Hello everyone.
I have completed all the research. I have made the decision that I would like to introduce a deerhound into my family. As a first dog I would like a male. Not sure why.
How do I find a reputable breeder to buy my dog from.
I live in Shetland so visiting the breeder or attending shows is an expensive business. I have joined the online community because of the help I have already received from many of you generous owners. How do I become an owner also?

Good decision! We always had females but with our latest dog, the breeder only had males available, but we were told the males were often more affectionate. I'm sure there will be lots of people who have experienced the opposite, but our boy is definitely the cuddliest, happy go lucky dog we have ever had. In terms of finding a dog, try contacting the breed club, they should be able to give you a list of breeders, then you can always call them and narrow down your options, before commiting to a visit. Most of the breeders will know each other so if they're not having a litter in the near future, they might know who is!
Good luck with your search, but be prepared to become seriously addicted:P

I contacted Kilbourne Deerhounds, they have a website www.kilbournedeerhounds.com, they put me in the direction of someone who was having a litter. Also if you click on the LINKS page of their website, there listed are lots of other websites and some might be more local to you. Good luck, I hope you find your puppy, dog or bitch, not sure it matters, Deerhounds can be a bit cranky as puppies, maybe because they grow so fast you expect them to behave too!! I would do it all again tomorrow if I could, I have a nice calm 3 year old boy now who is a pleasure in every way, though he was a naughty puppy!

Hi
There are a number of breeders in scotland listed in the deerhound directory on this site. Best thing is to just contact them and see if they are planning on having a litter. Have a look in the deerhound directory here.

The puppy coordinator for the UK deerhound club is Sue Reynolds.

Thanks and keep please keep us informed!
Rob

I know Nell MacBean has mated her bitch, not sure if she is in whelp though. Nell is listed in the breeders directory on this site. Nell is Killoeter Deerhounds and she is from Argyll and Bute. Hope this helps. Sally

I agree with all of the above and Killoeter is a well respected kennel as well.
Best of luck and let us know how you get on.

Lockie is our first boy, we have always had girls before. I have found that he is far more demonstrative as far as affection goes and a real snuggle bum. But I also think it will take a little longer for him to settle down. I have never thought of him as a naughty puppy apart from the destruction of the bed rail but that is just from boredom, a lazy chew. I think Bree and Xena though would have something different to say

I would like to thank everyone for their advice.
I discovered some pups for sale in Ireland, but they only have one dog in the litter. I have decided to ask for two bitches. We are at the stage of arranging the logistics of getting the pups to Shetland safely.
I am sure many of you can imagine our excitement.

That is wonderful news. Are you keeping them intact or are they being speyed? Sometimes (not always) bitches can get "bitchy". Bree and Xena have had a couple of doozies when it comes to squabbles but they have never really hurt each other. Not sure if it was jealousy or dominance, but since we've had Lockie, that seems to have settled down.
Wishing you all the best of luck. When are you expecting them?

I am the proud owner of two deerhound bitches we have called Kate and Kiera. They were born in Ireland and have adjusted well to our Shetland climate. Winter will be interesting. We are experiencing our first big blow as I type. This caused some reluctance on the dogs part to venture outdoors. Once they were out they handled it fine.
The girls have settled well into their new environment. Training is progressing well, but they come on command in their own time. I am using treats and Juliette Cunliffe's book. I wonder if there is any advice out there to help sharpen up their reactions. I have found taking each dog out seperately helps their concentration. It may mean more patience on my part but I am keen to install good habits as soon as possible.

Congratulations on your new puppies!! I must admit Lockie was very receeptive at that age, it is now that he decides whether it is worth coming or not. Of course if I have a treat he is there in a flash. Bree is the same, only comes if it suits her. Xena on the other hand is a real pleaser (suck) and generally always does what she is told.
Best of luck with your darling pups and am looking forward to hearing and seeing their progress

Samantha

Having two litter mates , is always harder work, if they were reared in kennels you will have to start from square one, in order to house train, lead train. car train etc.

