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Staghound
Puppies for Sale
Staghound
(American Staghound)
An example of a "shag" Staghound. Photo Courtesy of Running Sage Staghounds.
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Description |
The American Staghound is not
recognized as a breed, but is a type of sighthound that is used to pursue
(course) a variety of quarry (game). Although he is not recognized as a
breed, some "lines" have been bred together longer than some
recognized modern breeds. The best way to visualize the American staghound
is to blend together the characteristics of the Scottish deerhound with the
greyhound. He is a running dog with the physical characteristics that
would be referred to as the greyhound prototype. He has long legs, deep
chest, and strong muscles. The staghound has great visual acuity, and some
have been bred for some scenting ability while on course. He can be found
in any assortment of color or color patterns that can be found in the greyhound
and Scottish deerhound. There are three coat types: the "shag"
which more closely resembles the Scottish deerhound, the "slick" which
more closely resembles the greyhound, and the broken which is in between the
two. The American staghound has all of the physical and mental
characteristics needed for running down his quarry. He is known for having
speeds that approach that of a greyhound, but unlike a greyhound, some specimens
have incredible endurance. |
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Temperament |
Very calm around the home.
They crave the attention of humans and are very affectionate to their owner.
Although he is primarily used for coursing quarry, the American staghound makes
a wonderful companion. In recent years there appears to be more interest
in the staghound as a pet. He is good with children, but his size can pose
a problem to the young. Most staghounds are wonderful watchdogs due to
their excellent vision, but they are not guardians or protective.
Staghounds are very fast but are not hyper active. To some people the Staghound
even appears to be a bit lazy around the home once mature. The coursing
instinct in the American staghound is unsurpassed, so anything that runs may be
considered quarry. In the field he is courageous, tenacious, and very
determined that will course anything from a rabbit to a deer. The
staghound is pack orientated so it may accept other dogs he knows, but pets such
as cats are a challenge that may not ever be overcome, however other Staghounds
live happily with cats. Staghounds throughout history have been bred for
one purpose, TO HUNT!! Only the best hunters are bred, therefore even
puppies raised in a home grow into some very strong hunting instincts.
Most Staghounds are used for hunting predators not prey. Rather than hunt
something like a rabbit that will not fight back when caught, they are
instinctively hunting something like a coyote that acts like a wild buzzsaw when
caught. They have to be muzzled when unsupervised or running off leash.
They require a special pen to keep them separate from the other animals when the
owner is not able to supervise. The objective in training this
dog is to achieve a pack leader status. It is a natural instinct for a dog to have an order in their pack. When we humans live with dogs, we become their pack. The entire pack cooperates
under a single leader. Lines are clearly defined. You and all other humans MUST be higher up in the order than the dog. That is the only way your relationship can be a success. |
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Height, Weight |
Height: Males 26-30 inches
(67-77 cm.) Females 24-27 inches (61-69 cm.)
Weight: Males 55-90 pounds (25-41 kg.) Females 45-75 pounds (20-34 kg.) |
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Health Problems |
There are no known genetic
health problems, because most staghounds have hybrid vigor. Being bred for
countless generations for function, the American staghound is very
healthy. Due to their low percentage of body fat to muscle ratio, the
staghound is sensitive to anesthesia. They should not be run after eating
a big portion of food due to torsion bloat concerns. |
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Living Conditions |
Not an apartment dog, but can
do well in an urban setting if giving time to exercise in a fenced in yard or
taken on walks. Best suited for rural areas. The shag variety can
acclimate to harsh winter condition, while the slick requires extra attention
during cold winter. Most are kept outdoors, but all prefer the comforts of
living in the home. |
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Exercise |
The staghound requires daily
exercise to mature physically and mentally. Being a calm animal the
staghound doesn’t require exercise to burn off excess energy, but he lives to
run. A daily walk is sufficient, but it is better to obtain a safe place
that will provide free running. The staghound would be a perfect companion
for a person who jogs or rides bike often. |
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Life Expectancy |
12-14 years or more if properly
cared for. A true confirmed story of one particular staghound states that a male
sired two litters at 16 years of age! |
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Grooming |
Just a periodic brushing from
time to time, depending on type of coat. |
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Origin |
The American staghound is
primarily the result of Scottish deerhound and greyhound genetics of unknown
genetic percentages. For the most part, the staghound has been bred
staghound to staghound since the 1700’s. He is not the direct progeny of
a pure Scottish Deerhound crossed with a
pure Greyhound. When America was settled the
Greyhound, Scottish Deerhound, and possibly their crosses found their way to the
New World. Coursing quarry was used for sport, food, and fur. For
the first time ever, the coyote was coursed with running dogs. Coursing
dogs have been used for wolf in other countries as well as in America, but the
coyote posed a new challenge. The coyote is faster than the wolf, and
pound for pound fights as hard as a wolf. Over the course of settlement
and Westward expansion it was found that the cross between the very fast fine
boned greyhound with the more robust Scottish Deerhound gave a mighty fine
coursing animal used for coyote in difficult terrain. The Scottish
deerhound also contributed his rough jacket and better scenting abilities.
Staghound was bred to Staghound and was most often culled specifically for
characteristics that favored the pursuit of coyote. A few hundred
generations of this sort of breeding lead to what many refer to as the epitome
of coyote coursing sighthounds. In essence, the American Staghound was
born. General George A. Custer used the Staghound in 1846 as part of his
dog pack that he used to course on a variety of North American animals.
The Staghound has always been in the hands of huntsmen, and without the right to
pursue quarry with running dogs the staghound will go extinct |
| Group |
Sighthound |
Recognition |
The American staghound is not
recognized as a breed although he has been around longer than some of the modern
recognized breeds. He has always been bred for function and not for
type. There are no breed standards, and currently there is no movement to
push the staghound into breed recognition. Most huntsmen believe that the
staghound should be left unrecognized as a breed so he will be preserved as a
coursing animal bred for work and not for show. |
This is Cruiser, she is 28 inches (73 cm.) tall.
Staghounds should wear a basket type muzzle
when running off leash (alone or with other animals)? ....alone, because you
never know when someone else's dog is going to come running out of nowhere....
with other animals simply because they will go after even the other dogs they
live with.
A Staghound may be friends with a cat, but this same dog
contently sleeping with the cat will still chase and kill a cat
or dog. They a have a strong instinct to chase and killing things that are
running. Staghounds are not being mean when they chase and kill, but simply
following their instinct.
Staghound Pictures 1
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