OTTERHOUND Breed Standards
In 12th century England, fishermen were finding that the population of otters was increasing while the population of fish was decreasing. This otter invasion created the need for "otter dogges," skilled swimmers who could chase down otters and locate their dens, where a terrier cohort would typically finish the job. The Otterhound as we know it today, however, was not developed until the 18th century. The dog has been documented to be the result of cross breeding between the Bloodhound and several French rough-coated hounds.
Otter hunting reached its zenith in England around the turn of the 20th century, but the sport all but disappeared after World War I, when water pollution took a heavy toll on otter populations. Otter hunting was eventually banned in England and the existing packs of Otterhounds were sold to private parties or to mink hunters.
Early in the 20th century, Otterhounds were brought to America, where they were recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1907. In 1937, Dr. Hugh Mouat, a veterinarian, began the first serious Otterhound breeding program in the US in an effort to boost the numbers of this noble breed. Today, there are fewer than 1,000 Otterhounds worldwide.
SKILLS: The Otterhound is a large, rough-coated hound with an imposing head showing great strength and dignity, and the strong body and long striding action fit for a long day's work. It has an extremely sensitive nose, and is inquisitive and perseverant in investigating scents. The Otterhound hunts its quarry on land and water and requires a combination of characteristics unique among hounds - most notably a rough, double coat; and substantial webbed feet. Otterhounds should not be penalized for being shown in working condition (lean, well muscled, with a naturally stripped coat). Any departure from the following points should be considered a fault; its seriousness should be regarded in exact proportion to its degree.
SIZE: Males are approximately 27 inches at the withers, and weigh approximately 115 lbs. Bitches are approximately 24 inches at the withers, and weigh approximately 80 lbs. This is not an absolute, but rather a guideline. The Otterhound is slightly rectangular in body; the length from point of shoulder to buttocks is slightly greater than the height at the withers. The Otterhound has good substance with strongly boned legs and broad muscles, without being coarse. Balance, soundness and type are of greater importance than size.
COAT: The coat is an essential feature of the Otterhound. Coat texture and quality are more important than the length. The outer coat is dense, rough, coarse and crisp, of broken appearance. Softer hair on the head and lower legs is natural. The outer coat is two to four inches long on the back and shorter on the extremities. A water-resistant undercoat of short wooly, slightly oily hair is essential, but in the summer months may be hard to find except on the thighs and shoulders. The ears are well covered with hair, and the tail is feathered (covered and fringed with hair). A naturally stripped coat lacking length and fringes is correct for an Otterhound that is being worked. A proper hunting coat will show a hard outer coat and wooly undercoat. The Otterhound is shown in a natural coat, with no sculpturing or shaping of the coat. Faults - A soft outer coat is a very serious fault as is a wooly textured outer coat. Lack of undercoat is a serious fault. An outer coat much longer than six inches becomes heavy when wet and is a fault. Any evidence of stripping or scissoring of coat to shape or stylize should be strongly penalized as a fault.
Color - Any color or combination of colors is acceptable. There should be no discrimination on the basis of color. The nose should be dark and fully pigmented, black, liver, or slate, depending on the color of the hound. Eye rim pigment should match the nose.
CARE REQUIRED: To avoid matting, the Otterhound's weather-resistant coat should be combed or brushed at least weekly. It may need its beard washed more frequently. The coat is suppose to look natural and therefore should not be clipped. This breed is an average shedder.
CHARACTER: The Otterhound is amiable, boisterous and even-tempered.
EXERCISE: The Otterhound needs a lot of daily exercise in a safe area or on a leash, and if possible, frequent swimming. They have a tendency to forget everything in the chase after an interesting scent is discovered, so therefore they should only be allowed to run free off the leash where they can be controlled and kept safe. They should have a well fenced yard and make excellent jogging companions.
SOCIAL BEHAVIOR: The Otterhound is not recommended for apartment life. They are relatively inactive indoors if they have sufficient exercise. They do best with at least a large, well fenced yard. It can sleep outdoors in temperate or cool climates if given a good shelter.
TRAINING: Training the Otterhound takes patience, because it tends to be quite willful. The best results are achieved with a soft but consistent hand. Use the classic "Iron fist in a velvet glove" approach when training this dog. The Otterhound is a low-key dog that can function as a quiet companion. They like to roam and sniff and have a tendency to snore.
