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The first year of a deerhound puppy’s life sets the foundation for a confident, healthy adult. Deerhounds are large dogs with special considerations during growth—their bones and joints need careful management, and their natural prey drive requires early training. With consistent care, socialization, and patience, your puppy will become a steady, trustworthy companion.
Bringing your puppy home
Deerhound puppies are large even at eight weeks old and grow rapidly. Prepare your home before arrival by setting up a safe space—a pen or crate to prevent accidents and keep the puppy safe from hazards. Remove polystyrene, bean bags, or other items the puppy might chew and ingest, as these can cause serious blockages. Arrange for time off work in the first week to help your puppy settle and begin house training.
Puppies from responsible breeders should arrive microchipped, vaccinated, and with health records and pedigree documents. You will also receive a feeding history so you can gradually transition to your chosen diet. Do not change food abruptly; mix increasing amounts of new food with the puppy’s familiar food over a week or two to avoid digestive upset.
House training and sleep
Puppies cannot control their bladder fully until around twelve weeks old. Take your deerhound puppy outside first thing in the morning, after meals, after play, and before bedtime—expect trips every two to three hours during the day. Reward toileting outside with praise and a treat. Accidents indoors are normal; never punish them. Clean thoroughly with enzymatic cleaner to remove scent marks that might attract the puppy back to the same spot.
Do not use polystyrene or bean bags as bedding, as puppies may ingest the filling. Choose washable bedding, a sturdy crate, or a pen. Many owners use a crate for sleeping; a crate helps with house training and gives the puppy a safe den when unattended. Establish a quiet sleeping area away from the main household noise.
Vaccinations and worming
Your vet will provide a vaccination schedule; most puppies receive their first vaccination before eight weeks old, often before leaving the breeder, followed by a second dose from around ten to twelve weeks, with some vaccine protocols including a further dose at sixteen weeks. During this time, avoid taking your puppy to parks, training classes, or socializing with unknown dogs, as protection is incomplete. Worming protocols typically begin at two weeks old and continue fortnightly until twelve weeks, then monthly until six months, then quarterly. Follow your vet’s recommendations closely, as parasites can impede growth and cause serious illness.
Microchipping and registration are legal requirements; by UK law, all dogs must be microchipped and registered on an approved database by eight weeks of age. Confirm your breeder has done this or arrange it with your vet immediately upon taking the puppy home.
Socialization (weeks 3 to 16)
Puppies have a critical socialization window from three to sixteen weeks. During this period, positive experiences with people, environments, sounds, and other animals shape behavior for life. Introduce your puppy to friendly adults and children, different flooring and surfaces, household sounds (vacuum, doorbell), vehicles, and veterinary handling (touch paws, look in mouth, ears, eyes). Once initial vaccinations are underway (after the second injection), brief, controlled exposure to vaccinated, healthy adult dogs helps your puppy learn canine communication.
Avoid overwhelming the puppy; short, positive exposures are better than long outings. If the puppy seems frightened, remove it calmly and try again later with lower intensity. Poor socialization during this window can lead to fear or aggression later; good socialization is an investment in your dog’s emotional wellbeing.
Managing growth and exercise
Large-breed puppies grow so rapidly that their bones are soft and vulnerable to injury. Restrict strenuous, repetitive exercise such as long walks on lead, jumping, or fetch games until the puppy is at least nine to twelve months old. Free running and play are fine—let the puppy play and rest as it wishes in a safe space. Climbing stairs repeatedly can stress growing joints; supervise stairs or use a gate to prevent excessive climbing in the first year.
Feed a large-breed puppy formula (if using commercial food) rather than standard adult food; these formulas are carefully balanced in calcium and phosphorus to support proper bone development. Overfeeding accelerates growth too quickly and stresses joints, so follow feeding guidelines for your puppy’s current weight. Discuss feeding portions with your vet at each check-up.
Training foundations and behavior
Begin basic training immediately with short, positive sessions (5–10 minutes). Use treats and praise to reward toilet training, coming when called, sitting, and lying down. Consistency matters more than intensity; a five-minute session daily is better than a long session once a week. Deerhounds are sensitive and respond better to encouragement than harsh corrections. A harsh word is often enough to deter unwanted behavior.
Teach a solid recall (coming when called) as early as possible, as deerhounds have a strong prey drive and will chase small animals if given the chance. Train this reliably in a controlled area before practicing in open spaces. Introduce a lead and collar early; some puppies resist initially, so make it positive with treats and praise.
Crate and crate training
Crates provide a safe den and aid house training. Introduce the crate gradually by leaving the door open, tossing treats inside, and allowing the puppy to explore freely. Once the puppy is comfortable, close the door briefly while you are present. Never use the crate as punishment. Most puppies learn that the crate is a safe place and will rest there voluntarily.
Feeding and nutrition
Feed a high-quality, age-appropriate puppy food (large-breed formula if commercial). Follow feeding guidelines on the package, adjusting portion as the puppy grows. The Kennel Club and BVA recommend three to four meals daily for puppies under six months, then transition to two meals daily for the rest of the dog’s life. Fresh water should be always available. Avoid feeding within two hours before or after exercise to reduce bloat risk.
Preventative health checks
Take your puppy to the vet for vaccinations and health checks as scheduled. Use these visits to discuss any concerns about growth, behavior, or health. Ask about neutering age; most vets recommend waiting until the puppy is fully grown (around 12–18 months for large breeds) to allow hormones to support proper skeletal development, though this should be discussed individually.
Key points
- House training requires frequent outdoor trips; expect accidents until 12–16 weeks of age.
- Avoid strenuous exercise until nine to twelve months old; let puppies play and rest freely instead.
- Socialize your puppy during the critical window (3–16 weeks) with people, places, and other animals.
- Follow vaccination and worming schedules from your vet to protect against infectious diseases.
- Use positive reinforcement for training; harsh corrections are unnecessary and counterproductive.
Related: Deerhound help near you