Since Autumn is upon us , with no sign of that Indian summer that we always get promised. I thought it would be nice to arrange a get together for those of us who don't live in Scotland. ( Although those that do are also more than welcome ! )

Haven't got a date/Venue in mind yet as it depends on when people are free.

As far as Venue is concerned. As I've stated before, the forest around Llyn Alwen/Brenig are a great place for hounds to run without the worry of stiles or people and there's the added bonus of only being 30 mins from mine so we can go back and have BBQ while the dogs play in our wood and fields. However I'm easy , so if someone else has a preference let it be known and we can reach a consensus.

I may have somewhere we could a run some lure coursing, but I don't have any equipment. If anyone has access to motor/winch/rope etc.. perhaps we could get a southern coursing contingent set up.

Put your preferred weekend and venue here and we'll see what we can sort out.

Hi Steve, We are up for the get together and the BBQ. These are the dates when we are not available:-

27 September
24-28 October
1 - 8th November

Sound like a great idea Steve. I'll try to make it.

Hi CiCoch
What a great idea. Unfortunately it's too far for us to travel at the moment. I hope you have a great time. When you know the details let Rob know the info and he can put an announcement up on the front page if you want. Elise

I run a restaurant with rooms at Trefriw. The job makes it hard for me to take part but I would offer my place as a venue. The off lead walking and running is just great here. For a taste look at www.trefriwtrails.org and I am sure we could find a venue for a lure coursing event.

Hi Chris. Thanks for the info. What are the trails like ? A few members have issues with livestock and stiles. Do you get any weekend days off ?

The trails are very varied. Some are pasture land, by the river, some woodland, others combine woodland, lakeside and moorland. I can do a reconnoitre for stock the day before. I also have a walk that combines woodland, including a pair of stunning waterfalls and open pasture that is stock free, which is Isla's favourite. I have a greyhound and styles are a problem for him, which excludes certain walks. I am surprised it is an issue with deerhounds; Isla jumps the smaller ones and climbs up and over the taller ones. Her half sister, a huge lurcher actually cleared an eight foot spiked gate, without injury.
Incidentally, I am looking for a stud dog for Isla. She is an unregistered bitch, bred as a working dog; not that I work her. So many people have admired her and asked about her puppies, I feel it is worth while. She is a compact dog 29.5 inches at the shoulder and with a formidable turn of speed, which probably derives from her mother, who was bred as a coyote hunter.
As to time off, I only have the later part of Sunday afternoon, when I ave no residents.
I should add the grounds are 2.5 acres so there is plenty of room for the dogs and a BBQ is always possible next spring/summer.

Hi Chris,

Yes I was surprised about the stiles too, but some people have older dogs who can't jump or are unable to lift them over or they haven't encouraged their dogs to jump because they are worried about stock chasing. I used to give a Mac a bunk up over stiles when he was younger, but as soon as he learned how to do it , he'll do it on command.

Only Sunday afternoons off !!! How do you get time to walk? you poor thing!
If you ever do get any freetime drop me an email , I am quite often up round that way and usually take Mac and Toby up Snowdon when it's not raining.


As for breeding, there are a lot of strong views here about breeding, but from a practical level , Do you have any records of Isla's pedigree ? If you are considering putting her to another Deerhound, for the sake of the health of the puppies you need to ensure that the dam and sire are not closely related.

I do have a Monday and Tuesday free of the restaurant, so I only have residents to contend with, if I have any that is and I can almost always find 1 to 1 1/2 hours a day to walk the dogs. Unfortunately that is difficult since the greyhound broke his leg as he gets very upset if left alone.
I will not have any trouble getting details of Isla's lineage. I believe her father is of the Ardkinglass strain and and her mother an American import, brought in to inject fresh blood, and a better conformation for coursing, so any danger of inadvertent inbreeding on that side is improbable.
It is great to see concern about inbreeding, when the practice is causing so many problems, with so many breeds. With a breed that exists in such small numbers, as the Deerhound, it has to be a number one concern, for the continued existence of the breed. Sadly, as you can see on the thread about Crufts, too many breeders are burying their heads in the sand on the issue of genetic diversity.
Do call around if you are in the area. Since I had Isla in March 2006, I have only seen one other deerhound; it would be great to see some more.

Chris,

I presume the lack of registration is due to the dam is not KC registered. Out of curiosity, is that something that can be rectified ? Other breeders bring in non-UK stock to strengthen the line. Or was is just a case of the Dams owner not bothering to register ?

Would love to pop round next time I'm going to Snowdon. whats the name of the Restaurant?
Steve.

I believe Isla's breeder had a disagreement with the kennel club over coursing events and felt they were being high handed. Since then he has had nothing to do with them. He is very much a country man and his interest is in working dogs.
My place is Hafod Country House and the restaurant is called the Driven Goose.
Incidentaly, I am sure part of Hafod will turn out to have been built as Llewellyn Fawr's hunting lodge at Trefriw . As Gelert was an Irish Greyhound and Deerhounds are, in my view, the direct descendants of the old Irish Greyhound [or Wolf dog ]Isla looks to have been an apt choice.

CiCoch wrote:


I have just bought a dog in from Holland , and he has his Dutch papers, these then have to be sent to the KC, who after checking then issure a uk import pedigree, A lot of dogs in Europe are also DNA tested to prove the genetics are what is stated on the pedigree

I know of a two people who had pure Deerhounds crossing them to greyhound/deerhound
who sold them as pure Deerhounds taking a huge fee for them. I saw one of the puppies the owner was very upset but of course loved the hound.

So buyers beware

I am intrigued by the deerhound x greyhounds being mistaken for deerhounds as the ones I have seen have shorter wire coats rather than the typical deerhound coat

They were 3/4 deerhound puppies

mother deerhound ,father deerhound/greyhound

One of Isla's sisters is just such a cross and has the wiry coat of the other 2 I have are seen, which are Deerhound X greyhound/pit bull