Live Life Team
The Scottish Deerhound is named as such because the dog breed originated in Scotland. While it can’t be verified, some people believe that the Scottish Deerhound is one of the oldest dog breeds that still exists today. They believe that it has been around since before the beginning of recorded history, although it is obviously impossible to verify whether that is true or not.
Scottish Deerhounds are most often used as hunting dogs. They get their name because they specifically hunt Red Deer. They are sight hounds and they attack their prey using coursing techniques. Coursing means that the Scottish Deerhound will spot his prey, the Red Deer, and then run after it until he catches it. They use their high levels of stamina and speed during coursing, as well as their heightened sense of sight. Unlike some other hunting dogs, Scottish Deerhounds don’t rely on their sense of smell during the hunt.
The body of the Scottish Deerhound closely resembles that of a Greyhound. They are lean and very muscular, with barely any body fat at all. The biggest difference between a Scottish Deerhound and a common Greyhound is the coat. Greyhounds normally have a very short coat that lies flat against the body. That’s not the case for the Scottish Deerhound. They have a longer coat with a mane, beard and moustache. Their fur is longest on the chest and is soft on the face and belly. They also have long fur on their long, floppy ears.
