Otterhound
Encyclopedia
The Otterhound is an old British
dog breed
, with Bloodhound
ancestors, and one of the ancestors of the Airedale Terrier
.
with an imposing head. Originally bred for hunting
, it has great strength and a strong body with long striding steps. This makes it able to perform prolonged hard work. Otterhounds generally weigh between 80 and 120 pounds (36 to 54 kg). They have extremely sensitive noses which make them inquisitive and perseverant in investigating scents. Consequently, they need particular supervision. They are friendly dogs with a unique bass voice which they use frequently.
and substantial webbed feet.
The use of otterhounds to hunt otters by scent ceased in Britain in 1978 when it became illegal to kill otters, at this point otter hunts switched to hunting mink
or coypu
.
The Otterhound enjoys considerable exercise, but can also be a couch potato. They can be good family dogs but need to be kept in a secure property since they can jump fences up to 5 feet high.
Common problems that can occur are elbow and hip dysplasia which is a malformation of the hip and elbow joints. They are not always painful but can cause lameness and impair mobility with arthritis a possible result. Badly affected hounds should not be bred but most otterhounds have a fairly poor hip and elbow score. This problem can be reduced by making sure that developing otterhounds do not jump down from high places, go up and down the stairs or walk too much on very hard surfaces while bones are still growing.
Otterhounds can also be subject to ear infections, due to the shape of their ears, and bloat (or gastric torsion), due to their deep chest. Bloat is the biggest killer of large dogs and is very painful. There are ways to reduce the risk of getting bloat:
If your dog shows signs of bloat then immediate veterinary attention is required.
since only 51 were born there in 2006. They are on the list of Vulnerable Native Breeds
as identified by the UK Kennel Club, and as much as possible is being done to save the breed.
NB: It is important to remember that all dog breeds are essentially the same species (Canis lupus familiaris) and varying characteristics of any one breed are the result of selective breeding by humans in order produce certain looks and traits. "Endangered" breeds such as the Otterhound are therefore closely related leaving them prone to inherited diseases due to a lack of genetic diversity.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
dog breed
Dog breed
Dog breeds are groups of closely related and visibly similar domestic dogs, which are all of the subspecies Canis lupus familiaris, having characteristic traits that are selected and maintained by humans, bred from a known foundation stock....
, with Bloodhound
Bloodhound
The Bloodhound is a large breed of dog which, while originally bred to hunt deer and wild boar, was later bred specifically to track human beings. It is a scenthound, tracking by smell, as opposed to a sighthound, which tracks using vision. It is famed for its ability to discern human odors even...
ancestors, and one of the ancestors of the Airedale Terrier
Airedale Terrier
The Airedale Terrier is a breed of the terrier type that originated in Airedale, a geographic area in Yorkshire, England. It is traditionally called the "King of Terriers" because it is the largest of the terrier breeds...
.
Appearance
The Otterhound is a large, rough-coated houndHound
A hound is a type of dog that assists hunters by tracking or chasing the animal being hunted. It can be contrasted with the gun dog, which assists hunters by identifying the location of prey, and with the retriever, which recovers shot quarry...
with an imposing head. Originally bred for hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
, it has great strength and a strong body with long striding steps. This makes it able to perform prolonged hard work. Otterhounds generally weigh between 80 and 120 pounds (36 to 54 kg). They have extremely sensitive noses which make them inquisitive and perseverant in investigating scents. Consequently, they need particular supervision. They are friendly dogs with a unique bass voice which they use frequently.
Hunting
The Otterhound hunts its quarry both on land and in water and it has a combination of characteristics unique among hounds; most notably an oily, rough, double coatCoat (dog)
The coat of the domestic dog refers to the hair that covers its body. A dog's coat may be a double coat, made up of a soft undercoat and a coarser topcoat, or a single coat, which lacks an undercoat...
and substantial webbed feet.
The use of otterhounds to hunt otters by scent ceased in Britain in 1978 when it became illegal to kill otters, at this point otter hunts switched to hunting mink
Mink
There are two living species referred to as "mink": the European Mink and the American Mink. The extinct Sea Mink is related to the American Mink, but was much larger. All three species are dark-colored, semi-aquatic, carnivorous mammals of the family Mustelidae, which also includes the weasels and...
or coypu
Coypu
The coypu , , also known as the river rat, and nutria, is a large, herbivorous, semiaquatic rodent and the only member of the family Myocastoridae. Originally native to subtropical and temperate South America, it has since been introduced to North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, primarily by...
.
Health
The average lifespan of the breed is a little over 10 years. A quarter will live 12 to 15 years. At least one hound is known to have lived to be 16 years old.The Otterhound enjoys considerable exercise, but can also be a couch potato. They can be good family dogs but need to be kept in a secure property since they can jump fences up to 5 feet high.
Common problems that can occur are elbow and hip dysplasia which is a malformation of the hip and elbow joints. They are not always painful but can cause lameness and impair mobility with arthritis a possible result. Badly affected hounds should not be bred but most otterhounds have a fairly poor hip and elbow score. This problem can be reduced by making sure that developing otterhounds do not jump down from high places, go up and down the stairs or walk too much on very hard surfaces while bones are still growing.
Otterhounds can also be subject to ear infections, due to the shape of their ears, and bloat (or gastric torsion), due to their deep chest. Bloat is the biggest killer of large dogs and is very painful. There are ways to reduce the risk of getting bloat:
- raising the feeding bowl so that the dog does not take in too much air while feeding
- wait an hour either side of feeding before or after the dog is exercised.
- do not feed them high cereal cheap food
- calm the dog before feeding
- if the dog eats quickly then put something large in the bowl to reduce the speed of consumption as this will reduce the amount of air in the stomach.
If your dog shows signs of bloat then immediate veterinary attention is required.
An endangered breed
There are only an estimated 1,000 or so Otterhounds in the world and somewhere between 350 and 400 in the US. Even in the early 20th century, when otter hunting was most popular as a sport, Otterhounds were not numerous. They are now considered the most endangered dog breed in BritainUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
since only 51 were born there in 2006. They are on the list of Vulnerable Native Breeds
Vulnerable Native Breeds
thumb|right|There were only 37 Skye Terrier puppies registered with the Kennel Club in 2010Vulnerable Native Breeds are a group of dog breeds originating in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and identified by The Kennel Club as having annual registration numbers of 300 puppies or fewer...
as identified by the UK Kennel Club, and as much as possible is being done to save the breed.
NB: It is important to remember that all dog breeds are essentially the same species (Canis lupus familiaris) and varying characteristics of any one breed are the result of selective breeding by humans in order produce certain looks and traits. "Endangered" breeds such as the Otterhound are therefore closely related leaving them prone to inherited diseases due to a lack of genetic diversity.