Petzlover
Both English Foxhound and Otterhound are originated from United Kingdom. English Foxhound may grow 6 cm / 2 inches shorter than Otterhound. English Foxhound may weigh 22 kg / 48 pounds lesser than Otterhound. Both English Foxhound and Otterhound has same life span. English Foxhound may have less litter size than Otterhound. English Foxhound requires Low Maintenance. But Otterhound requires Moderate Maintenance
The English Foxhound was found in Great Britain as far back as the late 1700’s. They were bred to be scent hounds and hunt the fox by following his smell. It was a crossing of several different types of hounds that produced the English Foxhound. This included the Greyhound, the Bulldog and the Fox Terrier. It was perceived that there were not a lot of deer left in the United Kingdom to be hunted for both sport and food. So, a new dog would be needed instead for the Staghound and Deerhound.
The Foxhound was developed as a pack animal bred to chase the fox followed by hunters on horses. The Foxhound was bred with incredible stamina, a great ability to follow scents, track prey, and act as a watchdog as well. This breed are pack animals. They hunt in packs and prefer to live in packs. A solitary English Foxhound is probably not a happy Foxhound. The English Foxhound is stockier and slower than his cousin the American Foxhound. The English Foxhound is recognized by the AKC and UKC. In 2012 the International Foxhound Association was developed to promote the English Foxhound.
There aren’t many Otterhounds around and this British pure-breed dog is a scenthound and dates far back to the 19th century.
The dog is regarded as a Vulnerable breed by the English Kennel Club. It is believed that these dogs descended from Bloodhounds and that it was developed in England to hunt otters.The dog’s nose is so sensitive that he was well suited to this job. He was appreciated by royalty and had many royal admirers.
The dog was brought to the United States in 1900 and the Otterhound Club of America was founded in 1960 with the Otter Hound being officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1991.
The English Foxhound is a superb athlete who can run for hours without a break. He has muscular, sturdy and straight legs with round paws. His chest is deep, and his back is level. Their head is wide, and the muzzle is long with 16 inches in the front of the ears. The nose is long, and those ears are set low. They can be many colors as long as it is a “hound” color of tan, tricolor, black and white, or red.
The Otterhound has a weather-resistant double coat which is somewhat oily. The coat is available in a number of colors such as wheat, red, grizzle, black, cream and tan with some white markings.
The double coat is somewhat oily and he has webbed feet, making him particularly suited for his life around water. This large hound stands at between 61 and 70cm and weighs in the region of 35 to 54kg. He has a large head with a nose that can track and scent in mud.
Otterhounds are active dogs, loving nothing more than to be running and playing, and that of course includes swimming. He makes a great sporting companion too and won’t have trouble keeping up with you as you jog or cycle.
These dogs are friendly, social, docile and amicable but they are also strong-willed, stubborn and independent. If you want him to be obedient and well behaved, then he will most certainly require training and socialization.
They get on well with children and will appreciate a firm, consistent, kind owner. He isn’t a city dog as he requires room to run, and therefore a farm or home with large grounds will suit him. Not only that, he is quite a barker, especially when he is bored with nothing to do so city life and living close to neighbors won't do for him . He will suit an active, outdoor family.
The English Foxhound gets along with other dogs and like people. He was bred to be a pack animal, not a loner. He will get along with most any other animal and children as well. However, they are not often kept as pets because their prey drive and pursuit drive are so strong that nothing else matters. The chase is what life is all about for this breed. They are hardwired for it. They are not easy to train because they are constantly distracted by smells and movements that could send them off on the chase.
Keep them on a lease when walking them so they don’t go wandering or running of. They love to run, and they love to talk – bay actually. They might slow down somewhere around 8-10 years old. They need a strong owner and a lot of exercise to be happy.
Your Otterhound is a big, beautiful dog who is also lovable, making a great pet for an active kind of family. He is friendly, social and playful but he is also independent and likes to have his own space occasionally.
He is a loyal, fun dog who has a sense of humor, providing quite a bit of entertainment for his owner. He is the kind of dog that is willing to be 100% part of the family and will be thrilled to be counted in on all activities – whether camping, hiking or swimming.
Give him the love he craves and he will make you an awesome 4-legged friend.
Overall a healthy and hearty breed, they are prone to hip dysplasia and renal disease.
Degenerative and debilitating at worse. In mild forms cause lameness and arthritis.
Kidney disease – for some reason the kidneys cannot clear out toxins like urea and creatine
The average lifespan of this dog is between 10 and 13 years, but with good care he can reach 15 years of age.
The Otterhound is generally a healthy breed but he can sometimes get one or two of the common dog diseases there are.
Common problems that can occur are hip dysplasia. There are things that can be done to prevent this joint condition and one is to ensure your dog doesn’t become overweight. You also want to prevent having your young dog exercise excessively before his first birthday and you don’t want him leaping off beds or other high places.
The English Foxhound is a high energy dog that needs a high quality dog food. He should be fed about 2.5 -3 cups a day in two meals of dry food. Because he is a deep chested dog, beware of bloat and don’t feed large meals, particularly before or after strenuous exercise.
Seizures are caused by epilepsy, but they can be treated, and the dog can have a quality life.
When the stomach becomes distended or twisted. Can result in death if not treated immediately.
The English Foxhound’s long, floppy ears are prone to infection and allergies. Inspect and clean them regularly.
The English Foxhound is an easygoing canine, but he has an incredible energy level and needs a lot of exercise every day. In fact, if you are not going to hunt then don’t get a Foxhound. It is not fair to the dog. Of course, if you have acres of land and are into agility, tracking, coursing and rally then this might be the dog for you. But if the English Foxhound does not get enough daily exercise, he will not be a good house pet. This dog was bred to run for miles. You cant keep him cooped up in your house.
Your Otterhound has a curly, longish water resistant double coat which doesn’t shed much. The coat is easy to groom, requiring nothing much more than a brush twice a week.
The nails of the dog should be checked regularly and trimmed. Check in and outside his ears as well as his eyes for any sign of infection.
His teeth should also be checked. Some people are reluctant to brush their pet’s teeth, saying this is a new money-making fad and that it has never been required in the past. Whatever your views, periodically check inside your pet’s mouth for the sign of a rotten tooth as this can cause your pet a lot of pain and illness.
The Otterhound has no special food requirements and relies on you to feed him quality, tasty food. For convenience, there are some excellent ready-to-eat, convenient commercially manufactured foods made to cater for your pet’s size and his activity levels.
He also relies on variety in his diet, so give him some home-made food added into the kibble a couple of times a week. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some cooked vegetables such as carrots, sweet pototoes and spinach will be excellent for him.
He will thank you for keeping things so simple for him as then he won’t be plagued by digestive problems and visits to the vet. You can also add in some raw meat occasionally. Never leave him without fresh, cool water.