Otterhound

The Otterhound is a large scenthound that started out in England, built for tracking otters up and down rivers and streams. Two features come from that job: a rough, water-shedding double coat and broad, webbed feet that make the dog a powerful swimmer.

Grown dogs are tall and heavily built. Males often stand around 27 inches at the shoulder and carry 80 to 115 pounds. The breed pairs real stamina with a deep, carrying voice and one of the keenest noses of any hound, able to hold a scent across water just as well as on dry land.

The temperament is friendly and easy in company. The Otterhound gets on well with people and other dogs, though it keeps the independent streak typical of scenthounds, so it will not always drop what it is doing the first time it is called. It is also one of the rarest dog breeds anywhere, and Ireland sees only a handful in any given year.

Who it suits

The Otterhound fits an active household with room to roam and time for exercise every day. It suits owners who like getting out for a walk regardless of the weather, or who fancy a swim, and who can handle a dog that is strong-willed and free with its voice. The shaggy coat wants regular grooming, and that deep bay carries well beyond the garden wall, so a small flat in the city centre is not the right setting, nor is a home looking for a dog that does as it is told the first time.

The Otterhound took shape in England, where hunting packs worked otters along the rivers. Otters and people were after the same fish, and organised otter hunting with hounds goes back to at least medieval times, with mentions during the reigns of several English monarchs. The pursuit carried on in some fashion for centuries after that.

The modern Otterhound is believed to come from a mix of rough-coated hounds and other working dogs, a blend that gave it the dense coat, big frame and sharp nose needed for wet ground and cold rivers. Nobody can say for certain which crosses went into it, but the breed was plainly bred for swimming and for long days working in a pack.

Otter hunting fell away through the twentieth century as otter numbers dropped. Once the United Kingdom gave the otter legal protection in the late 1970s, hunting stopped in England and Wales, and the breed lost the job it was built for. Packs were broken up or turned to other work, and the number of dogs bred fell sharply.

These days the Otterhound is kept mostly as a companion and is recognised by the major kennel clubs, the Irish Kennel Club among them for anyone here looking to register or show one. It stays very rare, with only a small litter count each year worldwide, and conservation breeding keeps the surviving lines going.

The Otterhound is a big, sturdy dog with a long, rough top coat over an oily undercoat that sheds water well. The head is large and fairly narrow, with a long muzzle and low-set ears that fold and are covered in hair. The eyes sit deep, and the whole expression is open and good-natured.

The body runs a touch longer than it is tall, with a deep chest, a strong back and a tail carried up when the dog is on the move. The feet are large, broad and webbed, built for the water.

Coat and colours

The coat is what people notice first. It is hard and shaggy, usually 2 to 6 inches long over the body, softer on the head and lower legs. The undercoat carries a slight oiliness that sheds water and keeps the dog warm swimming in a cold river or lake, no small thing given how soft and wet Irish weather can turn. A wide range of colours is accepted: grizzle and wheaten are the most common, alongside black and tan, blue and cream, and various liver and tan mixes. Regular grooming is needed to stop the coat matting, especially around the ears and feet.

The Otterhound is even-tempered and affectionate, and it generally likes company. It is friendly with strangers and rarely shows aggression, so it makes an easygoing house dog rather than a watchdog. Bred to work in packs, it usually gets along fine with other dogs.

With children the breed tends to be patient and tolerant, though its size and exuberance mean playtime with small children needs watching. Around cats and smaller pets, some caution is called for, since the strong hunting and scenting drive can set off a chase.

Independence runs deep in this breed. The Otterhound thinks for itself and will happily ignore a command once an interesting scent crosses its path. It is also a notably vocal dog, with a deep bay that carries a long way and gets used freely. Owners should expect a dog that is sociable and game, but not naturally obedient.

The Otterhound is high maintenance on both fronts, coat and exercise. It suits owners who can put in time outdoors and keep up with regular grooming sessions.

