calling any deerhound breeders/owners!!!
after losing our old scruffy lurcher 3 years ago i've decided its time to get a hairy hound back in my life, i've been looking at getting a deerhound as the ones i've met and what i read of their temperaments seems ideal but was just wondering if there is anyone on here that i might be able to pick the brains of with all my daft questions!!

We met one this weekend at a lurcher show but there is only so long a complete stranger will let twitter on whilst you pamper their dog without them thinking you are totally gaga! And to wait til november for discover dogs to chat with them there feels like any eternity away. any help gratefully received!!

ill pm you with some help

that would be great,
basically i've met a couple of deerhounds over the last couple of months both seem very docile and relaxed their temperament wasn't too disimilar to my old lurcher actually but i have met these dogs for all of two minutes and being quite a significantly large breed i don't want to take the decision to get one lightly. is this their normal temperament or was this that i just met 2 tired hounds after a long walk???
whats your experience with this breed?
how are they generally with much smaller breeds as although i have no other dogs my family collectively have 7 between them (border terriers, cavelier king charles etc) and we all meet quite regularly. obviously i realise it would need to be socialised and stuff but always a little wary with the sight hounds due the their breed instincts so wondering if you've heard of any issues.
other things is the practical side are they reasonable agile....sounds ridiculous i know but i've only seen them pottering on a lead, for instance will it be able to jump into my estate car.....whats the smallest car you could have to comfortably fit one in?? honestly its like i need a little test drive with one to see what things a would need to sort out before i jump in feet first. any offers????

There are several championship shows coming up over next few months in different parts of the country, where are you based as going on Hound day would give you a chance to meet more hounds and their owners and breeders.

For example it is hound day on Friday at the Welsh Kennel Club show at Builth Wells.

the tel.numbner i have sent you will be the very best person to speak to....however I will tell you about my 2 that are now 7 and 9 years old and the 2 we had before them. They can jump 6 feet fences from a stand still. if they see deer within 2 miles they will give them a good chase and go deaf to all shouts.They are bone idle on reaching adulthood ....23 hours sleep a day is their idea of heaven. they dont like the rain. they sulk. they whinge. They get on fine with our cats but would kill any one elses. They are ok with our small terrier but I would be wary if I had to walk in a public place with very small dogs running around that they didnt know, such as in a park. They dont have the hardness or boldness of a lurcher, when it comes to working ability, and they have very low pain thresholds. just a few observations I have made! :)

i'm off too deerhound day in september at lodge park near cheltenham so hoping that will be ideal spot to chat to some owners and see them in action. unfortunately i am east anglia way so wales could be a little trek!!!! but thanks, will see what deerhound day brings, anyone been?

i am going to call that number thanks for that, but they sound like loveable rougues!!

the contact I gave you runs the event at lodge park so you will be in good company! maybe see you there with ours
sam

Sam you forgot to mention that if you get up to go to the loo in the night and leave the door open you lose most of the bed !!!!!

As babies.. they can be a pain in the rear though tbh this is no worse than any baby sighthound or lurcher. They get much nicer as they mature, but can be horrible teenagers!

Mines nearly 2 and is in some respects fantastic, take her anywhere shes fine and polite with everyone/every dog she meets. Shes lovely offlead and can be recalled from some tempting things (horses, horses ridden at speed!) though weve never tried recalling from deer! She can be very whingey and pathetic though.. and very bloody minded! Shes been known to throw tantrums about baby gates being closed... not because she actually wants to go into that room, but because shed like the OPTION to do so!

Her best friend... is a Tibetan Terrier and he copes admirably well with the rough and tumble play, we have had to make doubly sure though that she realises she cannot expect other small dogs to tolerate or invite such rough play (its worked shes very polite with other dogs of any size).

They definately NEED somewhere comfy to lie down and whilst they can fold up very small considering their size, they do like to stretch out fully and they will cry and complain if they cannot do this. We bought a superkingsize bed! (for us as well as her!)