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Otterhound

From every viewpoint the Otterhound is a large dog with a truly rugged appearance. Built to gallop when on land, his main function has always been spend his working day in water.The Otterhound is a large, and rough coated hound with an imposing head showing great strength and dignity, and the strong body and long striding action fit for long day;s work. It has an extremely sensitive nose, and is inquisitiveand perseverant in investigating scents. The Otterhound hunts its quarry on land and water and requires a combination of characteristicss unique among hounds most notably a rough, double coat, and substantial webbed feet. Otterhounds should not be penalized for being shown in working condition Lean, well muscled, with naturally stripped coat. Any departure from the folowing pointsshould be considered a fault its seriousness should be regarded in exact proportion to its degree.The Otterhound is a dog for the energetic, but but not for the house - proud.

History of the Otterhound

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 Engeland hunted otter with large, shaggy hounds , as did QueenElizabeth 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 100 Otterhounds world wide, with the largest numbers in the UK and US, and smaller populations in Scandinavia, the Netderlands and the resr of Europe, Canada,and Australia.

General Appearance* Large, straight limbed and sound, rough coated with majestic head, strong body and loose, long striding action. Rough double coat and large feet essential. Free moving.

Characteristics* Big, strong hound primarily build for long day's work in water but able to gallop on land.

Temperament* Aniable and even very alert tempered.

Head and Skull* Clean, very imposing, deep rather than wide, clean cheekbones, skull nicely domed, neither coarsenor overdone, rising from distinct though not exaggerated stop to slight peak at occiput. No trace of scowl or bulge on forehead, exoression, being open and amiable. Muzzle strong, deep, with good wide nose, wide nostrils. Distance from nose end to stop slightly shorter than from stop to occiput. Plenty of lip and flew, but not exaggerated. Whole head except for nose well covered with rough hair, ending in slight moustaches and beard.

Eyes* Intelligent, moderately deep set eye haw showing only slightly. Eye colour and rim pigment variable according to coat colour a blue and tan hound may have hazel eyes. Yellow eye undesirable.

Ears* Uniqe feature of the breed. Long, pendulous, set on level with corner of eye, easily reaching nose when pulled forward, with characteristic fold. Leading edge folding or rolling inwards giving curious draped appearancean essentia; point not to be lost. Well covered and fringed with hair.

Mouth* Jaws strong, large, well placed teeth with perfect, regular scissor bite i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Neck* Long, powerful, set smoothly into well laid back, clean shoulders. Slight dewlap permissible.

ForeQuarters* Well laid shoulders. Forelegs strongly boned, straingt from elbow to ground. Pasterns strong and slightly sprung.

Body* Chest deep with well sprung, fairly deep, oval ribcage. Ribs carried well back allowing plenty of heart and lung room, neither too wide nor too narrow. Body is very strong, with level topline and broad back. Lion short and strong.

HindQuarters* Very strong, well muscled when viewed from angle, standing neithertoo wide nor too narrow behind. Hind angulation moderate, hocks well let down, turning neither in nor out. Things and second thighs heavily muscled. In naturel stance, hindlegs from hock to ground perpendicular.

Feet* Large, round , well knuckled, thick padded, turnind neither in not out. Compact but capable of spreading, hind feet only slightly smaller than forefeet. Web must be in evidence.

Tail* Stern, Set high, carried up when alert or moving, never vurling over back and may droop when standing. Thick at base, tapering to point, bone reaching to hock and carried straight to point, bone reaching to hock and carried straight or in a slight curve.Hair under tail rather longer and more profuse than that on upper surface.

Gait and Movement* Very loose and shambling at walk, springing immediately into loose, very long - spriding, sound, active trot. Gallop smooth and exceptionally long striding.

Coat* Long 4*8 cms** 1 - 3 ins **, dense, rough, harsh and waterproof but not wiry, of broken appearance. Softer hair on head and lower legs natural. Undercoat evident and there may be a slight oily texture in top and undercoat. Not trimmed for exhibition. Presentation should be natural.

Colour* All recognised hound colours permissible, whole coloured, grizzle, 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.Cplours not permissible, liver and white, a white bodied hound with black and tan batches distinctly separate. Pigment should harmonise though not necessarrily blend with coat colour, for example a tan hound may have a brown nose and eye rims. A slight butterfly nose permissible.

Size* Approximate height at shoulder, dogs 67 cms * 27ins*. bitches 60 cmd*24 ins*.

Faults* Any departure from foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact propotion to its degree.

Note* Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.