Otterhound - Information on otterhound puppies and otterhound dog breed

The Otterhound dog is an ancient British dog breed that was originally bred for hunting purposes.



This breed has the Bloodhound as its ancestor and is in turn an ancestor to the Airedale Terrier. The Otterhound dog is considered as an endangered breed and is listed among the vulnerable native breeds in the UK. Very few Otterhound puppies have been registered recently and there are less than 1,000 dogs of this breed worldwide.



The Otterhound mix is a cross breed between the Bloodhound and the Terrier, Harrier and Griffon. Since it's a hunting dog, it is strong, agile, and has rather long striding steps and its webbed feet enable it to swim deftly. It also has a keen sense of smell, which makes it investigative and inquisitive.



This breed is bold and courageous, friendly, exuberant, affectionate, even-tempered, devoted and loves children. However, Otterhound puppies are big and clumsy with toddlers; so it would be better if they are not left around infants and frail elderly people. Though they are affectionate, they are quite independent and do not seek attention. This makes them capable of entertaining themselves even if left alone, which may become a trouble because their idea of entertainment can be excavating and baying.

The Otterhound has a rough and oily double coat that needs to be brushed properly at least once a week. The owner must not clip its coat too, since it is meant to look natural, and its beard has to be washed frequently. The Otterhound is prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, hemophilia, thrombocytopenia, and the owner must ensure that it's not overfed, as it is likely to gain weight easily. Training an Otterhound requires a lot of patience and determination. The pup looks rather cute and sad, which leads to the owner postponing the training. But, without training, it becomes willful and believes that it has to lead the family. Also, being hounds they have not always been kept as pets, which makes them unresponsive sometimes. The training sessions have to be consistent yet short and fun. And, the greatest trick of training the Otterhond would be to let the dog know that he doesn't have a choice but to do what it has been asked to do. The Otterhound has a low profile and can be a quiet companion, though it has a booming bass voice. While out for a walk, you have to keep an eye on the dog as it has a tendency to stray.