Otterhound Origin, Characteristics and Temperaments

Otterhound Origin and History

The Otterhound originated in Britain and was bred on the edge of the River Severn in England. These dogs probably migrated to France with the French Army. They were used as a hunting and a pet dog. They also were popular in Great Britain.

As with several other breeds of hound, Otterhounds have been traced back to the Middle Ages, but it was not until around 1800 that breeding programmes began. It is believed that these dogs probably migrated to France with the French Army.

The Otterhound is a long-coated dog with short bulldog legs, which makes them excellent swimmers. They have been used in the sport of otter hunting since medieval times.

As early as 1360, there are references to otters being hunted by dogs. The sport was at its most popular in the 19th century, but fell into decline in the 20th century due to a dramatic reduction in the numbers of otters on Britain’s rivers and lakes.

Otterhound Characteristics.

Although the Otterhound has a short coat, its dense erect standing coat is a combination of medium length and shorter, softer and less dense undercoat. The Otterhound has a long face with an elegant muzzle. The long neck and rounded skull gives them an aristocratic look.

The Otterhounds head is long and arched, with a broad muzzle that tapers gradually into the skull. The ears are small in size, thinning at the tip and folded low over the eyes. Like many hounds, Otterhounds tend to have the tail carried low and level, bent forward slightly at the tip.

The Otterhound is muscular and powerful. The feet are round and compact with heavily padded pads. It has curly haired eyebrows, which are darker in color than the part of the face below. The hair is short on top but longer on the cheeks and muzzle.

It has a double coat that is short and coarse, with the hair on its tail standing straight up. The color of the Otterhound’s coat can be any shade of grey, or all colours of fawn, a brindle pattern or white markings.

Otterhound Breed Uses.

The Otterhound was bred to hunt otters along the banks of ponds and rivers. It’s a long-haired breed that could grow up to 2 feet high. Originally, it was used for hunting otters using the use of a strong scent. It has excellent senses of smell and hearing. As such, it is rarely used in modern times for hunting purposes, although it is an excellent pet dog.

Otterhounds are extremely good-natured, loyal and friendly dogs that adjust well to living with children and other pets. They do not bark very loudly, which means they make excellent apartment dogs as long as they have plenty of exercise.

Otterhounds have a soft, warm and silky coat that requires regular brushing. You must be careful about the care of their nails, which are short and very hard to keep trimmed.

The Otterhound is easy to train once it knows the rules of the house. It is obedient and eager to please its master. However, it is a very protective dog when necessary. It will alert its owner on any suspicious activity around without fail.

Otterhound Temperament.

The Otterhound is a highly intelligent breed and is gentle, easy going, and friendly. It gets along well with children and other animals. The Otterhound has a tendency to roam off when not on a leash so it needs training to be obedience trained if you have a fenced yard.

The Otterhound is a huge shaggy dog, but it is also friendly and rowdy. They are usually white or black with brown or dark brown markings. They are easy to train, which makes them a good family pet.

The Otterhound’s loyalty to its family is legendary and it would lay down its life for its owner. With proper training and socialization, the Otterhound makes a wonderfully loyal companion.

Otterhound Grooming.

Brush the Otterhound coat weekly with a soft slicker brush, following by checking for mats with a comb. You should start to groom your Otterhound at about 6 to 8 weeks of age. Brush the coat regularly for about a minute every day.

Otters are slim with large webbed feet and short sleek black fur, which means they are often caught on fishing lines and drown in rivers when they try to reach their homes. The best way to remove this threat is by training these dogs in catching otters. The Otterhound is a very effective hunter with an excellent sense of smell.

If you want to keep your Otterhound healthy, it is necessary to brush the coat twice a week and give it a bath every month or two. Regular brushing will help to keep your dog’s skin and coat clean and healthy.

Otterhounds can also be trained to detect diseases and illnesses in their owners, especially those that are related to cancer. This is done by having regular blood tests as well as other checkups.

Otterhound Care.

The Otterhound is a low-maintenance dog that does not need much grooming. You should brush its coat once every week with a soft bristle brush in the direction of growth. The tail and the head should be combed regularly to remove tangles and dirt.

Otterhounds are an intelligent and easy to train breed, but they require early socialization to make sure they become part of their family. They need lots of attention and training to be good companion dogs.

The Otterhound is a very vocal dog, which makes them excellent watchdogs. They will bark whenever necessary, which means you need to train them to know the difference between barking at suspicious noises and normal household sounds.

They also make excellent swimming dogs because of their webbed feet, but jumping into water bowls is not recommended for these dogs as it might cause joint problems in the future. They have to be taught by their owners that jumping into water bowls is not right and something they should never do.

Otterhound training.

Otterhounds are very intelligent and easy to train. They are eager to please and make a wonderful family dog. The only problem is that they need early socialization to ensure they become part of the family.

It is important to introduce a new dog to all family members and other pets. It is also important to walk your dog regularly as part of the training process.

Training an Otterhound can be a challenge, especially if it has not been socialized with people at an early age. If you don’t train it when young, it may jump on people and lick them in the face like a small child. It will also not be able to pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen test.

Otterhounds are willing to please their masters and are eager to learn. They pick up commands quickly and make a wonderful companion dog. You should begin training your Otterhound as soon as you adopt it; this will ensure that it learns all the basic household manners quickly without causing any problems in its overall development.

It is important to remember children need to be taught how to treat dogs properly. Dogs will not bite children unless they have been hurt by the child.

Otterhound Activities and Exercise

An Otterhound is a very active breed and needs a lot of exercise, preferably daily. It loves to swim, hunt in the water, and dig holes or retrieve toys. If you don’t give it enough exercise, it may become destructive and will try to dig up lawns looking for molehills or burrows.

The Otterhound needs a fenced yard as it tends to wander if not on a leash.

Otterhounds were bred to hunt otters, which meant that they should be provided with adequate exercise. They need to be taken on long walks daily and a good jog once in a while. If you are planning to work your dog on the field, it is helpful if you have some prior experience with dogs.

Otterhounds are very sociable and intelligent dogs who get along well with others of their species and other animals. They love children and make excellent family pets.

Otterhound Nutrition and Diet.

The Otterhound needs a daily supply of fresh water and high quality dry food. It also needs a lot of exercise to stay fit, though it is not as active as other hounds.

Otterhounds are very easy to feed. They feed on all types of meat, but it should be free range and grain free. You should carry out a grain-free diet program for about 6 months before starting a regular dog food and choose a premium meal for your dog.

You should always provide an Otterhound with a relatively large amount of water. You should keep the drinking water fresh and clean at all times. There are many different types of bottled water that you can use for your dog, but tap water is not recommended as it is full of impurities.

Otterhound Health Issues

Otterhound Health is generally good. This breed has a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years. Some of the most common health issues affecting this breed are cancer, deafness, allergies and bloat caused by overfeeding.

Otters are prone to losing weight if fed milk or milk replacers, but this is not a common occurrence. They can also suffer from bloat, ear infections, and skin problems such as yeast infection and flea bites.

Otterhounds are moderately susceptible to cataracts and deafness. The more you train the dog to be obedient, the less likely it will be deaf in old age.

Otterhound Lifespan.

The Otterhound, which has an average lifespan of 10 to 13 years, is a breed that was developed in England during the 1800s.

The name was derived from its resemblance to the otter and dogs were trained to hunt otters. It was used in packs to corner and kill the otters. The breed became popular across Europe in the 1800s as a hunting dog and is still used for hunting today.