History of the breed

"The Deerhound of Scotland hunts primarily by sight and owes it's origin to the Greyhound of England.  Through the centuries there have been various rough-coated greyhounds, and the Deerhound has sometimes been confused with the Irish Wolfhound.  However, there is a substantial difference between these two breeds, with the Wolfhound possessing a much heavier frame, and the Deerhound carrying a head that is closer to that of the Greyhound.  The Deerhound is a breed of great antiquity.  It is likely that the breed was kept in Scotland in the middle 16th century, and there are several references to dogs of Deerhound type in subsequent centuries.  In 1637 a dog clearly resembling the breed, but called a White Hairy Greyhound, was shown.  A drawing by Abraham Hondius, dated 1682, very clearly depicts a Deerhound and written evidence of the breed first appeared in 1769 when Pennant visited Gordon Castle.  He describes a large dog, covered with long hair and used by the Scottish chiefs in stag chases.  We learn from Ralph Beilby's  'A General History of Quadrupeds' (1790) that what he called the 'Scottish Highland Greyhound or Wolfdog' was formally used by Scottish chieftains in their grand hunting parties.  Beilby mentions a dog, 'it's eyes half hid with hair' and 'it's body was strong, muscular and covered with harsh hair." *

* 'Deerhound' by Juilette Cunliffe

"Favoured by Highland chieftains for centuries, the Deerhound was once known as the 'royal dog of Scotland'.  Anyone below the rank of earl was forbidden to own one.  So valued were the dogs as hunters that the Picts and the Scots were known to battle bloodlily over a stolen Deerhound."

*Readers Digest Book of Dogs

The Deerhound eventually became a companion dog, a role for which it has proven well suited.  It is intelligent, calm and gentle.