Deerhound

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History/Origin
Deerhound originated from Scotland. In this country, deer forests are abundant so the need for dogs bred mainly for hunting become pressing. Because of this need, a dog is bred similar to the Greyhound to serve the same purpose -- hunting deer -- hence the breed's name. Deerhound pursues the deer until it tires out enough to be an easy target for the hunters it serves. When the deer forests in Scotland started to deteriorate, the Deerhound's original purpose came down with it. Today, Deerhound has became more of a household pet and no longer a hunting dog.

Description
Deerhound is a big, active dog, thus from the way it looks, it is quite obvious that it really serves the purpose assigned to it. It has a broad chest, a curved spine, an elongated head and body and amazingly long tail that are all useful when this dog gathers speed.

This big dog's common coat is colored gray with a touch of a shaggy fur that looks like a beard. Its coat's texture is rather rough. The Deerhound has a tapered mouths and dark ears. It may not look as cute and cuddly as little chihuahuas or poodles but it remains attractive enough to hold its own in dog show competitions. Incidentally, nothing much has changed in the Deerhound's appearance since it was first bred.

Temperament
The Deerhound, although it appears rough in the outside can be a real puppy. Since Deerhound is relatively active, it can be uncontrollable while it is in its juvenile stage, but it can grow into a placid adult if supervised. There is also a point in its life when it prefers to be lazy, lounging around almost everyday.

If the Deerhound is left to its own devices in a cramped space, it has the tendency to be sluggish. It needs an ample space where it can move its butt around so it can do some exercises, which most of the time only involves running. One should also be careful when bringing the Deerhound outside. It may be gentle, but it has the tendency to become stubborn when other pets, aside from dogs, and unfamiliar people are around.