The Scottish Deerhound is a very old breed and is likely descended from dogs that existed before written history. As the name suggests, these dogs originated in Scotland where they were used to work and hunt in the Scottish Highland glens. Up through the 19th century, Scottish Deerhounds were predominantly used to hunt red deer. They remained a popular choice for this job until the turn of the 20th century, when hunting in the area became less prevalent. Although they were mostly bred and kept by nobility, commoners would also breed and raise them whenever possible. By the 20th century, these dogs were becoming less popular. With the larger noble estates being split into smaller estates for sporting purposes, dogs who could course prey over long distances were no longer necessary and were mostly replaced with tracking breeds like Collies. After this decline in popularity among hunters, a number of fanciers began breeding these dogs for show, and continued to preserve the breed.