Two puppies of the same sex from the same litter are bonded to one another!, and will always be, they will let you into there lives and you have to make sure they know you are the boss,

I would allow them to settle and concentrate on the basic first , ( eg getting them used to a collar always take the collars of at night!, )

Taking them out with you , and day by day gently allowing them to understand you are the pack leader, and not a fellow member of the pack, playing with them helps them bond to you, feeding also helps them bond to you, so tripe sticks etc are a gods send

Do let us know how you get along, and congrats on your lovely puppies

They are beautiful. I have found that bitches are more compliant than dogs, but that is just my personal opinion of course. You'll have some fun with them. Congratulations.

Congratulations, they are beautiful looking pups, I want one now!
As Arneish said, letting them know who is boss is a must, Deerhounds tend to be head strong
and you must be firm, espeically two, double trouble. Having said that, I have a 3 year old male that
was the puppy from hell, never came back when called, but who is now a lovely docile placid boy who does do as his
told, well eventually!!
Good luck, and enjoy!

Hello,

I am new to this forum. I, too, am looking for a Deerhound puppy, but I am not in a hurry. I am an American and have had Afghans for over 20 years. I have always wanted a Deerhound. I've been studying them, reading the breed standard and looking at different kennels' dogs for a long while. I just got back from Sweden where I was at the Afghan World Congress, but we also went to the World Show and Skokloster. I went over to the Deerhound ring on Sunday at Skokloster and did see some Deerhounds I liked. I want to show a puppy and the breed standard for a Deerhound is so general. I am trying to decipher it and apply it to what I like. Color is one thing I have questions on. Several people have told me that the lighter the color on a puppy, they will continue to get lighter and lighter with age and you don't want that. Is that true?

Hello and welcome to the forum

I was lucky enough to visit the German Breed show this year, but could not make Sweden but am hoping to get to the French Sighthound show September 18th


Firstly I would like to acknowledge that colour is quite important in the Afghan hound, whilst doing my training at Bellmead in 1972, I was lucky to visit Horningsea Afghans owned by Marna Dodd and worked there for one week, what a thrill for me a young girl to groom out Champion Horningsea Tigers Eye, and tiger doll two fantastic blue brindles.

Now, with regard to the Deerhound please do not put colour as high up your points list as the Afghan.

Construction, confirmation and TYPE, is far far more important!, the deerhound standard is says darker grey is preffered, most deerhound puppies are born with brindle ticking, with lots of different shades of grey ( grey being just diluted black).

When growing and when adult the colour of the coat can change, caused by weather, dead dry harsh coat etc. so I do not agree that the lighter the grey in a puppy means it will end up silver grey lots of things can change it, for really good pigmentation look at the nose, and base of the paws, but make sure those paws have lovely tight feet like a cat, not splayed, a sighthound with a weak splayed flat foot is like a Porsche with flat tyres

Welcome again

Hello,

You were quite lucky to see Tiger Eye. He was gorgeous. Very famous dog. I can imagine you learned a lot in the time you were there.

Thank you for the color information. I'm actually glad that color is not such a big consideration. By type, do you mean well balanced with nothing exagerated? This dog should be able to do its work well and if everything is in place, it should?

I just discovered the other forum talking about color. Very interesting. I think it is important to at least see photos of the dogs behind in a pedigree and to ask questions about them, otherwise they are just names on paper. Also, I think it is important to know if there were any health issues in the dogs behind, some can be genetic and some not, but still, I think its good to know those things.

Yes Tigers Eye was outstanding, and when I groomed him he was a true gentleman, just an amazing person, his daughter tiger doll was just so pretty too., During my Bellmead training us student were sent to top kennels to gain experience, Marna dodds was very kind to me and offered me a job, when I had finished my one year course.


by Type I mean typical, a typical deerhound,no exageration not to look like a typical lurcher, or a typical wolfhound, but to look as a Typical deerhound true to the type of old.
One of our all time great judges Bill Siggers, said to Miss Noble I believe in the 1940,s Type is extremely important, one can see any crossbreed walking along the street that has fantastic movement etc but it has not type.

Hope I am making sense

Hello im sheona, I also have a deerhound from Ireland, his name is Ghillie and in nearly two.

Hello and welcome. Good luck with the training, hope you get better results than I did. I trained Ben with his favourite treats for ages and he seemed to be responding well until there was an occasion that he just couldn't resist and then whatever the treat, no response until he feels ready. He does come to call on most occasions but it's not guaranteed.