Information, Facts & Origins of the Otter Hound - Otterhound
The
Otter Hound - Otterhound originates in England although its heritage can be
dated back to antiquity. It is a very special dog and rare dog as
it verged close on extinction when the otter was made a protected
species. The Otter Hound - Otterhound and is a dog of considerable size and was
bred originally to hunt the otter in order to ensure the trout
supply in rivers. It's origins can be dated back for thousands of
years and it is classified as one of the Hound Dog Group which we
go on to describe in detail in the section at the bottom of this
page. Name Facts and Dog Names: This dog's name is often referred to in two
separate words as the Otter Hound.
The
Otter Hound - Otterhound - A Scent Hound
The
Otter Hound -
Otterhound belongs to
the collection of dogs referred to as Scent Hounds, which
specialise in following the scent or the smell of its quarry. It
wasn’t until the mid 1500's that hounds began to be classified
according to their purpose, i.e. sight hounds, scent hounds, etc.
Scent Hounds have distinctive characteristics, features and traits
which are perfect for their purpose. They have large noses which
have deep, open nostrils and their lips are loose and moist,
designed to pick up scent particles and follow the trail of an
animal. Their ears are long which concentrates the scent on the
nose. Their bodies are designed for endurance, an essential asset
when following any scent trail. Hunting takes different forms and
as man opts for hunting their quarry either on foot or on
horseback the scent hounds have been selectively bred to produce
small legs, to enable a man to easily follow on foot, or longer
legs suited to keep up with a man on horseback. Most scent hounds
were used in packs - making a loud, deep baying noise alerting
hunters to their location. As a pet the Otter Hound - Otterhound is independent,
inquisitive, bold, exuberant dog, friendly, cheerful, loving and
intelligent. This dog makes a good house pet providing it is given
lots of exercise and attention.
Information, Facts &
History of the Otter Hound - Otterhound Dog
The Otter Hound - Otterhound is one of the most ancient of the English breeds
and it is also one of the rarest and verged perilously close to
extinction until the otter was made a protected species in 1978. The
Otter Hound - Otterhound were to hunt the otter in order to ensure the trout
supply in rivers. Like other hounds they hunted in packs. Their
body and temperament suit the task of otter hunting perfectly.
They are great swimmers with the ability to swim for hours without
stopping - their webbed feet and a strong body also helped them
survive the wet conditions. Their sense of smell so acute that it
can smell in the morning an otter that passed through the water
the night before. Its coat is weatherproof and they are able to
defy cold water and will dive into bitterly cold rivers to seek
their prey. They would trail the otter to its den and bay when
locating it. The hunters would then remove the Otter Hound -
Otterhounds and
send terriers to kill the otter. King John kept the first
documented packs of Otter Hound - Otterhounds in 1212, however, otter hunting
did not remain popular with the nobility who preferred falconry
and hunting on horseback. The wet and uncomfortable conditions
associated with otter hunting was therefore left to the commoners
of England. In the 20th century the otter population diminished
and the need for the Otter Hound - Otterhound slowly disappeared. The first
Otter Hound - Otterhound was registered
by the AKC (American Kennel Club) in 1909.
Description
of the Otter Hound - Otterhound Dog and Puppies - Coat and Colours info
The
Otter Hound - Otterhound's coat comes in a range of the following colours:
Sandy, red, wheaten, blue; these may have slight white markings on
head, chest, feet and tail tip. White hounds may have slight
lemon, blue or badger pied markings. Black and tan, blue and tan,
black and cream, occasional liver, tan and liver, tan and white.
The coat is dense, rough, harsh and waterproof.
