THE
DEERHOUND IN AUSTRALIA
Copyright Virginia
Hawke 1999
The Deerhound is one
of the largest of the hound breeds, standing
76-82 centimetres (30-32 inches) at the shoulder
and weighing up to 45.5 kilograms (100 pounds).
A member of the sighthound family, breed
history has evolved around excellent eyesight
and the ability to chase and catch the Red Deer
of Scotland. Although the origins of the breed
are obscure, it is evident that, prior to the
sixteenth century, there was a race of large
dogs in Scotland used to hunt deer. These dogs
form the basis of the modem Deerhound. The
ancient hounds must have possessed great speed,
power and courage to tackle a full grown stag.
It was probably the
result of this successful combination of talents
that encouraged early settlers to bring the
Deerhound to Australia. Here was a dog that
could provide the settlers not only with
entertainment in the form of coursing but also
much needed meat for the pot. Wealthy, pioneer
pastoralists often of Scottish descent,
established themselves throughout south eastern
Australia. Thomas and Andrew Chimside, Henry
Rous and Aenus MacDonnell were just a few who
vigorously promoted the introduction of game
animals, including deer, hare and fox in order
to fulfil their needs to make Australia similar
to their previous home. It stands to reason that,
if it was of utmost importance to acclimatise
introduced species, so also would it have been
crucial to import the means by which to catch
them, namely the Deerhound, Greyhound and
Foxhound.
Prior to 1870, few
official records were kept. It is possible
however, through early painting and literature,
to glean information that the Deerhound, in his
pure form and crossed with other breeds, in
particular the Greyhound, played an integral
part in early colonial life and was a major
contributor in the formation of the typically
Australian sighthound known as the Kangaroo dog.
Gould even makes mention of the Deerhound's
presence in Tasmania in his Macropodidaea
published in 1841.
A Deerhound is in the
foreground of an early colonial work painted by
Van den Houten. The subject of the painting is
the arrival of Buckley in 1835 at John Batman's
camp which was situated at Indented Head
Victoria. Another early painting by Harden
Melville and called 'The Squatter's hut, news
from home' shows what is considered to be a
broadly accurate description of the inside of a
squatter's hut. Aborigines, a pet cockatoo,
guns, riding equipment, dead kangaroos, a
kangaroo dog and a Deerhound, surround the
squatters as they read a copy of the London
News. The painting was originally exhibited at
the twenty eighth exhibition of the Royal
Society of British Artists, London 1851. It is
now in the possession of the Australian National
Gallery.
In his book 'Scotch
Deerhounds and their Masters.' George Cupples
writes of kangaroo hunting and his search during
1856 for two thoroughbred Deerhounds to send to
a friend in Southern Australia. He relates how
"The young hounds stood the voyage well, were
duly received, and heartily acknowledged,
whereafter good accounts came to hand as
regarded their doings, in comparison with the
heavy mastiff-bred lurchers or light
greyhound-like coursers that hitherto had almost
exclusively flourished along the rivers Murrey
and Darling, and at the Antipodes in general,
for hunting purposes." As if to verify Cupple's
conviction as to the talents of the purebred
Deerhound, an etching printed in the Illustrated
London Times, 4 February 1860, depicting two
Deerhounds over the kill of an 'old man'
kangaroo proves not only the quality of the
Deerhounds present in colonial Australia, but
also their ability to cope reliably with the
alternate quarry and its environment.
Further evidence as
to talents and ingenuity of the Deerhound as a
hunter in the Australian bush is recorded in
'Bush Wanderings of a Naluralist' written by an
Old Bushman in 1860. "The very best kangaroo dog
I ever knew, was an old imported snipenosed
white Scotch Deerhound, such as the ones
Landseer loved to draw. He was worn out, but
although he scarcely had a tooth left, could
manage a kangaroo single handed and his scars
show him an old warrior.".... "The breed of
kangaroo dog in use out here, is a large broken
haired Scotch Deerhound, the general colour red
or badger pied."
The discovery of gold
in Australia heralded an era of change.
Increased population provided much needed and
diverse input into the cities and a surge of
interest in farming provided the basis for
massive land redistribution to new immigrants.
