The Scottish Deerhound - A Complete Anthology of the Dog

By Read Books Ltd.

The Scottish Deerhound - A Complete Anthology of the Dog gathers together all the best early writing on the breed from our library of scarce, out-of-print antiquarian books and documents and reprints it in a quality, modern edition. This anthology includes chapters taken from a comprehensive range of books, many of them now rare and much sought-after works, all of them written by renowned breed experts of their day. These books are treasure troves of information about the breed - The physical points, temperaments, and special abilities are given; celebrated dogs are discussed and pictured; and the history of the breed and pedigrees of famous champions are also provided. The contents were well illustrated with numerous photographs of leading and famous dogs of that era and these are all reproduced to the highest quality. Books used include: Dog Shows And Doggy People by C. H. Lane (1902), The Dog Book by James Watson (1906) and many others.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Read Books Ltd.
• Release date: Jan 31, 2013
• ISBN: 9781447483410

Book preview

With bursting ardor, void of every fear,

Impetuous rushes on the fated deer.

SCOTCH DEERHOUND.

MRS. BEDWELL’S SCOTCH DEER-HOUND RUGBY BLACK BRAN

MRS. BEDWELL’S SCOTCH DEER-HOUND RUGBY BRUCE

THE SCOTCH DEERHOUND

FROM his superior size and rough coat the Deerhound has a more imposing appearance than his refined brother the Greyhound, and many would place him at the head of the family. He is frequently referred to as the Staghound. It is well to note this, to prevent confusion, as in England the Staghound is a totally different dog, hunting by scent alone, and often simply a large Foxhound. He is also named the Rough Greyhound, and the Northern, or Fleet-hound.

Blome, writing of the various hounds of his time, after describing the deep-mouthed hound, says: For the Northern, or Fleet-hound, his head and nose ought to be slenderer and longer, his back broad, his belly gaunt, his joynts long, and his ears thicker and shorter—in a word, he is in all parts slighter made, and framed after the mould of a Greyhound. It is, however, uncertain whether Blome here meant to describe the Deerhound, or the light-built and swift Foxhound of the North, which, by comparison with the slow, deep-tongued, Southern hound, approached to the Greyhound form.

In that much-valued work the Sportsman’s Cabinet no mention is made of the Scotch Deerhound, and the Staghound described and illustrated by Reinagle is a pure modern Foxhound.

Richardson, a well-known authority on dogs, writing nearly sixty years ago, gave it as his opinion that the Irish Wolfhound was the ancestor of the Highland Deerhound, an opinion not by any means well supported; this question, however, is discussed at some length in the chapter on the Irish Wolfhound. Equally open to doubt are the crosses suggested by some as having been resorted to in order to prevent the Deerhound from dying out—and particularly those of the Foxhound and Bloodhound.

In treating of the Deerhound, Stonehenge, who is usually careful and accurate, says: On carefully examining the description given by Arrian, no one can doubt that the dog of his day was rough in his coat, and in all respects like the present Scotch dog. On the contrary, Arrian is very clear on this point, showing he was well acquainted with both varieties, for he says: The hair, whether the dog be of the rough or smooth sort, etc. This is quoted in support of the views of a common origin for all the members of this group. Idstone is inclined to think it is an imported breed; but he gives no reason for thinking so, and declares it is one of the oldest breeds we have.

Sir Walter Scott did much to draw attention to the breed, and the description of the Deerhound he puts in the mouth of the Knight of Gilsland has never been equalled, and no article on the breed is complete without it: "A most perfect creature of heaven; of the old Northern breed—deep in the chest, strong in the stern, black colour, and brindled on the breast and legs, not spotted with white, but just