Scottish Deerhound Breed Profile

Head: Fairly dolichocephalic skull type, long, large, but appearing proportionate in size to the rest of the body. It tapers just slightly from the ears, toward the nose. The topskull is fairly broad to allow for sufficient substance and power, but never so broad as to appear bulky or coarse. It appears flat when felt or viewed from the front or in profile. The head is clean-cut and without excess skin or wrinkle.

Eyes: Moderate in size, oval to almond in shape, and hazel to dark brown in color, with darker eyes preferred. The eye rims are well fitted and well pigmented. The eyes are never bulging. There should be sufficient bone in the surrounding orbital sockets to protect the eyes. Any signs of entropion or ectropion are incorrect for this breed.

Ears: Small in size (the smaller the better), set high and far apart on the skull, and rose in shape. In repose, they are folded slightly backward, and when alert, they are fly-away, hanging with tips away from the head. The ears are never long, overly large, flat against the head, fully erect, drop, or button.

Muzzle: The muzzle is long, full, deep, and broad in comparison to the skull. The plane, or bridge of the muzzle, is straight, or may have just a very slight bump toward the end before the nose. Upper and lower jaws are well developed, approximately equal in length, and have good bone substance, never appearing snipy or weak. There is a slight, almost imperceptible taper to the muzzle.

Nose: The nose is well pigmented and black. The nostrils are well opened.

Neck: Moderate length allows for proud head carriage, strongly muscled, and well-arched. The neck tapers smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is clean-cut and without excess skin, throatiness, or dewlap.

Chest: Deep and broad, but never wider than deep. The brisket extends to the point of the elbows or just below.

Body: Fairly large and substantial, denoting endurance, speed, and power, without appearing racy or bulky. The body is somewhat long. Width at the forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters.

Feet: Oval to round and compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads.

Tail: Set neither high nor low on the croup but as a natural extension of the topline. It is thick at the base and tapering toward the tip. The tail is carried in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level, but never tucked or carried up over the back. The tail is long, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down. The tail may be straight or gently curved.

Movement: Tireless, effortless, efficient, and energetic for his size, the characteristics of healthy structure are evident: when moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the forelimbs and hindlimbs will converge to the centerline of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in a line with the nose. The width between the forefeet when extended should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring.

Temperament: Although his immense size and rugged appearance can look imposing, the Scottish Deerhound is a gentle giant. The breed is known renowned for its calm, gentle, and kind-hearted nature. Puppies are naturally more rambunctious, but as they mature and approach adult sizes, they become less active—until they are given the opportunity to hunt, that is. While on the chase, they can be fierce and tenacious.