An old British dog breed, the Otterhound is a scent hound that was developed so that it could hunt otters. Its origins are not well known, but it is believed to originate in France and to have been developed by crossing the Bloodhoud, Terriers, Harriers and Griffons. It is currently considered a rare breed, with only 1000 specimens being estimated to now exist in the world.
The Otterhound was especially needed in a time when fishermen competed with otters to catch fish. The otters were preying on fish, so fishermen decided to hunt the otters in order to protect the fish supply. This hound proved to have a remarkable sense of smell, being able to catch in the morning the scent of an otter that had crossed the water during the previous night. The otter population started to drop its numbers in the 20th century and therefore this dog breed became less popular and thus less numerous also.
When sea otters were declared a protected species, in 1979, this hound became even rarer. It should be said that river otters, on the other hand, are not considered an endangered species. At one point this hound became an endangered breed and efforts were put in by breeders to save it. Currently, it is still considered to be a rare hound, yet no longer endangered. It can be used with success for hunting bear, raccoon and mink. It is appropriate for drag hunting and searching and it is a great swimmer.
A large scent hound, it has a slightly rectangular body, a big and rather narrow head and a muzzle that is approximately of the same length as the skull. The nostrils are wide, the teeth meet in a scissors bite and the eyes are set deep. The color of the eyes varies with that of the coat, and they can be dark-colored or hazel. The hanging ears are set low and are long, reaching at least the top of the nose. A dewlap can be seen on the muscular neck. The coat is a double one and it usually is of 3 to 6 inches in length (8 to 16 cm). The outer coat is oily and rough and the undercoat is soft and resistant to water.
The coat has common hound colors, with grizzle or wheaten with black markings being included among others. The feet are webbed and present arched toes. The dewclaws present on the forelegs are sometimes removed. The tail is set high and tapers toward the end. This dog can be 24-26 inches high (60-65 cm) and can weigh from 66 to 115 pounds (30-52 kg). Health-wise, there are lines in the breed that are prone to hip dysplasia, thrombocytopenia, bloating and hemophilia. It easily gains weight when fed with too much.
Where its temperament is concerned, this hound breed is known to be brave, intelligent and animated. It shows great devotion to its family and is good with children. It is friendly with other dogs and people, but its hunting instincts can activate around non-canine animals. Given that it has not been traditionally kept as a pet, it is not highly responsive to pet life. It does take patience to train this hound. Just like any other dog, it needs masters that prove themselves as alpha male of the pack, with firm, yet loving attitude. It also needs a lot of daily exercise.
Loving and energetic, the Otterhound is a great companion and hunting dog.
