It is our intention as breeders to be concise, open, and honest about our breed with all individuals looking to potentially add a new member to their family. As such, we thought it beneficial to include a 'Frequently Asked Questions' (FAQ) tab in order to have basic knowledge of the expectations we hold ourselves to as well as our prospective homes in one place. We understand that each individual family and their circumstances are entirely unique, thus if there are questions that have not been answered here, please feel free to reach out using our contacts tab and we will be sure to address it promptly!
What can Otterhounds do?
Otterhound are an incredibly versatile breed! Most people associate hounds with stubbornness and even though they can be headstrong, these hounds are clever! Will they ever be as obedient as say a Labrador Retriever or German Shepherd? The short answer is no, but that doesn't mean that they are unwilling to try new things. There are currently Otterhounds titled in Confirmation, Obedience, Rally, Agility, Tracking, Scent Work, Barn Hunt, Dock Diving, Lure Coursing, FastCAT, Canine Good Citizen, have Therapy dog work clearances and so much more! Otterhounds require partnership, and once it's achieved it is a beautiful thing.
What if a hound fails health testing?
If a dog has obtained their CHIC Certification it has completed all necessary health testing per the guidelines of their parent club, in this case the Otterhound Club of America. Otterhounds require Hip and Elbow x-rays for OFA scoring, a blood sample donation to ship to the University of Missouri for genetic analysis and DNA preservation, and a salivary swab to test for Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia (GT). Of these tests, the only ones that are 'pass/fail' are the hips and elbows. OFA passing hips are graded as Excellent, Good, and Fair while non-passing hips are graded borderline, mild, moderate, and severe.
Elbows are considered passing with a 'normal' designation while non-passing elbows are graded as 'Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) Grade 1, 2 or 3 with 3 being the worst. With Otterhounds being an increasingly rare breed, nuance is required to avoid additional deterioration of the breeds gene pool by 'throwing the baby out with the bathwater'. We strive for perfection but realize too that dogs that may not have the results we hope for can still contribute positively to the breed. We work carefully to pair these hounds with others that are able to improve on faults if and when they arise.
What is the 'English Protocol'?
OHeavens and multiple other kennels around the world follow a set of guidelines known as the 'English Protocol' which states that if a dog seizes then the dog itself, its littermates, and its sire and dam should not be bred from. THis has been beneficial in lowering the frequency of epilepsy though it hasn't gone away entirely. There are currently folks working to modify the English Protocol to ensure that it does not cause additional strain due to a limitation in genetic diversity for the breed as well. Being in our breed for as long as we have, we've experienced firsthand the heartbreak that seizures cause both for the dog and their humans and it is why we continue to work toward lessening the diseases prevalence in the breed.