Grooming

• Brush the rough coat once or twice a week to stop matting and clear out debris
• Give extra attention to the long-haired ears, beard and feet, where dirt and damp collect
• Check and clean the folded ears often to cut the risk of infection
• Bathe now and then, but not too often, since over-washing strips the oils that protect the undercoat
• Trim nails as needed and check the webbed feet after time spent outdoors

Exercise

• Aim for at least 60 to 90 minutes of activity a day
• Let the dog swim when you can, since it suits the build and the instincts
• Use long walks and scent games to work that strong nose
• Keep the dog on a lead or inside a fenced area, because a scent trail can override any recall

Environment

The Otterhound does best in a house with a securely fenced garden rather than a flat. The fence wants to be high and solid, given the size, energy and water skills involved. That deep, frequent bay can bother neighbours living close by, so a rural or semi-rural spot suits the breed far better than a terraced street.

As a big, active hound, the Otterhound needs a complete and balanced diet made for large dogs. Feed a measured amount split over two meals a day rather than leaving food down all the time, which helps keep weight steady and energy even. Adjust the amount for the individual dog's age, activity and body condition, and keep fresh water down at all times.

Treats and supplements

Keep treats to around 10 percent of daily calories, since extra weight puts real strain on a large dog's joints. Being deep-chested, the Otterhound carries some risk of bloat, so avoid hard exercise straight before or after meals. Talk to a vet before adding any joint or omega-3 supplement.

The Otterhound is on the whole a robust working breed, with a typical lifespan of 10 to 13 years. Because the population worldwide is so small, responsible breeders screen carefully to keep inherited problems in check. Being a large, deep-chested dog, it carries the size-related risks common to big breeds, and anyone considering a puppy should ask the breeder for health-screening results on both parents.

Preventive care

• Keep core vaccinations and parasite prevention up to date
• Keep weight under control to protect the hips and elbows
• Feed measured meals and let the dog rest after eating to lower the risk of bloat
• Clean and dry the ears often, especially after a swim
• Ask the breeder about DNA testing for the inherited bleeding disorder
• Book a vet check every year, more often once the dog reaches its senior years

The Otterhound is clever but headstrong, and that combination makes training slower going than with a breed that is eager to please. It was bred to work at a distance and make its own calls, so it will weigh up whether a command is worth its while. Short, varied and motivating sessions work far better than long, repetitive drills. A dependable recall is hard to guarantee once the dog has locked on to a scent, so a secure area and a long line matter during training.

Basics

1. Start socialising early, introducing the puppy to people, dogs and different settings
2. Teach the dog's name and a reward marker, so it learns that cooperating pays off
3. Build a solid recall on a long line in a low-distraction spot before moving on
4. Practise loose-lead walking early, since a grown Otterhound is big and strong
5. Bring in scent and search games to put that natural drive to work for a reward

Otterhound breeding is managed closely, because the breed's numbers are critically low. With such a small global population and a tight gene pool, breeders coordinate matings to hold on to genetic diversity and avoid concentrating inherited conditions. Bitches reach physical maturity at around 18 to 24 months, and responsible breeders wait until then before a first litter.

Gestation runs about 63 days, as with most dogs. Litters tend to be moderate to large for the breed, and the puppies are slow to mature, in body and mind alike, often not fully grown until two or three years old. Rearing the litter calls for early socialising, careful feeding for steady large-breed growth, and screening of breeding stock for hip and elbow status along with the inherited bleeding disorder. Anyone after a puppy should expect a waiting list and should deal only with breeders who health-test their dogs.

How to register an Otterhound in Ireland

Get the profile sorted first: your Otterhound's name, his date of birth, a photo, and your phone number, saved in a couple of minutes. The record is free for the whole of his life, and the chip number slots in whenever the vet has done his part. Dog registration is where it starts.

Lodge your Otterhound's fifteen digit number with United Pet Club and the chip finally earns its keep: free registration for life, every brand accepted, and a record the ISPCA or any warden can turn into a phone call. Microchip registration takes minutes, and the free account covers the profile while you're at it.