Sunday Times - 1925

THE DEERHOUND    

This dog is one of the breeds that dates back to a very distant period,and is probably the same which is spoken of in "Encyclopaedia Britannica" as the "Wire-haired Irish Grey-hound or Wolf Dog," which was im-ported into Scotland, where it becameestablished as the Scottish Deerhound.The Deerhound is sometimes referred to as the Staghound, from the fact that it is used to hunt the stag in Scotland. This is, however, a great mistake, as the Staghound is a large Foxhound,whereas the Deerhound, like the Grey-hound, hunts its game by sight, but will sometimes put its nose down and hunt by scent.

Sir Walter Scott brought the Deerhound into prominence by the following description: "Almost perfect creature of heaven: of the old Northern breed, deep in the chest, strong in the stern, black color, and brindled on the breast and legs, not spotted with white, but just shaded nto grey, strength to pull down a bull, swiftness to cote an antriope." This description cannot, however, be accepted as quite correct, as a little white on the chest and even on the less is admissable, but it is not desired. The Deerhound, although he has in great part lost his vocation, is still occasionally used in the Highlands for coursingthe stag. The introduction of firearms and the more accurate shooting of the modern rifle, together with the subdivision of deer forests, have been accountable for the disuse of the Deerhound in Scotland, besides which hunting the deer in this way disturbs the forests too much, which are desired to be kept quiet for stalking with the rifle. In color the Deerhound is generally steel grey or brindle, but fawn dogs of the breed are sometimes met with. The latter, however, as arule, are not so hard in coat as the darker dogs, which are certainly the more popular. He is in shape like the Greyhound, but larger, and has a shaggy coat of hard texture. The head of the Deerhound should be long,pointed at the muzzle, and rather broader at the top of the skull, which should be flat. The hair on the head is  somewhat smoother than on the body,but there should be a pronounced moustache of rather silky hair. The ears, which are important, as they indicate quality or otherwise, should be small and carried like those of the Greyhound. They should be soft, and set on somewhat high. The neck should be lengthy and strong, in order that he can hold a stag, the shoulders should be well sloped back into the body and clean, without any prominent muscular development, which should be more apparent in the haunches. The tail long and tapering, and carried gaily, but never over the back. The eyes should be dark brown or hazel, of fair size, with keen expression when the dog is on the alert. The loin strong, with powerful quarters, and hock well let down, and the forelegs quite straight, with compact feet and well rounded toes. The coat should be  thick, about three inches in length, and of a hard and wiry texture. There should be slight feather on the insideof the hind legs. The height of a dog should be about 30 inches, and that of a bitch two or three inches less. The dog may weigh as much as 1001b. and the bitch as much as 80 lb., but 10 lb. or so either way, more particularly beneath the weights given, are not objectionable.

THE SCOTTISH DEERHOUND.

The Scottish deerhound is one of the most noble looking speciesof the canine race. He is also in-telligent and companionable, and in the service of man he is invaluable as a hunter and sportsman's companion (says a Melbournepaper). It is, therefore, a subject of much congratulation that Mr.Cecil Davies has ' frozen on ' so thoroughly to this ancient breed,and has gone straight to the fountain head for the best blood of the best strains where with to carry on breeding operations in a proper manner. Newton Spey is one of that gentleman's importations, and a more perfectly symmetrical animal could scarcely be conceived.She has a beautifully balanced body, strong throughout, yet full of grace. Her shoulders, legs,feet, are first-class, while her typical bead and sensible face and eyes show her to be of the best of her race. In Great Britain she was most successful as a show bitch, and gained six firsts, five seconds and a special at the CrystalPalace. In '95, just before leaving for here, she, at Birmingham defeated a bitch that has since won her championship at the Kennel

Club show at the Crystal Palace.So far as breeding goes Newton Spey is of the best blood, she being by Ewen — Elsie. In a year or two, with such animals as Mr.Davies has, his kennel will increase in strength, and, with such as Newton Spey, quality will not be  wanting.

THE BEST HUNTING DOG  

Mr. J. A. Dickson, of Macquarie Fields,writes:-I have been connected with out-backstations for upwards of 20 years, and have had extensive experience with fox, kangaroo,and dingo killers throughout the western part of Queensland, where it Is a common thing to see a pack of 20 or 30 purebred dingoes. Not a cross, as many people may think, although tho crossbred dog is always the most trouble-some. I have seen four of these crossed dogs kill a full grown fat cow.

Many a time I have left the homestead at daylight and returned at sundown the sameday with from 15 to 20 dingo scalps strapped to my saddle - all killed by dogs. At that time the scalps were only worth 2s 6d each.I have seen nothing to equal the pure bred deerhound, commonly called a staghound, for both kangaroo and dingo killing. A cross between a deerhound and a greyhound is very good, and some of these dogs show any amount of pluck, and a little more pace than the pure deerhound. But in preference I would take the pure deerhound, as he has without doubt the greatest staying power and determination to kill his game. I have found that the pure greyhound, on the coarse side, shows plenty of pace when the country is not too rough, and is an exceptionally good kangaroo killer, but is not too willing to tackle a dingo. Only odd ones I have seen will take to a dingo, and in rough country they are apt to maim and kill themselves. Once they get hurt they will throw up the chase. Not so with the deerhound. The more he is hurt the more determinedly he will pursue his game, but it is very rarely he ever gets hurt. He is the only dog I know that will stand mountain work, his feet being suited for rocky country.

THE HAUNTED HILLS LION. - RESEMBLES A DEERHOUND.

