The Otterhound is a large, noisy, and friendly dog that was bred in medieval England for the now-illegal activity of otter hunting. This rare breed is distinguished by its dense shaggy coat, webbed feet, keen sense of smell, and fondness for swimming. These large, bouncing hounds were great for otter hunting. From the top of their rough, waterproof coat to the bottom of their huge webbed feet, OHs are built to be great swimmers. They can swim all day without tiring due to their large chest and powerful shoulders. Their large black nose is extremely sensitive and can track an otter’s underwater scent trail for long distances. And the OH’s size and strength allowed them to take on a 20-pound sharp-toothed, razor-clawed otter.
Otterhound
even-tempered / amiable / boisterous
Hound Group >>
Average sizes and life
expectancy of the breed.
Height
27 inches (male)
24 inches (female)
Weight
115 pounds (male)
80 pounds (female)
Life Expectancy
10-13 years
Breed Traits & Characteristics
Shedding Level
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.
Coat Grooming Frequency
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.
Drooling Level
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.
Coat Type
Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.
Coat Length
Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.
Affectionate With Family
How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.
Good With Young Children
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.
GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.
Shedding Level
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.
Coat Grooming Frequency
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.
Drooling Level
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.
Coat Type
Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.
Coat Length
Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.
Openness To Strangers
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!
Playfulness Level
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.
Watchdog/Protective Nature
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.
Adaptability Level
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.
Trainability Level
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!
Energy Level
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.
Barking Level
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.
Mental Stimulation Needs
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.
About the Breed
What To Expect When Caring For a Otterhound
Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.
Health
Otterhounds are a healthy breed for their size, and responsible breeders examine their stock for health issues such as epilepsy and hip dysplasia, though even dogs with significant hip dysplasia on radiographs may move extremely well for the rest of their lives. Otterhounds, like all large canines, are susceptible to bloat, a potentially fatal illness in which the stomach enlarges and sometimes twists. Owners should educate themselves on the symptoms of bloat and what to do if it occurs.
Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club:
- Hip Evaluation
- Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia DNA Test
Grooming
Although Otterhounds should be displayed as naturally as possible, their coats do require brushing once or twice a week, depending on length and texture. This requires a nice slicker brush and a medium comb. Because the dogs drag their beards on the ground and store snacks in them, the Otterhound's beard may need to be cleaned at the same time. Every week or two, your nails should be clipped.
Exercise
Otterhounds require both mental and physical exercise. A large, securely enclosed yard is a fine place to start, although some hounds will prefer to lay beneath a tree in a fenced acre than self-exercise. Long walks to see the world and meet pedestrians are beneficial to both owners and hounds. Tracking, agility, and obedience classes all provide cerebral stimulation as well as physical exercise.
Training
Otterhounds, despite their size and strength, can be extremely sensitive. To achieve the best results, use positive, reward-based training approaches and praise. Otterhounds, like people, enjoy being told how beautiful and talented they are when they master something. Please be patient. Food is normally effective in training, but the combination of food and praise is even more effective. Clicker training is also effective with Otterhounds.
Nutrition
The Otterhound should do well on a high-quality dog food, whether commercially manufactured or home-prepared under the observation and consent of your veterinarian. Any diet should be tailored to the age of the dog (puppy, adult, or senior). Some dogs are prone to becoming overweight, so keep an eye on your dog's calorie intake and weight level. Treats can be a valuable training aid, but feeding too much can lead to obesity. Discover which human foods are suitable for dogs and which are not. If you have any concerns regarding your dog's weight or diet, consult with your veterinarian. At all times, clean, fresh water should be available.
History
A large otter population preyed on fish in rivers and stocked ponds in medieval England. Country squires and even kings retained packs of Otterhounds to protect this vital food source. Otter hunting was never as popular as the renowned foxhunts of the British gentry, but it did help fill the spring and summer months for sportsmen waiting for the fall hunting season. Otterhound groups were so effective at their job that river otters were virtually extinct, and hunting them was prohibited.