Otterhound

The Otterhound is a large scent hound that was developed in England to hunt otters. It is unique amongst scent hounds in that it possesses webbed feet and a rough, wiry coat; these equip him for hunting on land or in water. As do many scent hounds, the Otterhound has a loud baying bark. Hunting the otter was not for sport but for practical purposes: otters thieved the fish that populated England's rivers, streams and lakes. The Otterhound's nose is so sensitive that it could track the otter's scent both on land (the "drag"� scent) and through water (or "wash"� scent) where the wily little animals swam underwater for miles. The Otterhound was helped in the hunt by terriers, whose job was to flush the otters from their dens amongst the tree roots on the riverbanks. When the otter was on the run, the Otterhound's job began. It is said that the Otterhound will happily follow a scent for ten hours and 20 miles through water without stopping to rest; he can pick up a drag that is over twelve hours old. The Otterhound averages 24 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder; adults weigh between 70 and 120 pounds, depending upon the sex of the individual. The coat which is acceptable in any canine color - is double and ideally designed for work in water. The under coat is dense and soft, with a natural oily quality that works to repel moisture. The outer coat is of medium length, harsh and wiry. Its webbed feet work to propel the Otterhound forward as it paddles through the wet and mud. Bred solely for its one intended purpose, the Otterhound has likely existed as a distinct breed since the Middle Ages. When William Twici, huntsman for King Edward II, writes in the early 14th century of a "rough sort of dog, between a hound and a terrier"�, he is likely describing the Otterhound. But exactly how the breed came to be is obscure. There are two leading theories. The first comes from the English canine historian "Stronghenge"� (actually one John Henry Walsh) who wrote in the 19th century. He believed that the Otterhound was derived from a type of scent hound found in the Devonshire area of England but now extinct, and the rough-coated Welsh foxhound (a breed which has never been officially recognized but is still occasionally found in hunting parties in Wales). The appearance of the Otterhound would suggest that Walsh could be correct in his educated guess. But the other school of thought put forth by canine experts asserts that the Otterhound is derived from another now extinct rough-coated hound this one developed in France, the Griffon Vendeen. This dog was supposedly brought to English soil by the Normans in the Middle Ages, to serve as the foundation for the Otterhound. It could be that both theories are correct to an extent: that the breed originated in medieval France and once in England came to be crossed with native breeds, to arrive at the breed we know today. The Otterhound is an extremely athletic and active dog, bred for long days of tracking; this is not a breed that does well without a lot of space and opportunity for abundant physical exercise and mental stimulation. This exercise needs to be hard and fast: the owner may wish to run the dog alongside a bicycle or behind a slow moving car, or take it for a long swim at least a few times a week. Additionally this dog needs a long walk daily. An Otterhound that is not adequately exercised will find its own amusment, and that is unlikely to be anything of which the owner approves. This breed can jump a fence up to five feet high, and care should be taken to see that its enclosure is strong. The Otterhound should always be leashed outside when not safely enclosed: because it is guided by its nose, it will tend to wander off or even give chase into traffic. The loud bay of the Otterhound is not something neighbors will welcome, so it is best for an owner that lives a bit isolated from other residences. The coat of the Otterhound requires brushing a few times a week to clear it of dead fur and any debris. The face, beard and paws will likely require more frequent attention due to this breed's enthusiasm for playing in anything wet, whether it be a water bowl, a kiddie pool, the garden sprinkler or the lake and where there is mud as well as water, all the better! A full bath if the owner does manage to keep the dog reasonably clean is needed only occasionally for the coat and skin to remain healthy. As do many large dog breeds, the Otterhound is somewhat prone to develop hip and elbow dysplasia. This tendency can be greatly diminished with careful breeding, and also by taking care not to over-exercise the young dog (two years and under) before the bones are fully developed. The long, droopy ears of the Otterhound are prone to catch dirt and bacteria and become infected. The ower should clean the ears once weekly at minimum to assure that painful and potentially damaging infections don't get started. Fanciers of the Otterhound often speak of its humorous, playful nature. It is agreeable and enthusiastic by nature, but may also be occasionally stubborn, making it a bit difficult to obedience train. Patience, consistency and persistence is essential with this breed. Early training is very important with the Otterhound; teaching it to walk calmly on leash and honor the physical space of its human pack members is much easier to teach when the dog is still small enough to control. The Otterhound will play happily with other pets in the household, canine and non-canine. It is also a breed very friendly with children, although given its size and naturally exuberant nature, it may knock down smaller children or elderly persons who are fragile or unsteady. The Otterhound is famous in the AKC world for its accomplishments in tracking competitions. Calmer, well-trained individuals also do well as therapy dogs.

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