ORBOST, Wednesday -Mr H Curtis,a commercial traveller, while on a visit to this district quite recently, and travelling on a motor-cycle along a road nearHaunted Hill wAs greatly surprised while mending a puncture to see a wild animal, which he took to be a deerhound making towards him. Luckily he had just finished mending the puncture, and quickly  mounted his machine and rode off. Mr.Curtis had previously heard of a wild animal killing sheep in the district, and on one occasion attacking a man on horseback. Possibly this hound seen by Mr. Curtis is what caused the lion scare.

200 MEN EQUAL 1 DEERHOUND.

How much is a deerhound worth? Read this before you answer.A Scots king used to hunt with his deerhounds in the Grampians, where lived the Picts. One day the Picts stole the King's favourite deerhound. After collecting an army the king pursued the thieves. Before the  thieves were defeated in the battlethat followed, nearly 200 warriors were slain. But the king recovered his dog.    One dog was considered worth nearly 200 human lives. 

A PRIZE DEERHOUND IN THE POLICECOURT.

The deerhound Sir Gavin, winner of first prize at the last Birmingham show, who is the property of Major Davis, was (states the Stockkeeper) the central figure at a trial in the Bath Police Court on the 3rd March.It seems that last summer an order was made upon Major Davis, of 55 Pulteney-street, to keep the deerhound in question under proper control. It was alleged that the major neglected to do so, and at the instance of Mrs. E. M.Stone, of Caerbadon, Cleveland-walk, a fresh summons was taken out. On Christmas Eve Mrs. Stone, accompanied by a St. Bernard,was walking down Pulteney-street, when she saw Major Davis approaching with two deer-hounds coupled together. Knowing that the dogs had been quarrelling before, Mrs. Stonetook hold of her dog by the collar. Notwithstanding this, the fawn deerhound sprang towards her,and, jumping on one side to avoid him, she fell in the snow, and the hound seized her twice in the thigh, inflicting, according to the testimony of Dr. Percy Wilde, two circular bruises. It was also stated that had it not been by the protection afforded by her clothing Mrs. Stonewould have been severely bitten. Miss Edith Hotham's evidence fully confirmed Mrs. Stone's  account of the occurrence. Many witnesseswere called who had been attacked by the dog,and, although on several occasions the animal's aggressive habit was only shown by rough play, there were annoyance had been caused. A curious fact in connection with this dog's delinquencies wasthat he had a penchant for assaulting women, as most of the witnesses belonged to the other sex.It is well known that some dogs have an innate aversion to persons in uniform, and the explanation which is usually given to account for it is the irritable suspicion aroused in the dog by anything out of the common; but, of course,this will not explain an animosity to women. Mr. Clifton, who appeared for the defendant,minutely cross-examined the incriminating witnesses without being able to shake their testimony in the least. He called no witnesses for the defence, but stated that the dog was a docile animal, which lived with children, and this habit of jumping on people was quite harmless.These dogs were ungainly, almost elephantine,in their gambols, and possibly people were frightened when there was no need for it. After a lengthy consultation in private the chairman said the bench had given the case anxious consideration. They thought that the complaint was proved, and they made an order for the dog to be destroyed. Mr. Titley asked for an order for expenses. Mrs. Stone said, "I'd rather forego the expenses altogether."

SAM THE DEAD DEERHOUND.

The lamented death of Mr. Owen Smyth's deerhound "Sam" formed the subject of a case at the Local Court on Wednesday morning which was not concluded until the gas had been lighted. Mr. Smyth claimed £30 from Mr. A. G. Phillips, grazier, of Magill, for the destruction of the hound,  which the defendant admitted having shot on the public road because it had worried his lambing ewes, and for which damage he counter claimed £10 15s. Mr. A. W.Piper appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr.Frank Downer for the defendant. This deerhound was a thoroughbred dog of, according to Mr. Smyth, "superlative"  quality. Mr. G. Aytort, an expert, valued it at 25 guineas, and said it was one of the best in the colony, and certainly did not worry sheep. Mr. Smyth in the  box said that the dog-was given to him by  a friend. Mr. Downer — Did its parents  take prizes? Mr. Smyth— I should think not. It is too much bother taking prizes.(Laughter.) Mr. Downer— Do you know a good deerhound when you see one? Mr.Smyth— Yes. I am one of the best judges of dogs in the colony. Mr. Downer— How long does a deerhound live? Mr. Smyth —Well, I can't say. One of mine died, another was stolen, and the other one was shot. Mr. Downer — Then your knowledge of deerhounds is very limited? Mr.Smyth — Is it? You put half a dozen of them in front of me, and we'll see. Mr.Downer — What sort of ears did your dog have? Mr. Smyth — Proper deerhound ears. Mr. Downer — What sort are they? Mr.Smyth-Oh! dogs' ears. (Laughter.) I'l ltell the Court what a deerhound should be. His Honor — We don't want to know anymore than Mr. Downer wants to know.Mr. Downer— What should his height be?Mr. Smyth— Two feet 6 in., 7 in., 8 in., o 9 in. Mr. Downer— What weight? Mr.Smyth— I don't know. I don't judge by weight. I would, have to refer to the book for that. Mr; Downer — What book have  you got? Mr. Smyth— Stonehenge. Mr.  Downer—That's very ancient. Mr. Smyth —Well, if I want a more modern one I'll come, to you. Mr. Downer— You know Mr.Phillips would not have shot the dog if he knew it was yours? Mr. Smyth— Yes. He did it in a temper, and will have to pay for it. (Laughter.) I would not have brought this claim if I thought that the dog worried his sheep. The Court found that  the deerhound had worried the plaintiff's sheep, and awarded Mr. Phillips £5 damages without costs on the counter  claim. They found a verdict for £15 with  costs for Mr. Smyth as the value of the dog, the worth of which, Mr. Russell said was discounted by its bad quality of going after sheep.