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Hound breeds: Otterhound
Origin
According to Stonhenge, the Otterhound's ancestors are the Southern Hound and the Welsh Harrier. The French origin seems to be the most probable. Marples describes the Otterhound as an almost exact duplicate of the old Vendee hound of France. The two breeds are alike in both coat and body formation. The first true description of the Otterhound came in the time of King Edward II (1307-1327) from a huntsman who described them as "a rough sort of dog, between a hound and a terrier." Otter hunting was not a popular sport in England. It came about because the otters were preying on the fish in rivers and streams. Later it enjoyed some popularity because it was the only kind of hunting allowed between April and September. The Otterhound's most popular years were from the mid- to late 19th century.
Otterhounds first came to the United States around 1900. The first Otterhound to show in America was in 1907 in Claremont, Oklahoma. The Otterhound has never grown to wide popularity in America.
General description
Height: 23-27 inches
Weight: 65-110 pounds
Color: Any color or combination of color is acceptable.
Grooming requirements
The Otterhound needs to be brushed biweekly with a slicker brush and a metal comb. The comb should be used after the slicker brush to ensure there are no areas of dead coat left. When using the comb, be sure to comb all the way to the skin; this will remove any and all dead coat, making the coat fluffy and soft while being mat-free. The major problem areas with Otterhound are the bib, beard, neck, the ear area, and the hind quarters. Since the beard is constantly exposed to food and debris, you need to brush this daily to ensure that no matting occurs here. Regular ear cleaning and nail trimming must be done.
Health considerations
Health concerns for the Otterhound are hip dysplasia and several bleeding disorders.
Breed characteristics and personality
The Otterhound is unfailingly devoted to his master and makes a good companion dog. He can live outdoors. He needs grooming and sheds. He's a good swimmer and loves the water.
The Otterhound is courageous, cheerful, tenacious, affectionate, amiable, boisterous and even-tempered. He is inquisitive and perseveres tenaciously when investigating scents.
Uses
This dog's preferred prey is the otter. His sense of smell is so acute, he can smell in the morning an otter that passed through the water the night before. He's highly esteemed as a companion dog.
Web links
AKC Otterhound page
Otterhound Club of America
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