Here at IndulgeYourPet, we’re really not going to blame if you you’ve never heard of or know anything about the American Staghound. After all, there a relatively new “type” of dog and are not currently recognized by the American Kennel Club or the United Kennel Club either!
Which is why…
We wanted to take a moment and discuss exactly what an “kind” of dog an American Staghound is so that if you’re currently seeking a new pet you might have a better idea if an American Staghound might be the right dog for you.
American Staghound Fast Facts
Origin: United States of America
Purpose: Hunting and companionship
Lifespan: 10-15 years
Average Weight: 45-90 pounds
Average Height: 22-33 inches
Origin of the American StaghoundYou can probably guess by name where this dog comes from – yep; you’re right, the good ol’ U.S. of A. The American Staghound is believed to be a cross of the Scottish Deerhound, Greyhound and possibly some other dog breeds.
Remember…
As we’ve already stated, the American Staghound isn’t an official breed so it’s true and proper lineage is still a bit “in the works”.
Which means…
That as of now, the American Kennel Club and the United Kennel Club aren’t about to recognize this pup as anything more than a mutt. But trust us, we have it under good authority that your American Staghound Dog really doesn’t care about his or her official “status” and neither do their proud owners!
Plus…
The UKC and AKC’s lack of recognition doesn’t mean that these dogs aren’t going to have their own unique characteristics and personality traits, it only means that in the eyes of these organizations, it’s not considered a true “pure breed”.
Which is probably a good thing…
Because many “purebreds” can tend to have a lot of serious medical conditions due to improper breeding practices which the American Staghound simply doesn’t have (yet)! But we’ll get into all of that later, let’s first though talk a little more about what makes an American Staghorn an American Staghorn.
The American Staghounds vs. Lurchers Conundrum
A Lurcher is pretty similar to an American Staghound – and to be honest, sometimes the terms are interchangeable. The main difference is that the term “lurcher” is British or Irish dog whereas an American Staghound is a, well, American dog. DNA may be the same, but place of birth still creates an identity, even in the Doggo world. Both of these dogs could have Greyhounds, Deerhounds, terriers or other dogs in their dog genealogy.
Personality of the American Staghound
You’ll notice from the time your American Staghound puppy comes home that he or she is going to be a sweet and affectionate. Your staghound is likely to be pretty friendly with just about everyone he or she meets and is likely to make new friends wherever he or she goes.
Or in other words…
These dogs get along with just about everyone. However, that being said, this is usually a “dog person” kind of dog. If you don’t know the first thing about dogs, you might go an easier route.
What do we mean by this?
That’s easy, American Staghound are visual site hounds that like to hunt things that they can see. Which means that if you’re on a walk and your Staghorn see a rabbit or a squirrel… Good Luck! He or she is going to be off to the races!
Plus…
These dogs tend to be “independent thinkers”. Now this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it just means that they’re first going to listen to you and then decide for themselves if they want to do what you asking. As a result, those who are familiar with training or owning a dog like this may become upset or frustrated with their Staghound, whereas the right owner would understand that this is simply a part of what makes him or her what they are!
Will an American Staghound get along with kids?
Yes! This is a great dog for kids. However, only due to its size, you will definitely want to be a close observer whenever this dog is around tiny tots. Also keep in mind that though American Staghounds are pretty smart, but they aren’t always the smartest dog in the world. This is why you may need to continually remind your Staghound that you kid isn’t a “rabbit” or a “squirrel” and that they shouldn’t continue to chase your little one all around the house!
If you’re looking…
For a really smart, kid-friendly big dog then it really shouldn’t come as a huge surprise that we here at IndulgeYourPet will typically recommend folks take a look at perhaps a Golden Retriever or a Labrador Retriever instead of an American Staghound.
Does this American Staghound get along with other animals?
Yes, this is a very social dog, but keep in mind it’s still a hunter. It may – even out of play – do a lot of chasing of smaller dogs or pets. It may even wind up in attack mode. We recommend you put an American Staghound only with other dogs that can hold their own, like perhaps a terrier or another similarly sided hound.
Characteristics of the American Staghound
Since this dog is usually bred using a greyhound, it’s a strong yet slender dog. Usually the coat is pretty short and low maintenance. Depending on the breeds in this pup’s line, he or she could be a combo of black, brown, white, blonde, or brindle.
This dog normally stays pretty fit, especially if you exercise together as regularly as you should. And keep in mind, this is really only a dog for an owner willing to be active. If you’re not up for a daily walk or ball fetch session, then this dog is probably going to be too much for you!
Health concerns for American Staghound
Here’s the good news: the closer a dog is to a mutt, the healthier her or she is likely to be. Purebreds tend to have a lot more health problems than an American Staghound dog. Due to the long chest of an American Staghound, the dog does have a moderate risk of getting gastric dilatation volvulus. But what are you going to do, lots of dogs are at risk for this condition.
That said however…
Gastric dilation volvulus or bloat is a VERY serious life threatening medical condition that can affect many different larger sized breeds of dogs. So, before you do decide to purchase an American Staghound, this should be something you ask your dog breeder about.
Also: it’s important to note that American staghounds can be sensitive to anesthesia. If you plan on getting your puppy spade or neutered, keep that in mind (though hopefully your vet will already know this!).
Lastly…
Whenever we speak with an individual that is considering adopting a puppy or adopting a recue dog, we always like to encourage them to also take a look at what it might cost to purchase a pet insurance policy on their animal as well.
The reason for this…
Is because owning a pet can be really expensive and you never know what conditions your dog may or may not develop over the course of his or her life. Which is why, knowing that you have a pet insurance policy in place that could help you afford the cost of treatment if the need arises is HUGE!
Now will…
A pet insurance policy be right for everyone? Probably not, but until you know what it costs how will you know if it’s right for you?
For more information on who we feel currently offers the “Best” pet insurance policies in the industry, feel free to check out our Best Pet Insurance Companies article.
