A common root for the large Sighthounds
To day it’s common knowledge that the Celts not only shared borders with the Scythians but they also interacted and traded. Both people where known for breeding better and faster horses than others at the time.
Why have no one come to think of their dogs. The Scythians lived on the steppes in southern – western Russia. They most certainly had dogs. On the vast steppes they needed dogs that could run fast, catch game and guard the camp
At this time there was of course no Borzoi or Wolfhound but I’m sure they were of long legged hound type. Sighthounds is known to have existed since thousands of years in regions south of Scythia.
These people where masters of horse breeding, they managed to breed better and faster horses and their sadles, bridles and leatherwork were of the highest class as was their artwork in gold.
It is not very difficult to imagine that they used their skills to breed dogs. Based on saluki-like hounds they may have wanted a larger more powerful dog.
I suggest that a large fast hound was bred by the Scythians and that these dogs was traded to the Celts.
When the Celts moved further and further west their dogs came along and finally settled in Ireland and Scotland.
The Celts, also known for their skills with horses developed the dog into an even larger and stronger dog.