It also saw increased interest in the purebred
Deerhound, not only as a means of controlling
the rapidly increasing native and feral animal
populations, but also as an exhibition animal,
capable of holding its own at newly formed
Agricultural Society shows. Written records of
breeders, importations and pedigrees became far
more prevalent, and it is possible, from the
early 1870s to piece together a reasonably
accurate account of the Deerhound's development
within Australia.
The Illustrated
Australian News 28 January 1876 printed an
etching under the title 'A hunting party corners
an aggressive kangaroo.' The two Deerhounds
featured holding the kangaroo at bay are so
typical in every way. It would not be
presumptuous to assume that these dogs were also
exhibition animals. Queen Victoria sent Red
deer to the McConnells at Cressbrook, Queensland
in 1873. The descendants of these deer are still
thriving today. It is in the annals of the
McConnell's family history that the first
documented evidence of Deerhound importations
appear. Roy and Corrie were imported from the
United Kingdom and have the distinction of being
the first Deerhounds exhibited in Australia at
Brisbane in 1877.
Quality was given an
enormous boost in 1890 when John Robertson of
Melbourne imported two well known British
Deerhounds, namely Rossie Bran and Rossie Cora.
Cora was bred en route to Australia and shortly
after her arrival gave birth to ten puppies. An
Australian newspaper commented thus... "The dog
Rossie Bran is a grand fellow, with that immense
power, combined with agility, which stamps the
word 'noble' on this ancient and splendid
breed.... Rossie Cora is a meet companion for a
lady. although not as powerful either in jaw or
bone, she is of great size, and possesses as
good a coat as one wishes. These dogs are not
only an ornament and an attraction as show
animals, but
should prove of great
service in breeding dogs in the colonies."
Blelby reports in his
book, The Dog in Australasia published in 1897,
that it would have been difficult to find many
colonial bred Deerhounds of verified parentage
during this time that did not contain a strong
infusion of Bran and Cora. Certainly this was
true when reviewing the hounds of David Syme
from Melbourne. David was a successful breeder
and his dog, Blytheswood Cheviot, a prominent
winner. Cheviot was a son of Bran and Cora.
Cheviot proved a useful stud dog. His son,
Tirrengower Bruce an upstanding dark brindle dog
owned by the Winter-Irvings, won first at the
Victoria Poultry and Kennel Club in August 1896.
Bran and Cora must
have been helpful to breeders such as Mr J. A.
Dickson of Moncrieffe Kennels, Macquarie Fields
NSW. Dickson bred Deerhounds for as long as
twenty five years prior to a circular he wrote
in The Stock and Station Journal in 1897
praising their abilities as hunters in the
Australian bush. "The Deerhound I have today is
my ideal dog, and is capable of killing any
dingo or fox single handed. To improve my
strain I use fresh blood of the best killing
strain, which must have pace....They are
absolutely pure Scotch Deerhound."
In the 1890s, the
Deerhound was given a further boost by the
enthusiasm of Cecil Davies. In the mid 1890s,
Davies imported two well known show winners from
the United Kingdom namely Lord Morag and Newton
Spey. Morag, a litter brother to Swiftness, Ch.
Selwood Callack and Ch. Selwood Dhouran was
purchased from Mr Hood Wnight and reputed to be
the best example of the breed that Australia had
so far seen. Cecil Davies set up his
'Strathdoon' Deerhound kennel, first in Victoria
and later at Blacktown in New South Wales.
During his involvement with the breed Davies
produced many hounds of unquestionable quality,
some notables being: Strathdoon Rapid Bruce, a
fine hound standing thirty inches owned by Sam
Horden, Jun. of Sydney. Horden incidentally,
imported Fair Catherine of Abbortsford and bred
under the 'Redford' prefix., Strathdoon
Highlander, a strong fawn dog owned by Mr
Frewing of Sydney, who also imported Scottie and
Scotch Lassie; and Strathdoon Laird, owned by Mr
Pigdon. Laird was used several times at stud
during the early 1900s by W. Kenneally of
'Lennox' Kennels, Melbourne.
