Otterhound

The Otterhound is a large scenthound that comes from England, developed to track and hunt otters along rivers and streams. That original job shaped two features that still define the breed: a rough, water-resistant double coat and big webbed feet that make it a genuinely strong swimmer, at home in anything from a farm dam to a mountain stream.

Adults are tall and solidly built. Males typically stand around 69 cm at the shoulder and weigh 36 to 52 kg, and the breed carries stamina, a deep voice and one of the keenest noses found among hounds. An Otterhound can hold a scent trail across water as readily as across dry veld.

Temperament runs friendly and easygoing. The breed gets on well with people and other dogs, though it keeps the independent streak typical of scenthounds, so it will not always come the first time it's called. It is also one of the rarer breeds worldwide, and South African litters, when they happen at all, are registered through the Kennel Union of Southern Africa (KUSA).

Who it suits

The Otterhound fits an active household with room to move and time for daily exercise. It suits owners who enjoy hiking, or who have access to a dam or river for a swim, and who can handle a vocal, strong-willed dog. The shaggy coat needs regular brushing, and the deep bay carries a long way, so the breed is a poor match for a small flat or townhouse complex, or an owner expecting instant obedience.

The Otterhound was developed in England, where packs of hounds hunted otters along the rivers. Otters competed with people for fish, and organised otter hunting with hounds is recorded from at least the medieval period, continuing in some form through the reigns of several English monarchs and for centuries afterwards.

South Africa has its own otters, the Cape clawless otter turns up in dams and rivers across the country, but the Otterhound's ancestry has nothing to do with Africa. The modern breed is thought to descend from a mix of rough-coated hounds and other working dogs, which passed on the dense coat, large frame and powerful scenting ability suited to wet ground and cold water. The exact crosses were never recorded with certainty, but the breed was clearly bred to swim and to work in packs over long days.

Otter hunting declined through the twentieth century as wild otter numbers fell. The United Kingdom gave the otter legal protection in the late 1970s, which ended the hunt in England and Wales and took away the breed's original purpose. Packs were disbanded or repurposed, and breeding numbers dropped sharply.

Today the Otterhound is kept mainly as a companion and is recognised by major kennel clubs, including the Kennel Union of Southern Africa. It remains very rare, with only a handful of puppies registered worldwide each year, and conservation breeding programmes work to keep the surviving lines going.

The Otterhound is a big, sturdy dog with a long, rough outer coat over an oily, water-resistant undercoat. The head is large and fairly narrow, with a long muzzle and low-set ears that hang in folds, covered in hair. The eyes are deep-set, and the overall expression is open and good-humoured.

The body is slightly 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, an adaptation for swimming that shows the moment the dog hits open water.

Coat and colours

The coat is the breed's most recognisable feature. It is hard and shaggy, typically 5 to 15 cm long over the body, with softer hair on the head and lower legs. The undercoat carries a slight oiliness that sheds water and keeps the dog warm when swimming, useful in a Cape winter or a cold Drakensberg stream alike. A wide range of colours is accepted. Grizzle and wheaten patterns are common, along with black and tan, blue and cream, and various liver and tan combinations. The coat needs regular grooming to stop it matting, especially around the ears and feet, and grass seeds from the veld work their way in easily if it's left unchecked.

The Otterhound is an even-tempered, affectionate dog that generally likes company. It's friendly with strangers and rarely shows aggression, so it makes a hopeless guard dog but a pleasant companion around the house. Bred to work in packs, it usually gets on well with other dogs.

With children the breed is typically patient and tolerant, though its size and exuberance mean play with small children needs supervision. Around cats, chickens and other small animals common on South African smallholdings, caution is warranted, because the hunting and scent drive can switch on a chase in seconds.

Independence is a defining trait. The Otterhound thinks for itself and can tune out a command the moment it picks up an interesting scent, whether that's a buck trail through the veld or a neighbour's braai. It is also notably vocal, with a deep, carrying bay it uses freely. Owners should expect a dog that is sociable and willing, not naturally obedient.

