THE GORGEOUS DEERHOUND – Part 1/2
Well, the Deerhound is amongst the most attractive of dogs, extraordinarily majestic and striking anywhere he is sighted, whether it is amidst the environs of the opulent hall, sprawling comfortably before the fireplace in the patchy glow of the cheerful log fire that glints on shiny armor and faded drapery; outdoors, pulling at its leash as he sniffs the dew laden air, or delightfully loping over his familiar territory. Elegance and nobility can be seen in his every action and stance, and even the most pedestrian mentality is conscious of an accompanying allure of medieval romance and beauty about him.
Since distant times, the Scottish aristocrats prized their breeds of Deerhound, pursuing wonderful activities in the Highland woods. The Scottish kings, by long-established laws, had the exclusive right over the red deer, and enormous drives, which frequently continued for a number of days, were undertaken to herd the deer into particular quarters for the court’s enjoyment, as was done during Queen Mary’s rule. However, the systematic steering of deer by nobles discontinued during the Stuart issue, and the retainers soon took over the job, and, as a result, stocked up their leader’s larder.
Head:
The deerhound’s head must be very large at the ears, narrowing a little to its eyes, with its muzzle narrowing more distinctly to the nose. It must have a sharp muzzle, but with even teeth and lips. It must have a long head, with a level instead of a round skull, with a fairly slight mount over its eyes, but with no suggestion of a break. Its skull must sport quite long hair that is silkier as against the rest of its fur. It must have a black nose (although certain blue-fawns have a bluish one) and somewhat curved. In dogs with a lighter coat, a black muzzle, undoubtedly, is favored. It must have a decent moustache of fairly smooth hair, and a light beard.
Ears:
Its ears must be placed high up, and, when relaxing, bent back akin to the Greyhound’s, although held erect over the head when stirred without dropping the fold, and also, in certain cases, partially-erect. The ear must be smooth and shiny like stroking a mouse’s coat, and the more diminutive it is, the more elegant. It must not have a long fringe or hair, but there is usually a sleek, shiny cover on the surface of its ear and at the tip. No matter what the typical colors are, the ears must be black or of a deep hue.
Neck and shoulders:
It should have a long neck, a kind of length that suits the Greyhound temperament of the dog. Now the back of its neck must be very distinct where its head is placed on, and its throat should be sharply angled and conspicuous. It should have splendidly sloped shoulders, the blades set fairly back, but not widely spaced.
Darren Williger is an over-caffeinated, low carbohydrate eating, winemaking enthusiast who writes for CaffeineZone.com, MyLowCarbPages.com, and HomemadeWine.com.
