Otterhound

AKC Group: Hound

Club: Otterhound Club of America

Corresponding Secretary : Margaret Neubauer
Address: 2185 Seeman St SW, East Sparta, OH , 44626--972
Website: clubs.akc.org/ohca/
Email: otterhound@sbcglobal.net
Club Type: Specialty

General Apperance:

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.

Temperament:

The Otterhound is amiable, boisterous and even-tempered.

History:

While there are allusions to otter hunting and Otterhounds in the time of King John, who reigned in England from 1199 to 1216, it is not until Edward II (1307-1327) that there is any sort of description of the kind of dogs that made up a pack of Otterhounds. This record has been left, fortunately, by William Twici, the huntsman. He makes mention of them as a "rough sort of dog, between a hound and a terrier."

The hunting of the otter never was a so-called major sport in England, but it appears to have existed from very early times. It was first practiced because the otters were preying on the fish in the rivers and streams to an annoying extent. Later it enjoyed a considerable vogue because it was the only kind of hunting possible from April to September.

The origin of the Otterhound is shrouded in mystery, but the earliest writers advance a number of logical opinions as to its origin. The French Origin of the Otterhound appears to be one of the most reasonable. The opinion of one such writer, Marples, states it is almost the exact duplicate of the Vend?e hound of France. The two breeds are alike in both coat and body formation.

The Otterhound is a big dog with a hard, crisp and close coat, oily in nature that can withstand any amount of immersion in water. The breed ranges through many shades to black and tan. It is a peer among swimmers, its progress through the water being aided greatly by its webbed feet.

Otterhounds first made their appearance in the United States about the year 1900. They made their bench-show debut in 1907 in Claremont, Oklahoma, and registrations were recorded. While the Otterhound never has grown to wide popularity in the United States, what it lacks in smartness of appearance is compensated by its working qualities and unfailing devotion to its master.