A large sighthound, not to be confused with the extinct English Staghound (which in type was an overgrown Foxhound), it is sometimes referred to as the Cold-blooded Greyhound. This impressive breed was employed in the Wild West to hunt down marauding wolves and coyotes.
In appearance this dog is the American equivalent of the British Lurcher, but it is a much more powerful dog, built on a larger scale. Looking like a huge, rough-coated greyhound, it was created from crosses between English Greyhounds, Scottish Deerhounds, Irish Wolfhounds and Borzoi, all of which were imported into North America in the 19th century.
This tough, thick-skinned, athletic dog proved to be of great value to the early pioneers who were struggling to conquer the untamed lands of the West. Their livestock was constantly at risk from attacks by local predators, and they needed a canine defender capable of dealing with these formidable enemies. The Staghound was the answer to their prayers, accompanying hunters on sweeps through the countryside and defeating even the biggest wolves.
Once the West had been fully settled, the American Staghound was no longer needed as a wolf-hunter, but it was fast enough and strong enough to pull down even the most muscular deer. Deer-hunting became its new, exclusive role as a sporting dog, and remains so to this day.
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