Post by DogGoneGood on Mar 10, 2009 17:13:23 GMT -5
Group: II - Hounds
Origin: England
Date of Origin: Antiquity
Purpose: Hunting Otter
Great Britain produced different hounds for different game, such as the Foxhound for foxes, the Harrier for hares, and the Bloodhound for boars. The Otterhound was created to enter the coldest river and follow an otter to its den. Now that otters are no longer regarded as pests, the Otterhound's original function no longer applies. Fortunately, it has a cheerful disposition, enjoys human companionship, and is reasonably good with children and other animals. The breed can, however, be stubbornly independent, especialy when it sees or smells water.
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.
Big, strong hound, primarily built for a long day’s work in water but able to gallop on land.
Life Expectancy:
12 Years
Size:
Height at shoulder approximately 27 inches (67 cm) for Dogs; Bitches 24 inches (60 cm).
Tail:
(Stern) Set high, carried up when alert or moving, never curling over back and may droop when standing. Thick at base, tapering 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.
Head:
Clean, very imposing, deep rather than wide, clean cheekbones, skull nicely domed neither coarse nor overdone, rising from distinct though not exaggerated stop to slight peak at occiput. No trace of scowl or bulge on forehead, expression being open and amiable. Muzzle strong, deep; with good wide nose, wide nostrils. Distance from nose-end to stop slightly shorter than to stop from occiput. Plenty of lip and flew, but not exaggerated. Whole head except for nose, well covered with rough hair, ending in slight mustaches 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: Unique 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 appearance - an essential 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., the upper teeth closely overlapping the 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, straight from elbow to ground. Pasterns strong and slightly sprung.
Hindquarters:
Very strong; well muscled when viewed from any angle, standing neither too wide nor too narrow behind. Hind angulation moderate; hocks well let down, turning neither in nor out. Thighs and second thighs heavily muscled. In natural stance, hindlegs from hock to ground perpendicular.
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 very strong, with level top line and broad back. Loin short and strong.
Feet:
Large, round, well knuckled, thick padded, turning neither in nor out. Compact but capable of spreading; hind feet only slightly smaller than fore feet. Web must be in evidence.
Gait:
Very loose and shambling at walk, springing immediately into a loose, very long-striding, sound, active trot. Gallop smooth and exceptionally long striding.
Coat and Colour:
Long (1-1/2 - 3 inches/4-8 cm) dense rough, harsh but not wiry and waterproof; of broken appearance. Softer hair on head and lower legs natural. Undercoat evident and there may be a slight oily texture on tip and undercoat. Not trimmed for exhibition. Presentation should be natural.
All recognized hound colours permissible: Whole coloured, grizzle,
sandy, red, wheaten, blue; these may have slight white markings on head, chest, feet and tail top. 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. Colours not desirable: liver and white, a white-bodied hound with black and tan patches distinctly separate. Pigment should harmonize though not necessarily blend with coat colour; for example, a tan hound may have a brown nose or eye rims. A slight butterfly nose permissible.
Temperment:
Amiable and even-tempered.
Faults:
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
History:
The Otterhound could be descended from the Bloodhound. Alternatively, it could be a cross between large, rough-coated terriers, ancient Foxhounds, and the French Nivernais Griffon.
Sources:
Canadian Kennel Club Official Breed Standards - Otterhound
The New Encyclopedia Of the DOG by Bruce Fogle DVM Page 170
Origin: England
Date of Origin: Antiquity
Purpose: Hunting Otter
Great Britain produced different hounds for different game, such as the Foxhound for foxes, the Harrier for hares, and the Bloodhound for boars. The Otterhound was created to enter the coldest river and follow an otter to its den. Now that otters are no longer regarded as pests, the Otterhound's original function no longer applies. Fortunately, it has a cheerful disposition, enjoys human companionship, and is reasonably good with children and other animals. The breed can, however, be stubbornly independent, especialy when it sees or smells water.
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.
Big, strong hound, primarily built for a long day’s work in water but able to gallop on land.
Life Expectancy:
12 Years
Size:
Height at shoulder approximately 27 inches (67 cm) for Dogs; Bitches 24 inches (60 cm).
Tail:
(Stern) Set high, carried up when alert or moving, never curling over back and may droop when standing. Thick at base, tapering 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.
Head:
Clean, very imposing, deep rather than wide, clean cheekbones, skull nicely domed neither coarse nor overdone, rising from distinct though not exaggerated stop to slight peak at occiput. No trace of scowl or bulge on forehead, expression being open and amiable. Muzzle strong, deep; with good wide nose, wide nostrils. Distance from nose-end to stop slightly shorter than to stop from occiput. Plenty of lip and flew, but not exaggerated. Whole head except for nose, well covered with rough hair, ending in slight mustaches 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: Unique 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 appearance - an essential 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., the upper teeth closely overlapping the 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, straight from elbow to ground. Pasterns strong and slightly sprung.
Hindquarters:
Very strong; well muscled when viewed from any angle, standing neither too wide nor too narrow behind. Hind angulation moderate; hocks well let down, turning neither in nor out. Thighs and second thighs heavily muscled. In natural stance, hindlegs from hock to ground perpendicular.
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 very strong, with level top line and broad back. Loin short and strong.
Feet:
Large, round, well knuckled, thick padded, turning neither in nor out. Compact but capable of spreading; hind feet only slightly smaller than fore feet. Web must be in evidence.
Gait:
Very loose and shambling at walk, springing immediately into a loose, very long-striding, sound, active trot. Gallop smooth and exceptionally long striding.
Coat and Colour:
Long (1-1/2 - 3 inches/4-8 cm) dense rough, harsh but not wiry and waterproof; of broken appearance. Softer hair on head and lower legs natural. Undercoat evident and there may be a slight oily texture on tip and undercoat. Not trimmed for exhibition. Presentation should be natural.
All recognized hound colours permissible: Whole coloured, grizzle,
sandy, red, wheaten, blue; these may have slight white markings on head, chest, feet and tail top. 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. Colours not desirable: liver and white, a white-bodied hound with black and tan patches distinctly separate. Pigment should harmonize though not necessarily blend with coat colour; for example, a tan hound may have a brown nose or eye rims. A slight butterfly nose permissible.
Temperment:
Amiable and even-tempered.
Faults:
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
History:
The Otterhound could be descended from the Bloodhound. Alternatively, it could be a cross between large, rough-coated terriers, ancient Foxhounds, and the French Nivernais Griffon.
Sources:
Canadian Kennel Club Official Breed Standards - Otterhound
The New Encyclopedia Of the DOG by Bruce Fogle DVM Page 170
