No terriers now though I had a Cairn a long while back. He was a fiesty wee devil, knew no fear. When I get more space I plan to get another. The picture is just of Alice and Tess, between events at the Nat'l Specialty, had to leave Aeriss, the lurcher at home.

Hi Rob and All,

It's interesting to hear of other's experiences with Deerhounds. I've been lucky in that all three of my girls took to riding in the van without any problems even on mountain roads. None have ever been carsick. I too, was told by my doc. to get more exercise and of course the girls need it too, so we go out most days for a fast four to five mile walk. Most of the time it's a fine time, however there were a couple of times the three of them put me in the dirt when we surprized a cat or two. Fortunately, we've been able to get them to be a bit calmer when we might see a cat in the neighbor-hood. One of the amazing things is they remember where they saw a cat or other interesting thing to chase. They definitely keep me on my toes. No terriers now though I had a Cairn a long while back. He was a fiesty wee devil, knew no fear. When I get more space I plan to get another. The picture is just of Alice and Tess, between events at the Nat'l Specialty, had to leave Aeriss, the lurcher at home.

Hi Terry, Nice dogs, I'd love more hounds but as I said earlier it might upset the cart getting another at Bens age.
I also used to walk 4-5 miles every day but now its 3-4 most days as he can run in my back yard. Ben also is now much better if he sees something to chase whilst on the lead, I once lived in fear of being dragged across the road in the path of a car but he seems to have learnt not to pull when on a lead. He is even ok now if a rabbit runs out, he instictively pulls at first but as soon as he feels resistance will stop. Shame that they cant always be let lose to chase when out but thats the way of things.

Ben always remembers where he saw something and will often try to get me to take him back to that spot on subsequent walks. I think Deerhounds are far cleverer than we give them credit for.

Hi Robb, your boy is beautiful, he looks the heart of mischief with that tongue hanging out! You might be suprised at how well he adjusts to another dog in the family, 4 doesn't seem that old.

A friend was telling me her Deerhounds also get excited at the spot on their walk where they saw a cat several months ago. They seem to have a pretty good memory, even if it's not for commands like "come"

P.S "bit of a stop" does that mean his nose isn't acqualine enough?

Terry - I love your girls mathing collars, It's so hard to find proper sighthound collars over here, especially nice leather ones.

Bundaleer, did you ever see Mark? According to Helen he has a bit of a stop. It is where the snout joins into the head. In a Deerhound it should be a gentle slope up rather than a severe stop and join. Does that make sense? Or to put it scientically it should be like a 30-40 degree slope rather than a 90 degree slope. That is not a factual description but just to give you an idea of what I mean

Terry, I love the kilt

Brollachan wrote:


Right, less pointer nose, more borzoi nose! Mum met Mark but I never did, I saw photos but they were all front on so it's a bit hard to tell

Hallo All,

Thanks for the compliments, Kilts are comfortable and I try to wear them whenever we go coursing and for supported deerhound shows. I found a lady who makes "doggie attire" and leads and collars in the various tartans. She made the martingales in my family's tartan. She's at www.theheelanhound.com, if you're interested. Another good place to get good wide collars is www.sighthoundgear.com. I've gotten some really nice ones from them that had Celtic designs. I tend to like those and the tartan ones as I'm of Scottish desent and then where do Deerhounds come from. Ok, so I'm bit daft about it.

It's interessting about the travel problems and what we think might have caused them. Tess, Leoch Falla, had a long trip when I brought her home at 4 1/2 months of age. She had a car ride from Rait to Edinburugh, then over a seven flight to New Jersey, ashort break, then a two plus hour flight to Northern Florida, followed by a short ride to home. It's got to have been one ....experience in a crate, but she's not shown any problems. When she de-planed in Fla I got her out of the crate as soon as possible and she was really cheerful and bouncy, probably glad of her freedom. Up to that point she'd never been away from home. I guess you never know how they're going to adapt to different situations. But I've been lucky in that respect.