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These shaggy-headed comedians were originally bred to eliminate
otters from the streams and rivers of Great Britain and thus
to preserve the livelihood fisherman. Otterhounds (the American
Kennel Club sanctioned the single-word spelling in 1991) combine
an intense seriousness regarding their work with an obvious
delight in splashing about in water. Their playfulness is
rarely seen in other hounds, they get along well with animals
and children, and they do not require much grooming; yet there
are cautions to be observed before acquiring an otterhound
as a pet. Most pets live, to a greater or lesser extent, in
pampered leisure; but otterhounds need to be active. They
were bred to hunt, and if they cannot, they are like persons
forced to retire before their time --- at a loss for something
to do around the house.
Otterhounds
require a great deal of exercise, not the chasing-a-ball-in-the-garden
variety but a vigorous workout of several miles three or more
times a week-preferably in a field or, failing that, beside
a jogger, a bicycle or even behind a slow moving car. If you
cannot provide that sort of exercise, you and that otterhound
you might be dreaming about would be happier if you chose
a more sedentary breed.
In
the Beginning
The origin
of the otterhound like that of many breeds, is obscure. Some
people who write about otterhounds claim that the breed "was
first mentioned in about 1175 during the reign of Henry II,"
but they invariably fail to mention where this mention occurred.
Vague allusions notwithstanding, the first recorded reference
to otterhounds appeared roughly 150 years later when William
Twici, huntsman for Edward II, described the otterhound as
a "rough sort of dog, between a hound and a terrier.
Where
this "rough sort of dog" came from is a matter of some dispute.
The British canine authority John Henry Walsh, who wrote under
the pseudonym "Stronghenge" under the last century, believed
the otterhound had been derived by crossing southern hounds
and rough-coated Welsh harriers or foxhounds. The southern
hound, now extinct, was bred in Devonshire, England. The rough-coated
Welsh foxhound, a breed never formally recognized, can still
be found in a few working packs in its native Wales. The resemblance
between otterhounds and Devonshire and Wales - support Walsh's
theory.
Most historians
argue, however, that the otterhound originated in France.
They cite as evidence the great similarities in coat and the
body conformation between the otterhound and the old Vendeen
hound of France. In fact, at least one English hunting authority,
Croxton Smith, occurred with this belief. "There can be little
doubt, "he wrote, "that (the otterhound) traces to the rough-coated
griffon Vendeen."
Washing
and Dragging
Although
historians may disagree about the otterhound's origin, there
is no arguing that its raision d'être, hunting otters,
requires a skilled, athletic, persistent, durable dog, for
otters are not an easy catch. They weigh as much as 24 pounds,
and they are expert, speedy swimmers, able to stay underwater
for long distances.
The otterhound
was aided in the pursuit of this quarry by small terriers
that flushed otters from their dens in the tangled roots of
trees along riverbanks. Once an ottter was in the water, the
otterhound took over. His exceptional nose enabled him to
follow not only a "wash," the scent of an otter in the water,
but also a "drag," the trail of an otter on land. Otterhounds
have been known to pick up and stay with a drag 12 hours old
or to wade and swim for hours on a wash, covering as many
as 20 miles in a day and hunting for as long as 10 hours.
Otterhounds
in America
According
to the American Kennel Club's The Complete Dog Book(Howell
Book House, 1992) "Otterhounds first made their appearance
in the United States about the year 1900, and they made their
bench-show debut in 1907, in Claremont, Oklahoma." Two of
those entries belonged to Mr. H.S. Wardner of New York City,
who the AKC reports, "undoubtedly was America's first breeder.
Despite
its longevity, the otterhound is not a popular breed. In 1995,
the last year for which statistics were available at press
time, otterhounds ranked 137th in new registrations for the
year out of 140 breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club.
Only 48 new otterhounds were registered in 1995. The most
popular breed that year, the Labrador retriever, averaged
362 new registrations per day.
Care
and Maintenance
The otterhound
which is available in any color or combination of colors,
carries a double coat: a two- to four inch long, coarse, crisp
outer coat over a short, woolly, oily, and water resistant
undercoat. A weekly brushing removes both dead hair and dirt
from the coat. Bathing is not essential, but just try keeping
one of these hounds out of water. Puddles, mud, birdbaths,
kiddie pools - you name it, if is is wet, they are in it.
