Which sort of collar/harness would be best to use on my recently aqquired Deerhound.She'd never been on a lead before i had her,i'm useing just a normal collar and lead at the moment which she has taken to well.
I'm just wondering wether i should be useing a "greyhound " collar on her and if so,why?
is there anybody out there who know's Deerhounds and can advise me ??
Regards Jo

Hi Jo, deerhounds are traditionally shown in one piece rope slip leads and are also walked at home in this sort of lead. Many people who own a number of deerhounds / wolfhounds / greyhounds etc prefer that they don't wear any collar at home because their idea of play can lead to canine teeth getting caught in collar buckles and rings. The rope type lead can always be in a pocket or car and is slipped on easily with no need for a collar. The late Miss Anastasia Noble who was rumoured to have taken her superb hounds straight from the field to the show ring on occassion, using a plain ordinary length of old farm rope as a lead, may also have had an influence :) Deerhound 'Sunday best' collars are traditionally of the greyhound type, though standard greyhound collars are too small for most deerhounds. I imagine this comes from coursing where the wide part spreads the pressure on the neck when the dog is straining in the slips. Also deerhounds, wolfhounds etc  somehow don't look right in narrow unshaped collars. :) I know a few people who often walk their deerhounds in harnesses because the dogs wear them as 'seat belts' in the car. The seat belt attachment is unclipped and replaced with a short lead.

HTH