How to Identify an Otterhound

The Otterhound, as their name suggests, was bred to hunt otters and is a member of the hound group. [1] Though not as common a sport as hunting foxes was, Otterhounds were used mainly during the spring and summer, but eventually, otter hunting was outlawed, so the breed became less popular. [2] Though not an incredibly common breed, Otterhounds may still be confused with similar dogs, despite their unique traits. This wikiHow will help you identify an Otterhound by learning what sets them apart from other breeds.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Checking the Structure

  1. Otterhounds are rather large in size. Males stand near 27 inches (69 cm) in height and weigh about 115 pounds (52 kg). Females are slightly smaller, having a height of around 24 inches (61 cm) and weighing roughly 80 pounds (36 kg). [3]
  2. An Otterhound's head is rather large and long, being about 11–12 inches (28–30 cm) in length from the occiput to the nose, with the skull and muzzle being roughly the same length. Being well-coated, it also gives an appearance of being a bit narrow yet a small amount domed. [4]
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  3. The eyes of an Otterhound are usually dark in color, particularly in dogs with black rims and noses, while they may be a somewhat lighter shade, such as hazel, in some other dogs. They are set deep into the head with minimal haw being visible and rims that match the color of the nose. They help give the dog an expression of amiability and openness. [5]
  4. Otterhounds have well-coated, distinctly long, folded ears that give off a draped and pendulous appearance as the main edge of the ear folds. Reaching to the nose or below, they are close-lying to the dog's head from their low-set position at or lower than the level of the eyes. [6]
  5. An Otterhound's muzzle does not appear snipy but is rather square-shaped, being near the same length as and parallel to the skull where the stop, which is not clearly defined, is. The powerful jaws contain a scissors bite, and the large nose is entirely pigmented as a solid color, the color varying based on that of the coat but generally dark. The nose's color may be black, slate, or liver. [7]
  6. The front and back paws of an Otterhound are identical in appearance. When the dog is standing, they are compacted, and their size is clearly large and broad. Having webbed feet for swimming, allowing them to spread, the toes are arched, and they are deeply and thickly padded. Though the dog may have front dewclaws, any dewclaws on the back legs tend to be removed. [8]
  7. Being of a good enough length to reach the hocks or below, an Otterhound's tail is long and high-set. Tapering to the tip, it starts at a fairly thick base and is either carried like a saber, mainly when the dog is alert or in movement, or drooped, when at rest. It is coated in feathering. [9]
  8. Otterhounds are strong, broadly muscled, balanced, of good substance, and slightly longer than they are tall. They have a smoothly blending neck that may show a small amount of dewlap, sloping and laid-back shoulders, a deep chest, oval-shaped ribs which are sprung well, legs of strong bone, and a level topline. Their gait is effortlessly free and smooth, and it may be in the form of a gallop comprised of long strides, an active trot, or a shambling and loose walk. [10]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Considering the Coat

  1. Otterhounds have double coats, meaning they have both an outer coat and an undercoat. The outer coat appears broken and has a rough, crisp, and overall coarse texture while being dense, though it may be somewhat softer on the bottoms of the legs and on the head. The undercoat feels a small amount oily and rather wooly, and though it is clearly noticeable in the winter, it is usually confined to the shoulders and thighs during the summer. It is also resistant to weather. [11]
  2. Though the coat's quality and the way it feels is more notable than its length, you will likely notice that its longest section is between 2–4 inches (5.1–10.2 cm) in length, this section typically being the dog's back, while the dog's extremities have shorter hair. The dog's undercoat is short compared to the outer coat, and normally, the tail is coated with feathering, and the ears are also coated well. [12]
  3. An Otterhound may have any color of coat, so do not judge the dog's breed solely by its coat color. It may additionally be any color combination, so it can be solid- or multi-colored. [13]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Taking Note of Temperament

  1. Otterhounds have unique exercise needs to address their scent-driven background. They need to take part in regular activities to relieve them of their energy, such as swimming, as they were bred to dive in water. [14]
    • You may also notice "baying", which is a normal hunting instinct but can be overly loud, requiring being addressed during training. [16]

    Did you know? Otterhounds were bred so well for their jobs that their keen noses could sense an otter that swam through that body of water the night prior. [15]

  2. Overall, Otterhounds are even-tempered and generally happy dogs. As long as they are exercised frequently enough, they can be calm pets. [17]
  3. Being rather independent-minded, Otterhounds may act stubborn during training. However, unlike some stubborn breeds, they are seldom dominant, so they may simply just take longer to learn new concepts rather than refusing to learn them entirely. [18]
  4. Many Otterhounds are friendly due to their good nature and can get along well with people. They may be tempted to chase any small animals, including cats, however, so keep this in mind. [19]
    • They can usually live peacefully with other dogs, though they may be reserved around strangers. [20]
  5. Otterhounds may be independent at times, but they are loving with their families and can make good companions. They are not easily troubled, and they also are good with humor to complement their friendliness. [21]
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      Tips

      • Give thought to using a DNA test if you want to know your dog's breed. This will confirm if your dog is an Otterhound.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/otterhound/
      2. ↑ https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/otterhound/
      3. ↑ https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/otterhound/
      4. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/Otterhound.pdf
      5. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/Otterhound.pdf
      6. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/Otterhound.pdf
      7. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/Otterhound.pdf
      8. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/Otterhound.pdf
      9. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/Otterhound.pdf
      1. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/Otterhound.pdf
      2. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/Otterhound.pdf
      3. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/Otterhound.pdf
      4. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/Otterhound.pdf
      5. ↑ https://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/otterhounds.html
      6. ↑ https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/otterhound/
      7. ↑ https://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/otterhounds.html
      8. ↑ https://www.dogtemperament.com/otterhound-temperament/
      9. ↑ https://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/otterhounds.html
      10. ↑ https://www.dogtemperament.com/otterhound-temperament/
      11. ↑ https://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/otterhounds.html
      12. ↑ https://www.dogtemperament.com/otterhound-temperament/

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