Spotlight Breed: Otterhound

Welcome to our Spotlight Breed article of the week.  This is where we help you learn more about one of the many interesting dog breeds of the world.  Today we are featuring the Otterhound!  This breed has many interesting features to note.  The large and rough-coated Otterhound was originally bred for hunting otter in England.  I am sure that their name makes more sense to you now, right?  One of the most important facts about the Otterhound is that it is so unique!  The breed is very uncommon, with fewer than ten litters born each year in the United States and Canada.

Otterhounds are known as playful clowns.  They can be extremely affectionate and friendly with their “pack”.  Loyalty is a must for them as they take pride in establishing the closest bonds!  Although this breed is okay being alone, we do not recommend them to live in a small space (apartment or one bedroom home).  They need constant mental and physical stimulation to keep them going and satisfied!  They are not too sensitive as they tend to march to the beat of their own drum.

As mentioned before, their overall level of friendliness is extremely high!  They enjoy being around family, children, other dogs, and sometimes even strangers.  Think of this breed as one who has never met a stranger before.  The Otterhound is also easy to train.  They can form an association between a prompt, an action, and a consequence.  Be on the lookout though!  They have a very high prey drive and wanderlust potential.  If something catches their eye, they will go after it!

The physical needs of the Otterhound are unheard of!  They are high-energy, intensity, and have a huge potential for playfulness.  With, we recommend an owner who doesn’t mind an active lifestyle!  Without enough exercise, this breed may put on weight and pent up their energy by causing mischief.  This is something you will want to avoid! We will leave you with one of our favorite quotes about the breed: “A house is not a home without an Otterhound!”