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Otterhound standing up on a fence.
©LourdesPhotography - stock.adobe.com

“Is that a Labradoodle?”

“No, it’s an Otterhound.”

“A what? I never heard of them. What were they bred to do?”

“Hunt river otters.”

“Oh. My friend has a Labradoodle.”

Probably every Otterhound owner has been part of a conversation like this. “Doodles,” whether “Labra–” or “Golden–,” are a popular trend, as are a number of other cross-breeds, frequently called “designer breeds.”At the same time, some of our oldest breeds, like Otterhounds, are fighting for survival.

In fact, all dog breeds were “designed” by humans through selective breeding in one way or another, usually to perform certain functions like hunting, herding, or guarding. Each breed’s distinctive appearance resulted from the traits suited to performing its job.

Otterhound running in the yard.
Christian Mueller/Shutterstock

Today’s designer dogs are often bred solely for looks. Take the Labradoodles and Goldendoodles—who, like Otterhounds, are large, shaggy dogs with “goofy” expressions that attract owners and passersby. Unlike doodles, however, Otterhounds have predictable appearance and temperament, including behavior dominated by their keen sense of smell.

“Doodles,” in contrast, though often endearing, can differ widely in appearance and have a variety of coats, from slightly wiry to curly to soft and fluffy. Despite claims that they do not shed, most doodles shed and mat, thanks to one parent, and need to be clipped, thanks to the other.

The combination of the Poodle hair that keeps growing and the Labrador Retriever and/or Golden Retriever fur that sheds profusely creates a dog who needs a vacuum and a groomer. They tend to be more substantial than Poodles, though often with many of that breed’s features. Curiously, many of them are larger than either of the breeds behind them, and few of them hunt, unlike the Goldens, Labs, and Poodles in their ancestry.

All About the Otterhound

The Otterhound is an old breed of scent hound, developed with a wiry, waterproof outer coat and a softer undercoat to keep them warm as they patrolled land and water to keep river otters from decimating the fish populations in the British Isles. A good Otterhound coat repels water and dries quickly.

Everything about this scent hound—from their size, to their coat, to their large feet with webbing, to their sickle-tail that can be seen waving in the tall brush—is designed to make them efficient at scenting and pursuing prey on land and water.

Painting of Otterhounds working at the base of a tree
Bonhams
This centuries-old breed doing what they were bred to do. “Two Otterhounds Working at the Base of a Tree,” by Reuben Ward Binks (British, 1880–1950).

Persistent and independent, Otterhounds are pack hounds, and they love fellow dogs, cats, and of course people. More than anything, however, they have those amazing noses inherited from their Bloodhound and Welsh Foxhound ancestors, who can scent on land and water.

All their appealing features have a purpose. While no longer used for hunting otters, which are endangered, the hounds still pursue careers in tracking and trailing. And while Otterhounds do shed, they shed less than most dogs, and their hair never needs to be clipped. The breed does not require trips to the groomer’s—just a comb and brush applied once a week.

The “doodle” population is on the rise, despite the often-high purchase price and upkeep cost, while the Otterhound breed is nearly as endangered as the otters they once pursued. With fewer than 1,000 remaining in the world, these clowns with the keen noses and sociable natures may soon go the way of the passenger pigeon. And that would be a loss.

Painting of four Otterhound puppies laying in hay and straw
Bonhams
Hardworking, multitalented hounds with charming faces. “Dumfriesshire Otterhounds in a Kennel,” also by Reuben Ward Binks.

They possess most of the traits and looks of the “doodle,” and more—and they breed true. They can hunt, track, and visit folks in nursing homes and hospitals and kids in schools. They make great bed-warmers on winter nights, and they can find your keys and gloves for you. And they need dedicated fans of the breed to ensure that they are not casualties of the newer designer mixes.

Eibhlin Glennon, Otterhound Club of America, from the February 2015 AKC Gazette. Visit the Otterhound Club of America website for breeder referral and in-depth information about the breed.

Eibhlin Glennon has owned Otterhounds since 1986, when she got her first, a rescue named Sam. Her primary interests are in the breed’s working aspects—tracking and trailing. Five of her Otterhounds have been or currently are therapy dogs. She is co-chair of the OHCA’s rescue committee.

The AKC Gazette is the official journal of the sport of purebred dogs, and hasn’t missed an issue since 1889. Read the current AKC Gazette issue, sign up to receive new issues via e-mail, and browse 10 years of back issues on AKC.org.

Related article: What Dog Is Right For Me? How to Choose the Perfect Breed
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