"Mapleridge Kennels" 

is located in Gembrook, Victoria.

Both Richard and Graeme are dedicated to preserving this most

"Noble Breed of Hound"

 and as such, we carry quite a few Deerhounds to maintain the bloodlines here in Australia.

We are passionate about conformation, temperment and working ability and we only breed from quality dogs and bitches and won't settle for anything less.

We strive for :

Temperment. 

•  Small cat like feet.
   
•  Small ears.
   
•  Dark eyes.
   
•  Well angulated front shoulders. 

Our hounds are all slightly different and we have not bred the perfect Deerhound as yet, but we are getting close!!!!

It's like putting pieces of a jigsaw together.

So, why do we harp on about working ability?

Well it's very simple.

 We have the resources to work our hound's and we work most weekend's and as such, we can easily see if a "Deerhound" owned by us has the abilities to work all day and to show us that he or she is "sound" in body and mind.

If they are, then we breed from them and rear them well, to produce pups that are winners in the show ring and the field.

No show Judge can prove a dog !!!  Entirely,

whatever breed, because they only spend 5 mins approx with a dog.

Recently at a Deerhound Speciality Show held here in Melbourne, the Judge was a personal friend of the Exhibitor of the Challenge Dog.

 Is it right?

No it isn't !!

When you work them, you know them.

Although, we acknowledge and respect the Show Ring and the Judges concerned, we are not convinced that all show dogs, that are winners, should be bred from.

Are we going down the same road as other Countries, with the breeding of Deerhounds?

Well not here at "Mapleridge"!!

It's real simple..... 'A dog of any breed should be able to

work and be very good at their work'.

Isn't that why, they became the reason for existence?