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Before taking on an otterhound you must obtain as much information about the breed as possible. The Otterhound Club is the best place to start and will give advice on the breed and details of breeders. It is very important to meet and spend some time with otterhounds as they are a large boisterous hound and certainly not for the faint hearted! Otterhounds are ‘scent hounds’ and have been bred for their ability to use their nose to track. Therefore when exercising they are better kept on a flexi-lead unless you are in a securely fenced area. Being a rough-coated breed they should be groomed weekly, paying special attention to ears and beards. It is presumed they need masses of exercise, but as puppies the amount should be limited to prevent injuries to joints. As adults they enjoy long walks but once home happily turn back into couch potatoes. There are only a small number of litters born each year and they are one of the recognised British Vulnerable Breeds. It is quite usual to have to wait for a puppy and it is normal for breeders to invite prospective owners to visit several times, this gives the breeder and the potential new owner(s) time and space to be sure that the Otterhound is the breed for them. As with most breeds Otterhounds have some health problems and a good breeder will take time to discuss these with you. Hip and Elbow Dysplasia: You should ask whether the sire and dam have been scored under the KC/BVA Scheme and what the results are. Epilepsy: It is important to discuss the fitting status of sire, dam and all close relatives. For more information on health please look on www.otterhound-health.org |
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