I am often asked the question: what is it like to live with a dog like this? And almost immediately comes the statement: it must be a lot of work, right?
Well, every dog is a responsibility - each one needs their needs met, from the most basic physiological ones to emotional and social needs. For me, a Deerhound is a responsibility I truly love, one that brings me an immense amount of joy.
Take a morning, for example. You can wake up to the traditional sound of an alarm clock. Or you can be awakened by the thundering of sixteen paws heading upstairs to the bedroom because if it’s dawn, the day must begin. There is no more effective way of waking me up than the method my Scottish hounds use: a cold, wet nose pushed into my face, followed by a slap from a huge tongue, a warm breath blown into my ear… and eventually, you give in and get up. 🙂
And what if it’s the weekend and you want to sleep in? You can but somehow there will be less space in the bed. A Deerhound loves comfort and closeness to their person, so they are more than happy to lie down with you. Once they climb onto the bed, moving them is no easy task: over 40 kilos of dog makes a difference. But in return, they will keep you warm, and their calm presence will make you both start the day like true zen masters.
A day without a walk is a day wasted. You cannot “walk” a Deerhound in the garden, and even outside the garden, a walk on a leash is not what truly satisfies them. Free movement and exploration are absolute must-haves for a Deerhound. So we pack the whole canine crew into the car and head to the nearby meadows, which we love to explore together, enjoying the beauty of nature in every season. And no this is not a chore for me. It’s the best part of the day. We return oxygenated, relaxed, sometimes tired if the walk was long, but always happy.
When a Deerhound isn’t walking, they are sleeping. They can sleep through three quarters of the day, preferably on your sofa, striking poses worthy of a yoga photoshoot. The only thing likely to wake them is the sound of the fridge opening, because as intelligent creatures, Deerhounds know it’s worth being in the kitchen when a human is cooking. Cooking in the company of Deerhounds is a pleasure, they are always ready and eager to cooperate as taste testers. 😉 You just have to remember that if you don’t clean the kitchen counters afterwards, the Deerhound will do it for you and check whether the food left there is indeed fit for consumption.
And what about the less pleasant duties? In truth, the only obligation connected with having dogs that I find bothersome is the need for more frequent cleaning. Four large, shaggy dogs in the house mean sand on the floor and hair on the sofa but what are such small inconveniences compared to the love, peace, and joy they bring into my life every single day?
