Maida (1813–1824)^[1] was a dog belonging to Sir Walter Scott.^[2] Sometimes called a Deerhound, Maida was a crossbreed from a Pyrenean Wolfdog and a Highland Deerhound,^[3] and was reported to be his favourite dog.^[4] The animal was named after the Battle of Maida, which took place in 1806, and was a gift from Alexander Macdonell of Glengarry (Alexander Ranaldson Macdonell), a friend of Scott, and whose brother led the 78th Highlanders in the battle, a victory for the British against the French in the Napoleonic Wars.

Scott wrote to his son Charles that "Old Maida died suddenly in his straw last week, after a good supper, which, considering his weak state, was rather a deliverance; he is buried below his monument, on which the following epitaph is engraved in Latin [Maidae marmorea dormis sub imagine Maida / Ante fores domini sit tibi terra levis],^[5] thus Englished by an eminent hand : -

'Beneath the sculptured form which late you bore,

Sleep soundly Maida at your master's door.'"^[6]

The monument mentioned is a statue of the dog at the hall door of Scott's home, Abbotsford House.^[6]

A statue of Scott at the Scott Monument in Edinburgh includes Maida gazing up at the seated figure.^[7] William Allan painted "Sir Walter Scott with His Dog 'Maida'" in 1831.^[8] Alexander Nasmyth painted the dog alone.^[9]

The part of Scott's statue in Perth featuring Maida was stolen, for a second time, in 2020.^[10]

• Statue of Scott and Maida at the South Inch, Perth, Scotland, dating to 1845
• Sculpture of Maida