These shaggy-headed comedians were originally bred to eliminate otters from the streams and rivers of Great Britain and thus to preserve the livelihood fisherman. Otterhounds (the American Kennel Club sanctioned the single-word spelling in 1991) combine an intense seriousness regarding their work with an obvious delight in splashing about in water. Their playfulness is rarely seen in other hounds, they get along well with animals and children, and they do not require much grooming; yet there are cautions to be observed before acquiring an otterhound as a pet. Most pets live, to a greater or lesser extent, in pampered leisure; but otterhounds need to be active. They were bred to hunt, and if they cannot, they are like persons forced to retire before their time --- at a loss for something to do around the house.
Otterhounds require a great deal of exercise, not the chasing-a-ball-in-the-garden variety but a vigorous workout of several miles three or more times a week-preferably in a field or, failing that, beside a jogger, a bicycle or even behind a slow moving car. If you cannot provide that sort of exercise, you and that otterhound you might be dreaming about would be happier if you chose a more sedentary breed.
In the Beginning
The origin of the otterhound like that of many breeds, is obscure. Some people who write about otterhounds claim that the breed "was first mentioned in about 1175 during the reign of Henry II," but they invariably fail to mention where this mention occurred. Vague allusions notwithstanding, the first recorded reference to otterhounds appeared roughly 150 years later when William Twici, huntsman for Edward II, described the otterhound as a "rough sort of dog, between a hound and a terrier.
Where this "rough sort of dog" came from is a matter of some dispute. The British canine authority John Henry Walsh, who wrote under the pseudonym "Stronghenge" under the last century, believed the otterhound had been derived by crossing southern hounds and rough-coated Welsh harriers or foxhounds. The southern hound, now extinct, was bred in Devonshire, England. The rough-coated Welsh foxhound, a breed never formally recognized, can still be found in a few working packs in its native Wales. The resemblance between otterhounds and Devonshire and Wales - support Walsh's theory.
Most historians argue, however, that the otterhound originated in France. They cite as evidence the great similarities in coat and the body conformation between the otterhound and the old Vendeen hound of France. In fact, at least one English hunting authority, Croxton Smith, occurred with this belief. "There can be little doubt, "he wrote, "that (the otterhound) traces to the rough-coated griffon Vendeen."
Washing and Dragging
Although historians may disagree about the otterhound's origin, there is no arguing that its raision d'être, hunting otters, requires a skilled, athletic, persistent, durable dog, for otters are not an easy catch. They weigh as much as 24 pounds, and they are expert, speedy swimmers, able to stay underwater for long distances.
The otterhound was aided in the pursuit of this quarry by small terriers that flushed otters from their dens in the tangled roots of trees along riverbanks. Once an ottter was in the water, the otterhound took over. His exceptional nose enabled him to follow not only a "wash," the scent of an otter in the water, but also a "drag," the trail of an otter on land. Otterhounds have been known to pick up and stay with a drag 12 hours old or to wade and swim for hours on a wash, covering as many as 20 miles in a day and hunting for as long as 10 hours.
Otterhounds in America
According to the American Kennel Club's The Complete Dog Book(Howell Book House, 1992) "Otterhounds first made their appearance in the United States about the year 1900, and they made their bench-show debut in 1907, in Claremont, Oklahoma." Two of those entries belonged to Mr. H.S. Wardner of New York City, who the AKC reports, "undoubtedly was America's first breeder.
Despite its longevity, the otterhound is not a popular breed. In 1995, the last year for which statistics were available at press time, otterhounds ranked 137th in new registrations for the year out of 140 breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club. Only 48 new otterhounds were registered in 1995. The most popular breed that year, the Labrador retriever, averaged 362 new registrations per day.
Care and Maintenance
The otterhound which is available in any color or combination of colors, carries a double coat: a two- to four inch long, coarse, crisp outer coat over a short, woolly, oily, and water resistant undercoat. A weekly brushing removes both dead hair and dirt from the coat. Bathing is not essential, but just try keeping one of these hounds out of water. Puddles, mud, birdbaths, kiddie pools - you name it, if is is wet, they are in it.
