Otterhounds make great pets, if -

 

- you have a sense of humor (and a fair amount of patience).

 

- you aren't obsessed with keeping your house/clothes spotless.

 

- you have a fenced yard.

 

- you just love that hound voice (and so do your neighbors!).

 

- you are looking for a pet and watchdog - but NOT a guard dog.

The Otterhound is an old British breed, with references dating back to the 12th century. They were used in large packs to hunt river otter. King John of England hunted otter with large, shaggy hounds, as did Queen Elizabeth I. The modern Otterhound has Bloodhound in his background, and is in turn one of the ancestors of the Airedale Terrier. The first Otterhounds were brought to the US very early in the 20th century, with official AKC recognition in 1907. There are fewer than 1000 Otterhounds world wide, with the largest numbers in the UK and US, and smaller populations in Scandinavia, the Netherlands and the rest of Europe, Canada, and Australia.

The Otterhound standard says that the breed is "amiable, boisterous and even tempered". Basically these are big friendly dogs, but with a mind of their own. Otterhounds are affectionate, but don't demand attention all the time. They are generally good with other dogs and with other animals if they are raised with them or introduced to them carefully. Many Otterhound owners also have cats, and contrary to what some sources may lead you to believe, they usually get along well; these hounds are quite willing to include most two and four legged members of the household in their notion of their "pack". Otterhounds are good with kids, too, but a young Otterhound is big and likely to be klutzy and may not be the best companion for a wobbly toddler or a frail elderly person.

Otterhounds have a deep bay, a lovely melodious sound, which carries amazingly well. (A hound voice is probably an acquired taste.) Some OHs are fairly quiet, and some seem to like the sound of their own voice. Many of them seem to be "mutterers"; they grunt, groan, sigh, etc. Otterhounds are also talented "singers" and will happily vocalize with other Otterhounds or with people. Listening to the "music" made by a large pack of Otterhounds was considered one of the special pleasures of the hunt.

As a large dog with an impressively deep voice, an Otterhound can make a good watch dog, but their friendly nature makes them poor candidates as guard dogs. They'll "woof" or bay at an unusual noise, but you'd have a hard time training them for "attack" work.

Training OHs takes some patience, as they are stubborn - but generally good humored about it - "Aw, Mom, let's do it THIS way!". Their considerable size makes training something you DO NOT want to ignore. Don't let that wistful, sad looking puppy con you in to not training it; you'll regret it when the pup is your size and twice as strong. Many Otterhounds seem to be rather "soft" dogs, and just don't understand harsh corrections. Like many of the hounds, OHs are not natural retrievers - so if you really want a great "Frisbee" dog, look elsewhere!

Otterhounds can be very bright dogs - at least when it comes to getting something they want. If it's food, they WILL smell it, and where there's a will... There are reliable reports of Otterhounds who learn to open the gate to their yard, as well as the screen door, the door to the house and the refrigerator door.

Otterhounds compete successfully in obedience, some take on agility, and they excel as tracking dogs. These silly looking sweethearts can also be great therapy dogs.

So what is the special attraction of Otterhounds? For many, it's the great personality. You need a sense of humor to live with an Otterhound, but you'll be living with a dog that has a pronounced sense of humor of its own. These dogs can look noble, even mournful, but along the lines of the "class clown" trying VERY HARD to be good. The standard says an Otterhound head shows great dignity; it doesn't point out that looks can be wildly deceiving! Think of the teacher or grandparent who you loved, very dignified in appearance, who had the heart of a joyful child, and you've glimpsed the Otterhound personality. To assess whether you could live happily with an Otterhound, ask yourself if you can love and perhaps admire an independent dog who will love you, but will NOT worship the ground you walk on.

If you decide that an Otterhound is really the dog for you, finding one can prove to be quite challenging, There are generally 4 to 7 litters born a year in the U.S. Occasionally older OHs need new homes. The Otterhound Club of America can refer you to breeders or to the OHCA rescue coordinator in your area.