American Staghound

The American Staghound is a type of sighthound that is used in hunting to course stag. Although they have been bred for many years, the American Staghound is not currently recognized as a dog breed.
Origin
This breed comes primarily from Scottish deerhounds and Greyhounds. Since the 1900s they have mostly been bred Staghound to Staghound, although superior hunting first crosses continue to be added to the breed. During the settlement and the Westward expansion it was found that the cross between the very fast and fine boned Greyhound with the robust Scottish deerhound gave a coursing animal used for coyote hunting in difficult terrains. Staghounds are currently used primarily to hunt coyote, however they are also used in limited numbers to hunt raccoon, bobcat, fox, deer and feral hog where legal.
Description
Appearance
The American Staghound is not a recognized breed, but it is a type of Sighthound used to course a variety of games.
They are running dogs with physical characteristics very similar to Greyhounds; it has long legs, deep chest, strong muscles and great visual acuity. The color pattern of this breed is also similar to the ones found in Greyhounds and Scottish deerhounds. Another similarity to these other two breeds is the coat that can be found in three different types; the “shag” which resembles the Scottish deerhound, “slick” which resembles the greyhound and the “broken”( a mixture of the “shag” and “slick” coat). This breed is known for having a great speed and occasionally an incredible endurance.
They range in height from 24 to 32 inches (61-77 cm) at the withers and weigh between 45 and 110 lbs (20-45 kg). Although females are generally slightly smaller than males, it is not uncommon for females to reach the same size as the largest males.
Temperament
They are very calm around the home, craving attention from humans and very affectionate to their owner. The American Staghound makes a great companion for owners that can invest the time and vigilance need to keep a true working dog. Their excellent vision allows them to spot other people or animals from a long distance although they are not guardians or protective. Because of their similarity to Greyhounds, they are thought to be hyperactive but are really a bit lazy. They are pack oriented, so they might accept other dogs they know. However, as most are bred strictly for hunting coyote, they can be very aggressive toward strange dogs. This is particularly pronounced in older dogs. Staghounds have very powerful jaws and can kill coyotes, raccoon and similar sized dogs with shocking quickness. Rather than hunting something like rabbits that do not put up a fight when caught, they are instinctively hunters of animals that do fight back when caught, like coyotes.
Health
There are no known genetic health problems because most of them have been bred strictly for hunting in the field. Only the healthiest dogs excel in the field. Being bred for work for countless generations make them very, very healthy dogs. They are sensitive to anesthesia. Typical life span is 12-14 years. Early mortality is commonly due to injuries related to running. Staghounds have been known to break their necks and backs from hitting fences or ditches while running at full speed.
History
The current American Staghound is a result of unknown breeding between Scottish Deerhound, Greyhound and several other breeds. The staghound appeared with its current characteristics in the 1800s. They were originally bred to hunt predators such as the wolf and coyote.

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