Shoulders to be of good slope and blades well back. Loaded and straight shoulders are faulty ones.
_Stern._--To be tolerably long, tapering and reaching to within 1-1/2 inches of the ground, and about the same distance below hocks.
When the Hound is at rest, tail ought to be quite straight down, or curved.
[Illustration: DEERHOUND CHAMPION ST RONAN'S RHYME (Property of Mr HARRY RAWSON).]
[Illustration: DEERHOUND DOG CHAMPION SELWOOD MORVEN (Property of Mr HARRY RAWSON).]
During excitement, curved, and in no case lifted out of the line of the back.
It should be well covered with hair on the inside, thick and woolly, underside longer, and a slight fringe near tip not objectionable. A curl or ring tail very faulty.
_Eyes._--These should be dark; generally they are dark brown or hazel. A very light eye is not liked. The eye is moderately full, with a soft look during repose, but a keen, far-away expression when the Hound is roused. Rims of eyelids ought to be black.
_Body._--The body and general formation is that of a Greyhound, of larger size and bone.
Chest deep, rather than broad, but not too narrow, and flat-sided. The loin well arched, and drooping to the tail. A straight back is not desirable, this formation being unsuitable for uphill work, and very unsightly.
_Legs and Feet._--The legs to be broad and flat, with good broad forearms and elbows.
Straight fore-limbs, and close compact feet.
The hind-quarters to be drooping, and as broad and powerful as possible, the hips being set wide apart.
The hind-legs to be well bent at the stifle, with great length from hips to hocks, and the latter broad and flat.
Cow-hocks, weak pasterns, straight stifles, and splay feet are the worst of faults.
_Coat._--The hair on the body, neck, and quarters should be hard and wiry, and about 3 or 4 inches in length, and that on the head, breast, and belly much softer. There ought to be a slight hairy fringe on the inside of the fore and hind legs, but nothing approaching the feather of a Collie.
The Deerhound ought to be a shaggy dog, but not overcoated. A woolly coat is a bad one.
Some good strains have a mixture of silky coat with the hard, and this is preferable to a woolly coat. The proper Deerhound coat is thick, close-lying, ragged, and harsh or crisp to the feel.