Cecil Davies bred
more than three hundred Deerhounds, many were
sold to squatters and others for the purpose of
killing kangaroo and dingo. It is interesting to
note that for a few years Davies also bred
Borzois and at one stage, was promoting
Deerhound Borzoi cross progeny as 'Strathdoon
dingo killers' During the 1890s interest in
the breed was quite widespread and further
promoted by R. Christison of Hughendon,
Queensland, who was thought to have imported a
pair of Deerhounds, but no particulars seem to
have survived, and W. D. Robertson from
Victoria, who owned the Clandonachle Kennels and
exhibited Deerhounds on a regular basis at
leading shows. A prominent member of this kennel
was the large brindle dog named Strange II .
In the early 1900s,
Davies was forced to retire from serious dog
breeding due to the pressures of business. He
sold the best of his kennel to Mr Percy Palmer,
who bred Deerhounds under the 'Linthorpe prefix.
In an interview with the English newspaper 'Our
Dogs' in 1902, Palmer talks of the successful
kangaroo hunt he participated in with his
Deerhounds, in particular litter brothers
Linthorpe Outlaw and Lindthorpe Brutus. "At the
foot of the hill we espied a splendid
kangaroo....the dogs were fresh, and simply flew
after their quarry. By the time we arrived at
the struggle we found the two dogs had got the
kangaroo down, and a magnificent war was waging.
The young dog was tackling so gamely that 1 had
the other one called off, and there we stood
round, each with his horse's bridle slung in his
arm, and settled down to enjoy a glorious fight
between a marsupial over six foot in height and
a Deerhound. About eight minutes saw the end,
and one and all were delighted with the pluck of
the youngster .... Yes, blood will tell, and it
only shows that you cannot do better than keep
strictly to the letter in breeding a dog known
for centuries for his game and speed."
When Percy Palmer
returned to live in England some of his hounds
went to Sam. Horden Jun. The balance returned to
'Strathdoon' kennels. Cecil Davies it seems,
found it difficult to do without the breed and
renewed his enthusiasm for breeding. He
collaborated with breeders such as Mr Christie
of the successful Tranent Kennels in Queensland
and purchased from him Tranent Maid. Mr
Christie succeeded in breeding hounds of quality
and his Tranent Model was a Best in Show winner.
He imported Dandy of Abbortsford in 1895.
Shortly before World
War I Mr R. Trotter arrived from Scotland and
settled in Queensland. He was accompanied on his
voyage by his eleven Deerhounds. Although the
purebred Deerhound had keen supporters, World
War I slowed breeding activities to a minimum
and, by the 1920s, the breed had almost died out
in Australia.
Fortunately, Cecil
Davies was still dedicated to the pure
Deerhound. He joined forces with Dr Crookston of
Camden, New South Wales whose prefix was
Cloverlea and Jack Morgan of Gunning New South
Wales of the Nelanglo prefix as well as Mr and
Mrs Mat. Murrey of Gisborne, Victoria, whose
prefix was Brealand, to ensure the breeds'
survival. The last heard of Cecil Davies was in
the form of a letter he wrote to Donald Thomson
in 1946. In the letter he wrote of his
association with Deerhounds and how he missed
their company, he was hoping to purchase a puppy
but Donald had none available for sale.
Luckily, for the
future of the Deerhound, interest in breeding
purebred hounds was shown by two stalwart
enthusiasts, namely Dr Donald Thomson and Mr
Douglas Mummery both of Victoria. Following
closely in their footsteps was Mr Charles
Venables also of Victoria. It is a result of the
dedication of these three men that the Deerhound
prospers in Australia.
Dr Donald Thomson was
an esteemed anthropologist and biological
scientist with a life time interest in
Deerhounds. He purchased his first Deerhound, a
Brealand dog in 1922 from Mrs Murrey. In the
early 1930s he purchased Nelanglo Heather from
Jack Morgan. Heather became the foundation bitch
for St. Ronans kennels (Australia). In 1934,
unable to find a suitable mate for Heather,
Donald imported Walau Mack, bred by Cecil Payne
of Invercargill, New Zealand. Mack was a fine
wheaten hound and stood thirty four inches at
the shoulder. Heather and Mack bred successfully
and produced quality progeny, particularly Ch.
