"The Otters are eating all the fish"!
The title of 'Otter-Hound' developed long before the breed we know today was a thought on the horizon. Traditionally, any hound that would take to and follow the scent of an otter could be deemed an 'Otter-hound'. One of the earliest and most interesting pieces of evidence we have of hounds hunting otter comes from a written correspondence in the early 13th century from a British countryman calling for 'the kings otter hounds' to rid their pond of the pesky otters eating all of their fish stock. With fish being a main staple of food from the high king to the peasantry, a single otter could spell disaster for those relying on a steady food source throughout the year. King Edward I, Henry VI, James I, and Queen Elizabeth I were notable 'Master of Hounds' back when Otter-hounds were kept by royalty and those of higher nobility.
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The Otterhound breed we know today without any hyphens or noble titles was officially solidified with type, purpose, and temperament in the mid-19th century. Packs would stake a claim on various regions of the UK like the Dumfriesshire (DOH) in the north, Pembroke and Carmarthenshire (PCOH) and the Border Counties (BOH) in Wales, and the Cheriton, Culmstock, and Mr. Courtney Tracy's packs in the south. Packs usually consisted of mixes of multiple breeds with pack masters wanting to streamline and accentuate the scenting ability of their hounds.
Otterhounds can trace their lineage back to multiple breeds including the now extinct Southern Hound, the English Foxhound, the Welsh Foxhound, the Griffon Nivernais, and the Bloodhound. Through years of different combinations and consistent breeding toward a singular goal, the breed we came to know today, once called the 'Rough Otter Hound' in reference to their wiry coats, came into being. The most famous and successful pack of true 'purebred' Otterhounds was the Dumfriesshire pack lead by Captain John Bell-Irving.
Otterhounds can trace their lineage back to multiple breeds including the now extinct Southern Hound, the English Foxhound, the Welsh Foxhound, the Griffon Nivernais, and the Bloodhound. Through years of different combinations and consistent breeding toward a singular goal, the breed we came to know today, once called the 'Rough Otter Hound' in reference to their wiry coats, came into being. The most famous and successful pack of true 'purebred' Otterhounds was the Dumfriesshire pack lead by Captain John Bell-Irving.
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Otter hunting was not only a 'gentleman's sport', but an event that would draw interest from the community. When an otter hunt was announced, folks would plan a day's outing to watch, packing lunches and organizing picnics where the packs were supposed to appear that day, and occasionally bystanders would participate in the hunt. Those who officially joined the pack as members would pay their dues to help care for and hunt with the hounds usually from April to October. Each member was designated a rank and responsibility: Master of the Hunt, Field Hand, Whipper-In, ect. to which they would perform their duty with precision directed by the Hunt Master or risk repercussion from the rest of the club. Otter hunting was popular until storm clouds on the horizon caused the breed to suffer 2 genetic bottle necks: WWII and the ban of otter hunting in 1978.
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During the Blitz, many pack masters disbanded their clubs due to the inability to feed so many hounds at once with rationing in effect as well as members not being able to pay dues to keep the pack running. Many Pack Masters were dedicated to keeping their hounds and their traditions alive even through the toughest of times and at their own expense when possible. Once the war ended, the sport started anew though not as popular as it had once been, and once otter hunting was officially deemed illegal in the UK, that spelled the end for many historic packs that had been in operation for nearly a century. Packs were disbanded and hounds were either re-homed or sadly culled due to becoming obsolete from lack of a 'job'. Through the collective efforts of an incredible band of folks still loyal to these hounds and the survival of the breed, we can thankfully say they are still here to this day. Please take a moment to enjoy the slideshow of historic breed pictures alongside some of the people who loved them!