Scottish Deerhound vs Appenzell Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison

The Scottish Deerhound is considered the Royal Dog of Scotland. It is a sighthound that is large and bred to hunt large Red Deer. They are similar in appearance to the Greyhound, but they are bigger and heavier. Closely related to the Irish Wolfhound, they were used in creating it. The Scottish Deerhound is an ancient breed that is now very rare. It can trace its lineage to the 16th and 17th centuries.

The Deerhound was a favorite of hunting nobility and could not be kept by any person or household that did not have at least the rank of earl. Despite this history the Scottish Deerhound was not considered separate from the Highland Greyhound and other staghounds until the 19th century. They were bred to stalk or “course” the red deer and were used extensively for this purpose until the beginning of the 20th century. At that time there was a need for smaller, slower deer tracking dogs.

At the start of the 20th century, the land for deer hunting had grown smaller and so had the deer. Also, the invention of the rifle made the fast Deerhounds who could cover large tracks of ground in minutes, no longer a necessity for successful hunting. As the clan systems fell and the nobility rose, the Deerhounds became the dog for nobility and landowners. There were a few non-nobilities who also kept them and hunted with them. As they were less needed for hunting a few households kept them as show dogs.

In the United States and Canada, both the Scottish Deerhound and the Greyhound were used for hunting wolves and deer. In Australia, the Kangaroo Dog – a deerhound crossbreed, and Deerhounds were used to hunt wild boar, emu and kangaroos. The Deerhound is one of the oldest of the breeds that are Greyhound-like. The Deerhound is not as fast as the Greyhound if they are running on a smooth surface. Get them on a rough surface and the will out that Greyhound. They appear to be larger and rougher than they really are. This gives them an advantage over the lighter, smaller Greyhound.

The Deerhound was a contributor to development of the Irish Wolfhound toward the end of the 19th century.

Hailing from the Appenzell region of Switzerland and known as the Appenzeller Mountain Dog or the Appenzeller Sennenhunde, this athletic breed of dog has a history which is debatable and which has several theories.

It is believed the dog is descended from Molossus.The Appenzeller Mountain Dog is one of the 4 recognized Swiss Sennenhunds, appearing to have descended from cattle dogs. The first breed club was founded in 1906 by Albert Heim. However, an early reference to the breed's predecessors was made in a book of 1853, where it refers to dogs in the Appenzell region.

In 1898 the Appenzeller Mountain Dog was shown at the first international dog show and was recognized internationally as a separate breed in 1989.

The Scottish Deerhound looks a lot like the Greyhound, except it is heavily boned and larger in size. The Deerhound is also different in several other ways. Instead of the Greyhound, the Scottish Deerhound is more closely related to the Irish Wolfhound than the Deerhound. The Deerhound is a large, rough coated breed. It is a very tall breed; in fact, it is the tallest of all sighthounds.

The Deerhound has a long head with a flat skull and a muzzle that tapers at the end. They have dark eyes and a scissor bite with a tail that can be either curved or straight. The hair on their tails almost touches the ground. The rest of its coat is wiry and harsh with a beard, mustache and mane. The ears are soft and can be either held semi erect or folded against their head. Their coat is gray or grey-blue today but in the past, it might have been brindle, red fawn or yellow.

The Appenzell Mountain Dog is a medium-sized dog standing at between 47–58cm at the withers and weighing in at 22–32kg.

He is a heavy-built dog and sports a tri-color coat – black, tan and white. He has a double coat with the topcoat being shortish, thick and straight. He sheds throughout the year and isn’t hypoallergenic. He has small ears which are high set and which are floppy. The tail is long and curls when held high.

Temperament:

The Appenzell is an active breed who has been used to herding, fetching and working. Because of his energy levels, he won’t fit in well in a small home where his energy needs can’t be met. However wherever he is, he bonds closely with his human family and thrives on attention from them.

He isn’t known as an aggressive dog, but if as a working breed, he felt that the livestock he was guarding was under threat, he could exhibit some aggressiveness.

He gets on well with children in the home and other pets but is inclined to be wary of strangers. Just as with any other dog, training and socialization does wonders for him, making him relaxed and obedient around people and dogs.

1.Children friendliness – yes but watch out for little ones.

2.Special talents - speed and distance.

3.Adaptability - some but needs space to run.

4.Learning ability – intelligent but hunting and running instincts overcome all else.

Herding dogs tend to be independent and somewhat reserved but the Appenzell Mountain Dog is social, outgoing and loving with his human family. When trained and socialized he gets on well with other pets as well as children in the home.

He is a working dog, and thrives on being active, so a good amount of exercise will be necessary. He is a courageous, affectionate dog and when you give him the right upbringing and treat him as he deserves to be treated, he becomes a splendid pet.

The Scottish Deerhound does face some serious challenges on the health front. These include:

• Cardiomyopathy – heart disease.
• Osteosarcoma – Bone cancer.

• Cystinuria – recessive disorder that causes an inability for cystine to be filtered from the urine.

• Gastric Dilatation Volvulus – otherwise known as bloat and it can be life threatening if not treated quickly.

• Hypothyroidism – easily treated with medication.
• Neck pain – if no serious condition – medication can be taken.
• Factor VII deficiency.
• Stress is not handled well in this breed.

There are some health problems with dogs which are inherited. It is why some people insist on getting certificates from breeders to show that the parents were cleared of certain diseases such as hip and elbow dysplasia.

Certainly, it’s a known fact that many health problems can be prevented by the way you feed your dog and the way you raise him.

If you suspect your pet is suffering with an ailment that is making him lethargic and run-down, get him to the vet immediately.

1.Feeding the puppy – Feed a high quality large or x large puppy dogfood at least 3-4 times a day. Do not overfeed.

2.Feeding the adult – Feed a high-quality adult large or x large dog food once or twice a day. Do not overfeed.

3.Points for Good Health - Stamina and speed.

4. Games and Exercises – The Deerhound needs plenty of exercise in a safe place where they have plenty of room to run. A small yard or life on a leash are not enough for this energetic breed. Play fetch, course running, Like the Greyhound they will be couch potatoes if you let them but that will hurt their health. Lure Coursing or hare coursing are good. Coyote hunting. Find space where they can run for the joy of running. Never force them to run – like along a bicycle

Grooming:

You want your Appenzell Mountain Dog to maintain his thick shiny coat, and because he sheds throughout the year, a good brushing twice a week will benefit him.

Dogs with hanging ears, such as this dog, are always more prone to ear infections, requiring more attention to the inside of the ears. Clean, dry ears resist ear infections.

The nails of the dog should also be trimmed when they become too long.

Exercise:

The Appenzeller is a working dog, used to being active all day, so he will require a lot of exercise. He just loves being outdoors, and while he adapts to city- and country life, he will prefer living in the country. Take him for walks, play ball with him and allow him to run with you when you go jogging or cycling.

Diet:

A young adult Appenzeller Sennenhunde will require a different calorie intake compared to a dog that has been spayed or neutered or a puppy that is still growing. You need to watch your dog’s age, his size and the particular season of his life he is in and adjust his food intake.

Kibble is good and well, and there are excellent brands packed with nutrients, but your furry friend will require brown rice, vegetables and cooked chicken mixed into his kibble from time to time as well as raw meat added in when possible.

An excellent diet is important for the wellbeing of your pet, and always ensure that fresh, cool water is available.