Sir Kenneth of St. Ronans. Sir Kenneth was
exhibited in Sydney, Melbourne and Tasmania. He
was later purchased by Charles Venables.
In 1938, Donald
travelled to the United Kingdom where he
purchased two Deerhounds, namely Rustic of Ross
and Nairn of Rotherwood. As fate would have it,
World War II commenced and Donald enlisted in
the Royal Australian Air Force. St. Ronans
Kennel was virtually put on hold, the imported
dogs were sent to Cecil Payne in New Zealand for
safe keeping. Unfortunately, neither dog left
any progeny.
As was the case world
wide, Deerhounds suffered loss of numbers and a
restriction of bloodlines during World War II.
St. Ronans Kennel was no exception. It was the
close collaboration among Thomson, Mummery and
Venables that virtually saved the day for
Deerhounds in Australia. Douglas Mummery grew up
fascinated by his uncles' Deerhounds that were
purchased from Captain McMillan of New South
Wales. Prior to the outbreak of the World War II
Doug registered his Heatherglen prefix. He
purchased a bitch named Brealand Melba and a dog
named Brealand Chieftan from Mrs Murrey and
later two bitches and a dog from Mr Morgan.
Donald Thomson also, sold Doug a pup named
Gelert of St. Ronans from a breeding of Mack and
Heather. In 1949 Doug imported Reiver of
Geltsdale from the United Kingdom. The new
genetics, In turn enabled Donald Thomson to
re-enter the breeding scene as he purchased two
bitches from Doug, sired by Reiver out of
bitches which contained original St. Ronans
bloodlines.
The foundation stock
for Charles Venables well known Atlas Kennels
was aquired from both Donald Thomson and Doug
Mummery. Charles purchased Sir Kenneth of St.
Ronans in 1941 and later Walau Queen (Imp. NZ)
from Donald and Heatherglen Kathleen from Doug.
A keen supporter of
hounds that could hunt efficiently, he bred a
purebred Deerhound to an In'sh Wolfhound in the
hope that he could improve size, stamina and
temperament. The resulting hounds were then bred
back to Deerhounds of unquestionable parentage
such as Reiver of Geltsdale and later, Enterkine
Fergus of Portsonachan, who was imported by Doug
Mummery from the U.K. in 1954.
Under the Atlas
prefix, Charles bred many breeds of sighthound.
In the early years he concentrated on Borzois
but they later gave way to Deerhounds. His faith
in Deerhounds is recorded in an article he wrote
in 1972 "I have hunted with every type of hound
and owned and bred most at some time or another.
To me the Deerhound is the finest running hound
of all. Its' gentleness and sensitivity complete
the picture of his sterner qualities; qualities
which make the dog the best hunting companion a
man could have.
The 1950s and 1960s,
typified with stability, proved fruitful for the
breed. Thomson, Mummery - who imported Murdo of
Portsonachan in 1964- and Venables continued
their breeding programs. Among them they
produced some hounds of outstanding type:
Heatherglen Dragon, bred by Doug Mummery and
owned by Leo McCormick and later, Donald
Thomson, was a hound with a reputation for great
depth of quality. This he threw to his
offspring. Also influential during this time was
Betty Wallace. Betty moved from Scotland to
Queensland in 1961 and established her Dalmore
prefix.
The 1960s heralded an
influx of new breed enthusiasts. Two of these
were particularly influential, as they imported
Deerhounds from the United Kingdom. These
Deerhounds stamped their mark on future
generations and opened up breeding
opportunities. Noel Wettenhall of Glenholford
kennels imported Moss Trooper and the bitch
Liath of Portsonachan in 1966, while John Gorman
imported Woodman of Ardkinglas. These imports
were used extensively. Woodman was particularly
prolific. Sold to Charles Venables, he was used
extensively at stud and produced some quality
progeny.
Names such as St.
Ronans Rhyme (Aust), Glenholford Jenme, Atlas
Bounce, Glenholford Mighty Mac, Atlas Jennie,
and Glenholford Skye were making their presence
felt in Deerhound circles by their ability to
breed and show well.
Glenholford Skye was
the foundation bitch for Mrs Bacon. Skye was by
Moss Trooper and out of Liath of Portsonachan.