The only special maintenance requirement for this breed is occasioned by its long drooping ears, which tend to trap dirt and to become infected. Thus, the inside ear flaps and ear canals must be cleaned weekly.
Health and Longevity
Otterhounds are relatively long-lived. Their life span is typically 10 to 13 years, and some have lived to be 15 or older. Like most large breeds, they are subject to hip dysplasia. It is imperative to limit the exercise of puppies or adolescents. The regular weekly workouts mentioned earlier must be deferred until a dog is two to three years of age and has been certified free of hip dysplasia. Until then an otterhound should be exercised no differently from the average dog, with regular swims added whenever possible.
Living With an Otterhound
Life with a large shaggy hound that ranges from 23 to 27 inches at the withers (shoulder) and weighs from 65 to 120 pounds is not everyone's cup of kibble. This working hound - admittedly strong, amusing, and smart - also has a stubborn streak and a "melodious" voice that could set off emergency alarms. Once heard this indescribable voice is never forgotten, but it is music only to the ears of the huntsman or the the dedicated otterhound enthusiasts
The best way to decide whether you are the kind of person with whom an otterhound would want to live is to consider the following set of questions: if you can train with infinite patience, firmness, a sense of humor and lots of treats; if you do not mind mopping the floor after every drink of water and washing off feet, ears and face after every soggy trip to a rain puddle; if you can provide the essential weekly exercise and become involved in hunts with other otterhounds owners; if you understand that one is never enough when it comes to owning otterhounds; then you just might be the right person to enjoy life with the incomparable otterhound.
Hunting Heritage
According De Prisco and Johnson, authors of Canine Lexicon (T.F.H. Publications, 1993), "perhaps more than any other breed, the Otter Hound has collected many kingly fanciers . . . Edward II, Henry VI, Richard III, Henry VIII, King John, Charles II, Edward IV, Henry II and Henry VII; plus one very fine lady: Elizabeth I."
Otter hunting was the oldest organized sport in Great Britain in which packs of scent hounds were used for hunting. Royal recognition - and the fact that otter hunting was the only game in the country from April through September in Great Britain - no doubt secured its popularity. Ironically, the otterhound was so good at its job that the otter was declared a protected species in England, and otter hunting was made illegal in 1982.
To some extent the mink has replaced the otter as the object of the otterhound's affections. This transition was possible because the otterhound, contrary to its name, does not take "naturally to hunting otter." On the contrary, wrote Captain John Bell-Irving, a legendary Scottish master of the hounds, "(Otterhounds) learn from their elders.
They will hunt fox, deer, hare, rabbits, cats, chicken and pheasants unless corrected firmly at a tender age."
Mink hunting, for several reasons, is not so appealing to sportsmen as offer hunting was. To begin, mink live in subterranean dens that seal them off from terriers and hounds. What's more, mink do not venture far from home, and mink hunts are not the glorious, day-long affairs that otter hunts were. Nevertheless, because mink and muskrats are still numerous and are not considered endangered in England, they are the prey of choice for sportsman dedicated to hunting with of choice for sportsmen dedicated to hunting with otterhounds. For his part, Bell-Irving tried mink hunting when otter hunting had been outlawed, but he disbanded his kennel after two years.
On this side of the ocean, the otterhound's versatile scent-hunting instincts have allowed its advocates to put it on the track of such unlikely game as coon, bear and mountain lion. In addition, the breed's dual tracking ability makes it ideal for use as a search-and-rescue dog and as a certified service dog.
When the Mississippi River overflowed its banks a few years ago, Caroline Knapp, a bloodhound breeder, used an otterhound to locate five flood victims.
The Otterhound Club
The Otterhound Club of America reports that the worldwide otterhound population is "fewer than 1,000." The largest otterhound populations are in the United Kingdom and the United States. Smaller populations can be found in Scandinavia, the Netherlands, the rest of Europe, Canada and Australia.
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