According to the FCI standard, an Otterhound can follow an otter’s trail on land for up to twelve hours and swim for up to five hours in the process. It has webbed toes and a slightly oily, water-repellent coat for the task. The hunting for which it was bred is now prohibited.
| FCI | Group 6 (Scent hounds and related breeds), Section 1.1 Large Hounds, Standard No. 294, without working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Great Britain |
| Height at the withers | Males approx. 69 cm, females approx. 61 cm |
| Weight | Not specified in the FCI standard |
| Life expectancy | No reliable study figure found (N/A) |
| Coat | Double coat, 4 to 8 cm long, dense, rough, harsh and waterproof but not wiry; pronounced undercoat, slightly oily; not trimmed |
| Colours according to the standard | All recognised hound colours, including solid, grizzle, sandy, red, wheaten and blue, also with a little white; black and tan, blue and tan, black and cream, liver, tan and liver, tan and white; liver and white, or white with separate black and tan patches, not permitted |
Drag and wash
An otter’s trail on land is called a drag, and in water a wash. The standard suspects French influence in its ancestry, combined with old English scent-hound lines. The FCI granted definitive recognition in 1974. Another British pack hound is the English Foxhound.
A friendly giant with a loud voice
It should be amiable and even-tempered; aggression or nervousness is unacceptable under the standard. Its loud baying when it finds something exciting is typical. In a British VetCompass analysis from 2019, the 61 Otterhounds recorded had a median weight of 41,8 kg, with females at 37,1 and males at 45,2 kg (O'Neill et al. 2026).
Draped ears and an unclipped coat
The standard describes its ears as unique: the leading edge rolls inwards, making the ear fall like draped fabric. The rough double coat is not trimmed. Brush thoroughly down to the skin once a week and check beard and ears after every wet day.
Water, open space and scent
It looks loose and shambling at a walk, with a long stride at a trot. Long daily walks, preferably with water, plus tracking or mantrailing meet its needs. Keep the long line attached in unfamiliar terrain.
Two documented health concerns
An inherited platelet disorder, thrombasthenia, has been described in Otterhounds. A study of 13 affected dogs, 23 carriers and 17 healthy Otterhounds found a point mutation in the gene for the platelet protein GPIIb, similar to human Glanzmann thrombasthenia (Boudreaux and Catalfamo 2001). Affected dogs bleed for longer (Dodds 2022). In a Kennel Club survey, the breed was also among those with the highest risk of gastric dilatation-volvulus (Evans and Adams 2010). Ask breeders about bleeding cases in the line and have the warning signs of gastric dilatation-volvulus explained to you. Too few dogs died in the VetCompass analysis to estimate lifespan: only two.
Who it suits, and who it does not
It suits experienced dog owners with space, time and tolerance for wet beards on the sofa. It is a poor choice for small flats and noise-sensitive neighbours. Anyone who loves water will find a gentle giant with stamina.
Check whether such a large swimmer fits your life with the breed quiz; our book offers detailed guidance: “Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir?” (book in German). For the early days with a puppy, there is the free Puppy Starter Pack. Celebrate its shaggy head as a magazine cover on canvas; find more formats among our dog portraits from your own photo.
Further reading
- Beagle: a nose with a dog attached, and what that means day to day
- Calculating your dog’s food portions: how much your dog really needs
- Puppy will not sleep: what really helps on the first night
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI-Standard Nr. 294 Otterhound (Otterhund) (fci.be, English version dated 06.10.2026, valid original standard dated 08.09.2026; no German version has been published) and FCI breed page Nr. 294; O'Neill DG et al., Giant dog breeds under primary veterinary care in the UK: demography, common disorders and mortality, Companion Animal Health and Genetics 2026; Boudreaux MK, Catalfamo JL, Molecular and genetic basis for thrombasthenic thrombopathia in otterhounds, American Journal of Veterinary Research 2001; Dodds WJ, One Health: Animal Models of Heritable Human Bleeding Diseases, Animals 2022; Evans KM, Adams VJ, Mortality and morbidity due to gastric dilatation-volvulus syndrome in pedigree dogs in the UK, Journal of Small Animal Practice 2010; McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024 (breed listed but not analysed).
The links to our books are affiliate links. Buying through them supports us at no extra cost to you.