In 1970 Mrs Bacon imported from Miss Noble's
world renowned Scottish kennels Ulnic of
Ardkinglas. Liath was bred to Ulnic and two of
the resulting progeny proved influential in
future breeding programs. These were, Rothemere
Aimil, who was the foundation bitch for
Hellemore ( later Liathghorm ) kennels of South
Australia owned by Judy Fallon and Rothermere
Adamh, owned by the Wises of Western Australia.
Adamh won the hound group at Perth Royal in 1971
and 1973.
Donald Thomson died
in 1970, his kennel retained in the capable and
dedicated hands of his wife, Dorita. In 1972 the
Deerhound Club of Victofia was formed. Dorita
became the inaugural president, and held the
position until 1975. Through to 1999 she has
continued to lend support to the club in the
role of editor of the bi-monthly magazine, club
historian and breeder. The advent of the
Deerhound club meant information became far more
accessible and interest in the breed has
steadily increased over the past twenty five
years.
The early to mid
1970s saw the emergence of new kennels
influenced by dogs from Atlas, St. Ronans and
Heatherglen. Three new imports from the United
Kingdom also made their presence felt. These
were, Erceldoume Helm, Uptonmill Aspen and
Uptonmill Arka all were imported by Doug Mummery
in 1975. Doug remained a staunch supporter of
the breed until his death in 1998.
The prefix, Ballewan,
owned by Deborah and Julian Guthrie and later
renamed Clachtoll when Deborah continued
breeding individually, has produced hounds of
outstanding worth since the 1970s. Deborah
Guthrie has made an enormous contribution to the
state of the Deerhound in Australia over the
last quarter of a century. Her role as secretary
of the Deerhound Club has been virtually
continuous since its inception. Campaigning and
breeding dogs of the calibre of Ch. Carebou
Kestral, Ch. St. Ronans Findon, Ch. Atlas
Roderick Dhu, the well known and influential
sire Ch. Ballewan Gremlin and Tabrahil Nagarl,
has secured her an unquestionable place in
Australian Deerhound history.
Paul Wilson based his
Ballencrea kennels on stock purchased from the
Guthries as well as the imported bloodlines of
Erceldoume Helm and Uptonmill Aspen. Ch. Orbust
Donich, imported by Anne and Bill McQuillan in
1976 was also incorporated into Paul's breeding
program. Ch. Ballencrea Inverness was bred by
Paul in 1982 and has been his most well known
Champion.
Charles Venables
continued actively breeding during the seventies
and eighties. Of particular importance to the
breed during these years was a bitch he bred
namely, Ch. Atlas Amanda. Born in 1969, Amanda
was a prolific breeder, and produced some
quality stock, some progeny had a lasting effect
on the breed and were influential in the
formation of kennels such as Daidh (Davidson),
Plelades (Doyle) and Atlantean (Snow). Charles
bred Amanda to Lochfyne Tarquin, bred by Graharn
and Dianne Birch and to Atlas Laird MacArthur.
Together with Ch. Atlas Dinah and Ch. Atlas Elsa
she ensured Charles a prominent position in
Deerhound history during these decades. The
Amanda line was secured within Atlas kennels by
the use at stud of her son Ch. Atlas Argus.
Argus in turn left many offspring, many of these
were subsequently bred with. Charles continued
to breed Deerhounds until his death aged eighty
eight in 1987.
The mid 1970s saw the
emergence of Nelungaloo kennels, owned by Kevin
and Virginia Hawke of Parkes, New South Wales.
Their foundation sire, Ch. Nelungaloo Top Hank,
was bred primarily from Atlas and Lochfyne
lines. By combining Top Hank with bitches that
ran back to Ch. Atlas Elsa, Ch. Atlas Amanda and
Ch. Atlas Amulet, they produced a consistent
line of hounds capable of performing equally
well in the show ring and the field. Ch.
Nelungaloo Loosen Up and Nelungaloo Huntalong,
born in 1977, were siblings sired by Ch.
Nelungaloo Top Hank out of Atlas Dai Sheba.
Between them, they not only won numerous show
awards, including Best Exhibit in Show, but also
succeeded in producing a line of Deerhounds that
embraced breeding programs both in Australia and
throughout the world. In particular, United
States, Switzerland, New Zealand, Germany and
Finland.
