Otterhound

GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: 60-67cm (24”-27”).
Colour: Any whole colour except black or brindle. Small tips of white
acceptable.
Coat: Outercoat - rough dense and waterproof. Undercoat - short and fine.
Gait: Long striding, loose and shambling.These free moving scent hounds with their majestic heads must be powerful and agile. The skull is somewhat domed and the muzzle is slightly shorter and deep. The eyes must show no haw - and the low set ears are long, folded and fringed at the tip. The long neck runs into well laid back shoulders and the ribcage is deep. The broad strong back has a high set tail which is carried gaily when moving. The hindlegs show a moderate bend at the stifle and finish with thick padded feet with webbed toes.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
Being a pack dog, Otterhounds enjoy the company of other dogs. The slightly oily texture of their undercoat combined with their webbed feet means these hounds take to water like ducks. They have an abundance of energy and need a large area in which to exercise. Being amiable and even tempered, they are a joy to live with. Their coat is easily maintained and requires only an occasional brushing. 
HISTORY
While much of the history of this breed is lost in time, they have been traced back to at least the 12th century. Looking rather like a rough coated Bloodhound, the breed is believed to have evolved from the old St. Hubert Hound, the old Basset Griffon Vendéen and the Southern Hound. Their value was in hunting and killing otters who created havoc with the fish in the British rivers. These hounds needed to be agile and strong, not only because otters weighed up to 16kg or 35lb, but because they had to readily take to the water and be able to scramble up and down slippery river banks. They were also required to swim long distances under water. From 1870 to 1890, the Otterhounds in the Hawkstone pack had the remarkable record of disposing of 704 otters.