The only
special maintenance requirement for this breed is occasioned
by its long drooping ears, which tend to trap dirt and to
become infected. Thus, the inside ear flaps and ear canals
must be cleaned weekly.
Health
and Longevity
Otterhounds
are relatively long-lived. Their life span is typically 10
to 13 years, and some have lived to be 15 or older. Like most
large breeds, they are subject to hip dysplasia. It is imperative
to limit the exercise of puppies or adolescents. The regular
weekly workouts mentioned earlier must be deferred until a
dog is two to three years of age and has been certified free
of hip dysplasia. Until then an otterhound should be exercised
no differently from the average dog, with regular swims added
whenever possible.
Living
With an Otterhound
Life with
a large shaggy hound that ranges from 23 to 27 inches at the
withers (shoulder) and weighs from 65 to 120 pounds is not
everyone's cup of kibble. This working hound - admittedly
strong, amusing, and smart - also has a stubborn streak and
a "melodious" voice that could set off emergency alarms. Once
heard this indescribable voice is never forgotten, but it
is music only to the ears of the huntsman or the the dedicated
otterhound enthusiasts
The best
way to decide whether you are the kind of person with whom
an otterhound would want to live is to consider the following
set of questions: if you can train with infinite patience,
firmness, a sense of humor and lots of treats; if you do not
mind mopping the floor after every drink of water and washing
off feet, ears and face after every soggy trip to a rain puddle;
if you can provide the essential weekly exercise and become
involved in hunts with other otterhounds owners; if you understand
that one is never enough when it comes to owning otterhounds;
then you just might be the right person to enjoy life with
the incomparable otterhound.
Hunting
Heritage
According
De Prisco and Johnson, authors of Canine Lexicon (T.F.H. Publications,
1993), "perhaps more than any other breed, the Otter Hound
has collected many kingly fanciers . . . Edward II, Henry
VI, Richard III, Henry VIII, King John, Charles II, Edward
IV, Henry II and Henry VII; plus one very fine lady: Elizabeth
I."
Otter
hunting was the oldest organized sport in Great Britain in
which packs of scent hounds were used for hunting. Royal recognition
- and the fact that otter hunting was the only game in the
country from April through September in Great Britain - no
doubt secured its popularity. Ironically, the otterhound was
so good at its job that the otter was declared a protected
species in England, and otter hunting was made illegal in
1982.
To some
extent the mink has replaced the otter as the object of the
otterhound's affections. This transition was possible because
the otterhound, contrary to its name, does not take "naturally
to hunting otter." On the contrary, wrote Captain John Bell-Irving,
a legendary Scottish master of the hounds, "(Otterhounds)
learn from their elders. They will hunt fox, deer, hare, rabbits,
cats, chicken and pheasants unless corrected firmly at a tender
age."
Mink hunting,
for several reasons, is not so appealing to sportsmen as offer
hunting was. To begin, mink live in subterranean dens that
seal them off from terriers and hounds. What's more, mink
do not venture far from home, and mink hunts are not the glorious,
day-long affairs that otter hunts were. Nevertheless, because
mink and muskrats are still numerous and are not considered
endangered in England, they are the prey of choice for sportsman
dedicated to hunting with of choice for sportsmen dedicated
to hunting with otterhounds. For his part, Bell-Irving tried
mink hunting when otter hunting had been outlawed, but he
disbanded his kennel after two years.
On this
side of the ocean, the otterhound's versatile scent-hunting
instincts have allowed its advocates to put it on the track
of such unlikely game as coon, bear and mountain lion. In
addition, the breed's dual tracking ability makes it ideal
for use as a search-and-rescue dog and as a certified service
dog.
When the
Mississippi River overflowed its banks a few years ago, Caroline
Knapp, a bloodhound breeder, used an otterhound to locate
five flood victims.
The
Otterhound Club
The Otterhound
Club of America reports that the worldwide otterhound population
is "fewer than 1,000." The largest otterhound populations
are in the United Kingdom and the United States. Smaller populations
can be found in Scandinavia, the Netherlands, the rest of
Europe, Canada and Australia.
Bardi
McLennan has written for most of the leading dog magazines
over the past 40 years. In 1991 her work was acknowledged
by the Pedigree award for outstanding pet journalist.
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