Nelungaloo Huntalong
had four litters, she was bred once to Ch.
Ballewan Gremlin, twice to her nephew Ch. Daidh
Lord Douglas and then to a son of Douglas, Ch.
Nelungaloo Texas Tea. Huntalong's offspring were
often of extraordinary quality, and formed the
backbone for such kennels as Casbairn (Parnell),
Stringyridge - later Stringybark(Corthome),
Weirskints (Stead- later Gendle) and Argowan (Bugges).
The Hawkes campaigned
their kennel in the show ring during the late
1970s through the 1980s and intermittently in
the 1990s. During this period, Nelungaloo hounds
won numerous awards, including Best Exhibit in
Show. Exhibited with particular success were,
Ch. Nelungaloo Top Hank, Best in Show winner Ch.
Nelungaloo Loosen Up, Nelungaloo Huntalong ,
Casbalm Go Lightly, Ch. Daidh Lord Douglas, Ch.
Nelungaloo Swift, Ch. Nelungaloo Marinda and
Best in Show winner Nelungaloo Streak.
Between 1984 and 1991
Ch. Nelungaloo Fleet dominated Deerhound
exhibition and made a name for herself in all
breed competition. The well known and
internationally acclaimed daughter of Nelungaloo
Huntalong and Ch. Daidh Lord Douglas is the most
awarded Deerhound in the history of the breed in
Australia, with numerous Best in Show awards.
Fleet's charisma
becomes evident when international Specialist
judge and author Mr Kenneth Cassels ( Sorisdale
) described her in the (UK. Kennel
Gazette..August 1995, as the all time greatest
Deerhound "In my opinion the greatest ever
Deerhound was Australian Champion Nelungaloo
Fleet. She was a supremely efficient working dog
- 1 have seen her running and taking kangaroos
as a youngster - and she matured into the most
beautiful show specimen with a wonderful record
in the Australian show ring. She had beautiful
angulation at the rear but also - more unusually
- in front, and was superbly well balanced. To
cap all she had a lovely temperament".
Similarly, when Miss
Noble (Ardkinglas) was asked by Dog World (UK)
1997. The Deerhound not owned or bred by herself
that she considered closest to the standard, she
wrote "Ch. Erceldourne Tay of Geltsdale.... also
Aus. Ch. Nelungaloo Fleet, a bitch in Australia,
very shapely and feminine with lovely quarters
and bend of stifle".
During the 1980s,
more Deerhounds were imported, this time not
only from the United Kingdom but also from the
United States of America. Kevin and Virginia
Hawke imported Gaylewards Embassador from Gayle
Bontecou in 1984. Joe and Cynthia Hands imported
Ardkinglas Hunter and Dorita Thomson imported
Ardkinglas Hermes in 1979 and 1987 respectively,
and David and Pamela Moffitt bought in two
bitches from England, Dingledyke Ozzimandlas in
1982 and Kilbourne Sherry in 1986. All these
hounds were widely used at stud and opened the
gene pools for Australian breeders.
The 1990s has
heralded further advances in technology and
attempts have been made to introduce new
bloodlines through artificial insemination
rather than importing the actual dog. Jocelyn
and Rodenick Thompson imported frozen semen from
Fernhill Coventry (Canada) Christine Stead
imported semen from Sindar Megabuck (USA). Pam
and David Moffitt and Helen and Joe Putrino also
imported frozen semen, this time from the UK. Except
for one litter bred by Christine Stead the
process has so far proved less than fruitful.
There would not be
many breeds that have lived in Australia as long
as the Deerhound. This says well for their
constitution and adaptability. Consistently used
as a hunting dog, it is perhaps this usefulness
that has protected them from radical change and
makes Best in Show awards even more meaningful.
Over the past decade,
Deerhound enthusiasts world wide are realising
that the Australian bred Deerhound has a lot to
offer. It is therefore, not uncommon to see dogs
exported from Australia making an impact on
breeding programs throughout the western world.
We will wait to see what the next century brings.
Virginia Hawke BA.,
Nelungaloo Deerhounds, Parkes NSW, 19 September
1999