The Otterhound is a high-maintenance breed for both coat care and exercise. It suits owners who can commit time outdoors and to regular grooming sessions, rather than someone hoping for a low-fuss pet.

Grooming

• Brush the rough coat once or twice a week to stop matting and clear out grass seeds and other veld debris
• Pay extra attention to the long-haired ears, beard and feet, which trap dirt and moisture
• Check and clean the folded ears regularly to cut the risk of infection
• Bathe occasionally; avoid over-bathing, which strips the protective oils from the undercoat
• Trim nails as needed and check the webbed feet after a walk or swim

Exercise

• Give the dog at least 60 to 90 minutes of activity a day
• Offer a swim when you can, in a dam, river or the sea, since it suits the breed's build and instincts
• Use long walks and scent games to work the strong nose
• Keep the dog on lead or inside a fenced area, since a scent trail can override any recall

Environment

The Otterhound does best in a house with a securely fenced yard rather than a flat or townhouse unit. The fence needs to be high and solid, because the breed is large, energetic and capable in water, and a low wall or open gate won't hold it back. The deep, frequent bay can carry to the neighbours, so a rural or semi-rural property suits the breed better than close, built-up housing.

As a large, active hound, the Otterhound needs a complete and balanced diet formulated for big dogs. Feed a measured amount split across two meals a day rather than leaving food out, which helps manage weight and keeps energy steady through the day. Adjust portions to the individual dog's age, activity level and body condition, and keep fresh water down at all times, particularly through a hot Highveld summer.

Treats and supplements

Keep treats to roughly 10 percent of daily calories to guard against weight gain, which puts extra strain on a large dog's joints. As a deep-chested breed, the Otterhound can be at risk of bloat, so avoid hard exercise straight before or after meals. Discuss any joint or omega-3 supplements with a vet before adding them.

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

South African owners have one extra consideration: ticks. Biliary, or canine babesiosis, is spread by ticks and is a genuine risk anywhere in the country, and a dog that spends time swimming through reeds and long grass picks up ticks easily. Regular tick prevention and a quick check after every outing matter as much here as any of the inherited conditions below.

Preventive care

• Keep core vaccinations and parasite prevention current, including tick control
• Maintain a healthy weight 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 regularly, especially after swimming, and check the coat for ticks after time in long grass
• Ask the breeder about DNA testing for the inherited bleeding disorder
• Book annual veterinary checkups, more often in the senior years

The Otterhound is clever but headstrong, a combination that makes training slower going than with an eager-to-please breed. It was bred to work at a distance and make its own decisions, so it will weigh up whether a command is worth its while. Short, varied and motivating sessions work better than long, repetitive drills. A reliable recall is hard to guarantee once the dog locks onto a scent, so a secure area and a long line matter through training, particularly near open water or a game farm boundary.

Basics

1. Start socialising early, exposing 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 low-distraction areas before moving on
4. Practise loose-lead walking early, since an adult Otterhound is large and strong
5. Add scent and search games to put the breed's natural drive to work instead of against you

Otterhound breeding is closely managed because the breed is critically low in numbers worldwide. With only a small global population and a limited gene pool, breeders coordinate matings to protect 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, wherever in the world they are breeding.

Gestation runs about 63 days, typical for dogs. Litters are moderate to large for the breed, and the puppies are slow to mature physically and mentally, often not fully grown until two to three years old. Raising the litter means early socialising, careful nutrition for steady large-breed growth, and screening breeding stock for hip and elbow status and the inherited bleeding disorder. Anyone hoping for a puppy, in South Africa or anywhere else, should expect a waiting list and should work only with breeders who health-test their dogs and register litters with KUSA.

Otterhound registration and microchips in South Africa

Load your Otterhound's details once and be done with it: name, date of birth, photo, your cell number, save. The profile is free for his whole life, and it takes a chip number the day the vet supplies one. Dog registration is the start of the paper trail.

The chip is a number; the registry entry is the story behind it. Capture your Otterhound's 15-digit number in a free United Pet Club account and the story reads: this dog has a home. Every brand is accepted, updates never cost a cent, and the record stays searchable here and abroad. Microchip registration plus a free account does it.