Scottish Deerhound history begins in the Highlands, a mountainous region in Northwest Scotland--but the specific time frame of the breed's origin is largely unknown. Early deerhounds of this type had several names: the Scottish Greyhound, the Highland Deerhound, and the Irish Wolfdog (some historians believe they were once used to hunt wolves as well as deer), among others.
It is known, however, that as far back as the 1500s the breed was well-known for its ability to track and bring down deer in the Highlands wilderness. Even then, the Scottish Deerhound was pretty rare, as only people of noble descent were allowed to own them. (In fact, for a long time the breed was known as the Royal Dog of Scotland.) Through the centuries, breeders refined the bloodlines, until the Scottish Deerhound as we know it today emerged during the 19th century. At some point the Scottish Deerhound made its way to North America, where it soon began appearing in the show ring; the American Kennel Club formally recognized the breed in 1886.
During World War I, the already rare Scottish Deerhound further declined in numbers due to the political turmoil in Scotland, England, and elsewhere. Luckily a few breed members survived, and over the next few decades its population rose again (though the breed is still not very common).
As of 2021, the Scottish Deerhound ranks 158th in popularity on the AKC's list of 284 recognized breeds.