Dog
Health information - potential health problems of the Otter Hounds
All owners of dogs and puppies
are concerned about the health care of their pets and just as with
humans dog health issues arise from time to time. Resolving dog
health problems, including those of the Otter Hound, can prove to be
costly and it would be wise to consider the benefits of obtaining
dog health insurance. Diseases in dogs may occur because of
trauma, infection, immune system abnormalities, genetic factors,
or degenerative conditions. Common health problems and questions
occur in relation to the Bones, Joints, Muscles, Nerves, Ears,
Eyes, Teeth and the Mouth. Other, more serious, issues can relate
to the Digestive System, Heart & Respiratory Systems, Immune &
Blood Systems, Reproduction and Urinary Systems. Potential health
problems of the Otter Hound can include:
Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
(abnormal development of joints referred to as CHD - Canine Hip
and Elbow Dysplasia)
Gastric Torsion
Online
Encyclopaedia of Common Dog Health Problems Please click the following link for additional
information which we have provided via our:
This describes the most common canine health problems concisely but simply without using medical jargon. A section on Dog and Puppy Vaccinations is also included offering information on each of the diseases, symptoms and effects for which immunization vaccines are available. Not sure of the name of the dog or puppy illness? A Dog Symptom Sorter is also featured. The Online Encyclopaedia of Common Dog Health Problems should only be used as an informational guide and when and if any dog or puppies health problems occur it is essential to raise any questions you may have with a Dog Health care professional.
Description
of the Otter Hound - Otterhound Dog and Puppies - Comparative Sizing
Pictures & info
The pictures above allow for a
useful sizing perspective between an average man (Five feet ten
inches) or an average sized woman (Five feet six inches) in
comparison to the average sized Otter Hound - Otterhound dog which we have
detailed above. These pictures are extremely important as they
provide an immediate and accurate visual representation of the
height
of an average Otter Hound - Otterhound compared to the height of a male or
female - essential information but unique to this
site. Use the pictures to help to estimate the size of this
breed of
dog to each the various growing stages of
children. Use the pictures to provide a guideline to the adult
size of Otter Hound - Otterhound Puppies. The pictures will also prove to
be invaluable when comparing the sizes and heights of other dog
breeds. The
dimensions will vary according to the sex of the dog or puppy.
Girl dogs, or bitches, are on average, 2 inches smaller than boy
dogs. Another useful piece of information when considering
puppies.
Information
on Grooming and Care of the Otter Hound - Otterhound Dog Breed
The
Otter Hound - Otterhound's coat requires only weekly brushing or combing.
Tidiness is not one of its virtues of the Otter Hound - Otterhound and its
large, hairy feet tend to hold debris and mud, and its long hair
around the mouth can hold water and food. Regardless of the
breeds, a certain amount of grooming and care is necessary to keep
dogs and puppies looking at their best. Grooming consists of not
only brushing out the coat and bathing but also giving attention
to the eyes, teeth, ears, feet and nails. A regular routine also
ensures that any potential health problems are identified as
quickly as possible, especially important in puppies and older
dogs.
Information
on the Temperament
and Character of the Otter Hound - Otterhound Dog Breed
Otter Hound - Otterhounds
are independent,
inquisitive, bold, exuberant dog, friendly, cheerful, loving and
intelligent. This dog makes a good house pet providing it is given
lots of exercise and attention. Even though the Otter Hound -
Otterhound's job
was not to kill its quarry, it will give chase to any small,
moving animals. The Otter Hound - Otterhound loves to hunt, sniff, trail and,
especially, swim.
Living
conditions and Exercise Requirements of the Otter Hound -
Otterhound Dog
Breed
The
Otter Hound - Otterhound dogs and puppies needs daily exercise in a safe area or
on a leash. It has a loud, melodious voice that carries for long
distances. It can sleep outdoors, housed in a kennel, in warm or
cool climates. Training them takes patience, because they tend to
be quite wilful. The best results are achieved with a soft but
consistent hand. They like to roam and sniff and have a tendency
to snore.
