Otterhound (Dog standard)

Otterhound is a large, straight limbed and sound, rough-coated with majestic head, strong body and loose, long striding action.

FCI-Standard N° 294 / 21. 04. 1997 / GB

OTTERHOUND

ORIGIN : Great-Britain.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 02.12.1987.

UTILIZATION : Big, strong hound primarly built for long day’s work in water, but able to gallop on land.

CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : Group 6 Scenthounds and related
breeds.
Section 1.1. Large-SIZEd Hounds.
Without working trial.

GENERAL APPEARANCE : Large, straight limbed and sound, rough-COATed with majestic HEAD, strong BODY and loose, long striding action. Rough double COAT and large FEET essential. Free moving.

BEHAVIOUR/TEMPERAMENT : Amiable and even-tempered.

IMPORTANT PROPORTION :
Distance from nose end to stop slightly shorter than from stop to occiput.

HEAD : Clean, very imposing, deep rather than wide. No trace of scowl or bulge on foreHEAD, expression being open and amiable. Whole HEAD except for nose well covered with rough HAIR, ending in slight moustache and beard.

CRANIAL REGION :
Skull : Nicely domed, neither coarse nor overdone, rising from stop to slight peak at occiput. Clean cheekbones.
Stop : Distinct, though not exaggerated.

FACIAL REGION :
Nose : Good wide, nose wide nostrils.
Muzzle : Strong, deep.
Lips : Plenty of lip and flew, but not exaggerated.
Jaws/Teeth : Jaws strong, large; well placed teeth with perfect, regular scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
Eyes : Intelligent, moderately deep-set eye; haw showing only slightly. Eye COLOUR and rim pigment variable according to COAT COLOUR (a blue and tan hound may have hazel eyes). Yellow eye undesirable.
Leathers : Unique feature of the breed. Long, pendulous, set on level with corner of eye; easily reaching nose when pulled forward, with characteristic fold. Leading edge folding or rolling inwards giving curious draped appearance - an essential point no to be lost. Well covered and fringed with HAIR.

NECK : Long, powerful, set smoothly into well laid back, clean shoulders. Slight dewlap permissible.

BODY : Very strong.
Top line : Level.
Back : Broad.
Loin : Short and strong.
Chest : Deep with well sprung, fairly, deep oval ribcage; neither too wide nor too narrow. Ribs carried well back allowing plenty of heart and lung room.

TAIL : (Stern) Set high, carried up when alert or moving, never curling over back and may droop when standing. Thick at base, tapering to point; bone reaching to hock and carried straight or in a slight curve. HAIR under TAIL rather longer and more profuse than that on upper surface.

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS : Strongly boned, straight from elbow to ground.
Shoulders : Well laid.
Pasterns : Strong and slightly sprung.

HINDQUARTERS : Very strong; well muscled when viewed from any angle, standing neither too wide nor too narrow behind. Hind angulation moderate. In natural stance, hindlegs from hock to ground perpendicular.
Thighs and second thighs : Heavily muscled.
Hocks : Well let down, turning neither in nor out.

FEET : Large, round, well knuckled, thick padded, turning neither in nor out. Compact but capable of spreading; hind FEET only slightly smaller than foreFEET. Web must be in evidence.

GAIT/MOVEMENT : Very loose and shambling at walk, springing immediately into a loose, very long-striding, sound, active trot. Gallop smooth and exceptionally long striding.

COAT

HAIR : Long 4-8 cm, (1½-3 ins), dense rough, harsh and waterproof but not wiry; of broken appearance. Softer HAIR on HEAD and lower legs natural. UnderCOAT evident and there may be a slight oily texture in top and underCOAT. Not trimmed for exhibition. Presentation should be natural.

COLOUR : All recognized hound COLOURs permissible : whole COLOURed, grizzle, sandy, red, wheaten, blue; these may have slight white markings on HEAD, chest, FEET and TAIL tip. White hounds may have slight lemon, blue or badger pied markings. Black and tan, blue and tan, black and cream, occasional liver, tan and liver, tan and white. COLOURs not permissible : liver and white, a white-bodied hound with black and tan patches distinctly separate. Pigment should harmonize though not necessarily blend with COAT COLOUR; for example a tan hound may have a brown nose and eye rims. A slight butterfly nose permissible.

SIZE :
Height at withers : approximately 69 cm (27 ins) for dogs;
approximately 61 cm (24 ins) for bitches.


FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.

N.B. : Male animals must have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

Source: FCI >>>