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Step 1
Look at the general appearance of the Scottish Deerhound. It has a deep chest that is not too broad, but should not be overly narrow. Males are 30 to 32 inches at the shoulders and females are 28 inches and taller. Males weigh 85 to 100 lbs. and females weigh 75 to 95 lbs.
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Step 2
Check that the head is broad at the ears and narrows just a bit to the eyes. The muzzle tapers down to the black nose, giving the Scottish Deerhound a long face. It has a silky-haired mustache and beard. The ears stand up on top of the head, but have a fold in them. They are smallish, and have a glossy feel to them. They are always black or dark. The dark eyes are usually brown or hazel. It is a full eye that has a far look when the Scottish Deerhound is aroused.
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Step 3
Make sure the long neck is strong and sets nicely into the sloped shoulders. The legs are straight and lead to close, compact feet. The hips are wide, giving this breed its power. The tail is rather long and tapers to about 1 ½ inches from the ground. It is covered with hair, and may even have a bit of a fringe.
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Step 4
Pet the harsh, wiry coat. It is 3 to 4 inches long. The hair on the head, belly and chest is quite a bit softer than the hair on the rest of the body. The fore and hind legs are lightly fringed. It is typically dark blue-gray in color, but may be darker or lighter shades of gray or brindle. Some Scottish Deerhounds are sandy red and yellow or a reddish fawn color--on these colors, the ears and muzzle should be black.
