The Otterhound, also called the Otter Dog, was first described in England during the time of Edward II (1307-1327), as being a rough sort of dog, somewhere between a hound and a terrier. Developed as a scenthound for the sole purpose of pursuing the elusive river otter, this is a big, boisterous but even-tempered breed with a well-established work ethic. Otterhounds are terrific swimmers, aided greatly by their large webbed feet, and they hunt equally well on land. The Otterhound’s most distinctive characteristic is its unusual shaggy coat, which has two very distinct layers and protects it from even the most frigid of water and weather. The American Kennel Club accepted the Otterhound for registration in 1909, as a member of the Hound Group. Today, there are fewer than 1,000 Otterhounds world wide.
The mature male Otterhound stands approximately 27 inches at the withers and weighs about 110 to 120 pounds. Adult bitches stand approximately 24 inches and weigh about 70 to 90 pounds. The breed’s hard, crisp, close coat is slightly oily and water-repellant. There is a dense, rough, broken outer coat of 2 to 4 inches in length, covering a short wooly undercoat. A soft or wooly outer coat is a very serious breed fault. Otterhounds should not be stripped, scissored or trimmed for the show ring. The breed can be any color or combination of colors, without preference. Regular brushing is important to prevent the Otterhound’s coat from becoming matted. His long ears must be kept clean and dry to prevent infection, particularly given his attraction to water.
While otter hunting was never a particularly popular British sport, it apparently existed there to some extent from very early times – first to prevent otters from preying on fish, and later because otters were the only available hunting quarry from April to September. Specialized dogs were necessary to track and land the otters, which could fight fiercely and weigh upwards of 20 pounds. The Otterhound’s ancestry is the subject of some debate. The confusion
Otterhounds are big, shaggy dogs who love to run and swim, but don't like being told what to do. They are friendly and easy going, happy to greet newcomers with a wag of a their tail. Otterhounds are independent animals, however, who don't like being told what to do or when to do it. Their easy-going nature makes this trait easy to overlook, as it's not likely you'll ask him to do too many things
The Otterhound is a shaggy, rough-coated hound who sports a shaggy beard and bushy eyebrows. The head is similar in shape to a Bloodhound, measuring 11 to 12 inches from the end of the nose to the occiput for a 26 inch tall dog, and similarly proportioned for other sized dogs. The muzzle is square, the jaw powerful and the flews deep. The nose should be large and is black or liver in color, depending
The saying goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words”. Check out the many different Otterhound Pictures and Otterhound images. Get an in depth look at the Otterhound and see the many things that this breed has to offer.