Otter Hound - OtterHound - Puppies Info and Names
The Puppies section, accessed via the Site Index, provides detailed information about Choosing the right puppy, Puppy Training, Puppy Care and Puppy Behavior, Growth & Development. We recommend that the following considerations should always be taken into account when choosingOtter Hound - Otterhound puppies:
Budget
- Purchasing, training, equipment, medication and feeding
costs of the breed
Convenience
and Grooming time e.g. long or short hair
Personal
situation - time available and medical conditions such as allergies,
asthma or back pain
Exercising requirements for the Otter Hound - Otterhoundbreed
Living
Conditions for the breed - suitability for puppies
Family
- child suitability
Children and Puppies!
The pictures above allow for a useful comparison of sizes
providing an accurate portrait of the size of an average Otter
Hound - Otterhound- essential
information and unique to this site. It should also be noted that
the pictures feature adults. The size of puppies are naturally
considerably smaller and the full grown size of the animal can
easily be forgotten when confronted with cute puppies! The slogan
" A dog isn't just for Christmas - it's for life!" was necessitated
by well meaning people buying puppies at the Christmas, unaware of
the puppies growth rate. The pictures provided make it extremely
clear exactly how small puppies will develop and whether it will
suit the life and living conditions of the family.
Age
comparison between the Otter Hound - Otterhound Dog Breed and a Human
Age
comparisons between dogs and humans are always a matter of
debate - we hope that the following information clarifies the
situation. After the first year of life, a dog is equivalent to
sixteen human years. After two years, they are equivalent to a 24 year old, at
three years a 30 year old, and each year after, add 5 human years to determine
a dog's age.
Life
Expectancy of the Otter Hound - Otterhound Dog Breed
The life
expectancy for this particular breed is between
10 – 13 years.
Hound
Dog Breed Information
As implied by its name the Hound has been bred to chase a
quarry by sight or smell, or a combination of both senses.
Sighthounds have exceptional eyesight, combined with the speed and
stamina necessary to catch the intended prey once seen, typical
examples being the Greyhound and the Whippet. Hounds which rely
strongly on the sense of smell to follow the trail of a prey, such
as the Bloodhound, quite literally follow their noses, speed and
eyesight is of less importance.
Characteristics and features have been introduced and strengthened
by
breeding from animals who already demonstrated the desired traits.
Breeding for appearance was only introduced in the 19th Century.
Before this time dogs and puppies were bred to increase useful abilities and traits
helpful for the duties they were intended for. Thus, the
various hound breeds were initially introduced to help man
according to specific requirements such as:
Hunting
and running down small quarry
Flushing
out and Driving game
Vermin
Hunting
Guard
duties
Tracking
In
this day and age only a few hounds still undertake these tasks, but
nevertheless, they still harbour the skills and characteristics that made
the original Otter Hound - Otterhound dog breeding program successful.
The
Hound Breed Group of dogs differ in that some hunt by scent and
others by sight. Many hounds are kept in packs, in outdoor
kennels. Any dogs and puppies belonging to the Hound breeds require a
significant amount of exercise as they have high stamina levels
suitable for hunting quarry. There are some breeds in this group
who make a distinctive ' baying ' sound - invaluable information
should be considering puppies. The pictures above allow for a
useful size comparison providing an accurate portrait of the size
of an average Otter Hound - Otterhound dog - essential information but unique to this
site.
Examples
of other Breeds within the Hound Dog Group
The Hound group of dogs includes the Otter Hound - Otterhound
and all of
the following breeds:
Afghans, Foxhounds, Basenjis, Bassets, Beagles, Black and Tan Coonhounds, Bloodhounds, Borzoi, Dachshunds, English Foxhounds, Greyhounds, Harriers, Irish Wolfhounds, Norwegian Elkhounds, Otterhounds, Petit Basset Griffon
Vendeens, American Fox hounds, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Salukis, Scottish Deerhounds
and Whippets.
Pictures and information about all of the above Hound Dog breeds,
together with all other dog groups,
may be found
on this website via the following links:
