Otterhound
About the Otterhound
Temperament
Physical Characteristics
| Size Category | Large (50-100 lbs) |
|---|---|
| Height | 24-27" |
| Weight | 80-115 lbs |
| Coat Type | Wire |
| Coat Length | Medium |
| Colors | |
| Hypoallergenic | No |
Care Requirements
Exercise Needs
High (60-90 min/day)
60 minutes per day recommended
Grooming
Moderate - Weekly
Mental Stimulation
★★★★★Needs plenty of mental challenges
Drooling
★★★★★Living Conditions
Cost of Ownership
| Purchase Price | $1,500-$3,000 |
|---|---|
| Annual Cost | $1,500/year |
Costs vary based on location, breeder, and individual needs. Annual costs include food, veterinary care, grooming, and supplies.
Health Considerations
Like all breeds, Otterhounds may be prone to certain health conditions:
Regular veterinary check-ups and proper care can help prevent or manage many health issues.
Best For
- Families with Children
- Active Owners
May Not Be Ideal For
- Apartment Living
- First-Time Owners
- Long Work Hours Away
Guides for your Otterhound
The story behind the Otterhound
The Otterhound is an English breed developed to hunt otter along rivers and streams, a form of hunting practised in Britain from the medieval period and organised into packs by the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The work demanded a hound that could follow a scent trail in and out of water over many hours, swim strongly, and cope with cold, which shaped the heavy weatherproof coat and webbed feet. Bloodhound and various rough-coated European hound ancestry is generally accepted in the background. Otter hunting ended in Britain when the otter became legally protected in the later twentieth century, removing the breed's purpose. Numbers fell sharply and the Otterhound is now among the rarest native British breeds, listed as vulnerable, maintained by a small number of dedicated breeders in Britain and North America.
Originally bred for: Otter hunting, Water trailing, Pack scenthound. You can trace how working roles shaped today’s breeds across our dog guides.
Feeding a Otterhound
A large, powerfully built hound suits a balanced complete diet split into two meals with calm rest around them. Youngsters should be brought on unhurriedly rather than fast, and adults kept lean, since this breed can become heavy and that weight tells on hips over time.
Watch for: No specific ingredient sensitivity is recognised. Deep-chested hounds carry a raised bloat risk, so feeding pace and meal size matter more than recipe. Beard hygiene affects skin around the muzzle. Have a veterinarian assess any chronic gut or skin complaint before restricting food.
Not sure what to put in the bowl? See our picks for the best dog food for large breeds.
Mealtime extras: training treats worth keeping in your pocket, and a slow feeder bowl if your dog inhales dinner. Everything else lives in our dog nutrition and feeding hub.
Living with a Otterhound
Day to day, the basics matter most: how much exercise your dog needs, how often to get out for a walk, and how much sleep is normal.
For play and enrichment, browse chew toys built for strong jaws and interactive toys for rainy days.
Gear that fits the breed makes life easier: a well-sized dog bed, a properly sized crate.
Raising a puppy? Work through crate training and the teething timeline — or see how old your dog is in human years with our dog age calculator.