The coat of the Scottish Deerhound is relatively easy to care for, needing merely a brush with a pin brush on a regular basis, and combing through with a wide-toothed comb to remove burrs, etc. The coat is shaggy, but not over-coated, and a woolly coat is considered unacceptable.

The correct type of coat for this breed is thick, close-lying and harsh or crisp to the touch. The hair on the body, neck and quarters is required to be 3 inches (7 cm) to 4 inches (10 cm) long. The hair on the head, breast and belly is softer. A slight hairy fringe on the inside of the forelegs and on the hind legs is typical.

The color is dark blue-gray, darker and lighter grays or brindles and yellow, sandy-red or red fawns with black points. A white chest, white toes and a slight white tip on the stern are permissible, but the less white the better, as the Scottish Deerhound is a self-colored dog.

Grooming Procedure

Equipment needed: Pin brush, comb.

The show dog must be bathed and groomed about a week before a show to allow the coat to settle.

• Brush through the coat with a pin brush.
• Bathe as little as possible. If the dog is very dirty and there is no avoiding it, bathe it using a suitable shampoo for coarse hair.
• Towel dry and finish with warm air, a cage dryer or a blower.
• Comb or brush through the coat once again.
• Check the dog’s nails, ears and teeth.
• The Scottish Deerhound is presented as naturally as possible, though the ears can be trimmed to make them appear “mouselike”.