Apartment fit
The Otterhound is rarely a good apartment fit because of size, voice, scent drive, and outdoor mess.
HoundLargeGreat Britain
Otterhound
Weight
80-115 lb
Height
24-27 in
Lifespan
10-13 yrs
Coat
Rough double Medium
The Otterhound is a large British scenthound with a rough waterproof coat, webbed feet, and a deep voice, originally bred for hunting otter.
Rare British scenthoundRough waterproof coat and webbed feetLarge, friendly, and vocalNeeds scent work and secure fencing
Breed Names
Official, native, and commonly used variants
No widely used alternate names are recorded for this breed.
FriendlyBoisterousIndependentScent-drivenVocalEven-tempered
Weight
80-115 lb
Height
24-27 in
Lifespan
10-13 yrs
Coat
Rough double Medium
At A Glance
Daily living snapshot
A quick read on energy, upkeep, and what day-to-day life with this breed usually feels like.
Energy
Moderate to High
Barking
High
Drooling
Moderate
Shedding
Moderate
Grooming
3/5
First-time owner
No
Overview
The Otterhound is a rare British scenthound developed for hunting otter in and around water. Its rough double coat, large nose, webbed feet, and strong body all reflect that wet, scent-heavy work. The breed is no longer used for its original purpose in the UK, but the traits remain.
Adults are large, with males around 27 inches and females around 24 inches in the AKC standard. The coat is dense, rough, and weather-resistant, not short and smooth. Many hound colors are allowed, including grizzle, wheaten, black and tan, blue and cream, liver and tan, and other hound patterns.
Otterhounds are usually friendly and boisterous, but they are independent, strong, vocal, and scent-driven. They need space, secure fencing, exercise, and owners who can handle mud, water, beard mess, and a large hound voice. Health discussions should include hips, elbows, bloat risk, epilepsy, and ear care.
Temperament & Personality
FriendlyBoisterousIndependentScent-drivenVocalEven-tempered
This breed tends to suit homes looking for a friendly, boisterous, independent companion, with daily rhythms shaped by moderate to high energy, high barking, and moderate drooling.
Coat type
Rough double
Coat length
Medium
Shedding
Moderate
Colors
Grizzle, Wheaten, Black and Tan, Blue and Cream, Liver and Tan
Lifestyle Compatibility
Family Friendly4/5
Good with Kids4/5
Good with Dogs4/5
Good with Strangers4/5
Apartment Friendly1/5
Exercise Needs4/5
Grooming Needs3/5
Trainability2/5
Good fit if you want
- A family-friendly companion
- Room for routine exercise
- Confidence handling structure and training
Plan ahead for
- 4/5 exercise needs
- moderate shedding and coat upkeep
- high barking in daily life
Owner Fit & Everyday Behavior
Best for
- hound-experienced owners
- homes with secure outdoor space
- people who enjoy long walks and water work
- families prepared for a large messy dog
Not ideal for
- apartments
- owners wanting quiet obedience
- homes that cannot manage mud, water, and coat care
- people wanting reliable off-leash freedom without training
Common challenges
- deep hound voice
- scent-driven independence
- mud and beard mess
- ear care after water
Barking & behavior
Expect a deep hound voice. Teach quiet routines, but do not choose the breed expecting silence.
Training style
Use rewards, long lines, and practical scent outlets. Recall needs gradual proofing around trails and wildlife.
Grooming & shedding
The rough coat needs brushing, beard cleaning, and ear checks, especially after swimming or mud.
Care Guide
Exercise
Most Otterhounds need 60 to 90 minutes of daily activity with long sniffing walks, hiking, safe swimming, or scent work. Secure fencing is important.
Grooming
Brush the rough coat weekly, clean the beard, and check ears carefully after water or mud. The coat should stay functional, not sculpted.
Training
Use patient reward-based training with long-line recall practice. Scent will often outrank obedience unless training is built gradually.
Nutrition
Feed measured meals for a large hound and discuss bloat-risk feeding routines, joints, and body condition with a veterinarian.
Behavior & Environment
Energy level
Moderate to High
Barking level
High
Drooling level
Moderate
Watchdog ability
3/5
Guard dog ability
1/5
Climate tolerance
Cold weather4/5
Heat tolerance2/5
Health Considerations
Common concerns to discuss with your vet and breeder.
Hip dysplasiaElbow dysplasiaBloat riskEpilepsyEar infectionsObesity
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Otterhound bred to do?
The Otterhound was bred in Britain to hunt otter by scent in and around water.
Does the Otterhound have webbed feet?
Yes. Webbed feet are one of the breed's useful water-working traits.
Is the Otterhound coat short?
No. The coat is rough, dense, weather-resistant, and medium in length.
Can an Otterhound live in an apartment?
Apartment life is usually a poor fit because the breed is large, vocal, scent-driven, and messy after outdoor work.
Does the Otterhound bark a lot?
It can be very vocal, with a deep hound voice. Owners should expect baying and alert sounds.
Is the Otterhound good with families?
It is often friendly and good-natured, but supervision matters because it is large, strong, and boisterous.
What is the biggest challenge of owning an Otterhound?
The biggest challenge is managing a large, independent, vocal scenthound with water, mud, and grooming needs.
Our Shop
Dog essentials for everyday care
Browse practical products for feeding, grooming, cleanup, enrichment, and smoother daily routines.
