Scottish Deerhound

The Scottish Deerhound derives its name from its country of origin, Scotland, and the type of hunting it was utilized for  - hunting deer. The Deerhound, closely related to the Greyhound, was once known as the Scotch Greyhound, Rough Greyhound or Highland Deerhound. In the 16th century, the Scottish Deerhound was recognized as a distinct breed and given its present name. It was bred so that its rough coat could adapt to the rough climate of Scotland. In the Middle Ages, the breed’s ancestors were used as deer dogs. As time went on, the breed became popular among nobility. In fact, law stated that no one ranking lower than an earl was allowed to own a Scottish Deerhound. The already rare breed almost became extinct with the invention of the gun, which made deer dogs nearly useless. In the 1800s, brothers Archibald and Duncan McNeill began a breeding program which is credited with saving the Scottish Deerhound from extinction. During World War II, many Scottish Deerhounds were slaughtered for food. Even today, the breed is still quite rare.