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Otterhound History
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In 12th century England, fishermen were finding that the population of otters was increasing while the population of fish was decreasing. This otter invasion created the need for "otter dogges," skilled swimmers who could chase down otters and locate their dens, where a terrier cohort would typically finish the job. The Otterhound as we know it today, however, was not developed until the 18th century. The dog has been documented to be the result of cross breeding between the Bloodhound and several French rough-coated hounds.
Otter hunting reached its zenith in England around the turn of the 20th century, but the sport all but disappeared after World War I, when water pollution took a heavy toll on otter populations. Otter hunting was eventually banned in England and the existing packs of Otterhounds were sold to private parties or to mink hunters.
Early in the 20th century, Otterhounds were brought to America, where they were recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1907. In 1937, Dr. Hugh Mouat, a veterinarian, began the first serious Otterhound breeding program in the US in an effort to boost the numbers of this noble breed. Today, there are fewer than 1,000 Otterhounds worldwide.
