Here we have as handsome a dog as we need wish to see, his general appearance suggesting a rough-coated Greyhound of greater size and substance. Sir Walter Scott's description of the Scottish Deerhound might almost stand to-day. He has a considerable history, if one cares to delve into the past, and Holinshed, who wrote in the sixteenth century, tells how the Pictesh nobilitye repaired unto Craithlint, King of the Scots, for to hunt and make merrie with him. Perceiving that the Scottish dogs did far excel theirs both in fairnesse, swiftnesse, and hardinesse, they got diverse both dogs and bitches of the best kind for breed to be given them. Yet being not content they stole one belonging to the king, which led to a shrewde bickering between them, in which many died.

His Work

Like snakes in Ireland, the work of the Deerhound does not exist to-day, the modern rifle having quite rendered his services unnecessary. Until comparatively recent times he coursed the deer, or tracked a wounded quarry.

His Points

Head broadest between the ears, tapering thence to the nose; muzzle pointed; skull flat, and coated with moderately long hair; ears set on high, and folded back (a prick ear, or one large and coarse, is a bad fault); neck long and strong; shoulders well sloped and clean; body similar to that of the greyhound, but larger and more powerful; eyes dark; coat harsh and wiry, but not woolly. Colour dark blue-grey, lighter grey, or brindle, preference being given to the darker; yellow and sandy-red, or red-fawn.