Hound · Large (80-115 lbs) · 10-13 years
Otterhound
Amiable, boisterous, even-tempered; shaggy rare breed (fewer than 1,000 worldwide).
At a glance
What they’re great at
Honest challenges
Bred to work or live beside a human all day - solitude was never in the job description.
What helps: Train it like a skill: the Alone-Time guide builds tolerance in micro-doses from day one. The frozen-KONG-only-when-you-leave ritual turns departures into jackpots. Cover long days honestly: a midday walker, daycare 2-3x a week, and a camera to know (not guess) how they're doing.
Moderate-high drive doesn't take days off.
What helps: Build the outlet into the routine: Swimming (webbed feet!). Brain work counts double on bad-weather days - see Training School. A flirt pole in the yard delivers a workout in ten minutes.
Alert heritage - announcing things IS the historic job.
What helps: Thank-and-redirect: acknowledge the alert, cue quiet, pay the quiet. Manage triggers: window film and white noise beat willpower. Exercise first - a tired alarm system fires less. Never bark collars.
Small fast animals flip an ancient switch - this is wiring, not disobedience.
What helps: Management IS the training: never unsupervised with small pets, period. Secure fencing plus leash or long line outdoors for life. Feed the drive legally: flirt pole and lure-chase games.
Exercise & training
Grooming & coat
Health to know about
This page can only give breed ranges. The app calculates calories and portions from your dog’s actual weight and life stage, splits them across the right number of meals, and adjusts as they grow.
Emergency red flags
Vomiting, drooling, tremors, collapse, or known ingestion
→ Call ASPCA Poison Control 888-426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline 855-764-7661 immediately; do NOT induce vomiting unless instructed
→ Save your nearest 24-hour emergency vet's address and phone in your phone TODAY, not during a crisis
Unproductive retching (trying to vomit, nothing comes), rapidly swelling/hard belly, drooling, pacing, sudden distress after eating
→ Drive to the ER immediately. Do not wait to see if it passes. Untreated GDV is fatal within hours
Prolonged bleeding from minor cuts or nail trims, gum bleeding, unexplained bruising
→ Apply firm pressure and go to the vet; make sure a clotting disorder note is on the medical file BEFORE any surgery
The app keeps every Otterhound red flag on your phone and opens them with no connection at all — which is the whole point at 2am in a car park. Add it to your home screen and it works like any other app.
📊 The numbers›
Typical ranges for planning, not promises — costs vary by region, breeder and individual dog.
| Group | Hound |
| Size | Large (80-115 lbs) |
| Lifespan | 10-13 years |
| Healthy adult weight | 80–115 lb |
| Original purpose | Hunting otters to protect fishing stocks. |
| Monthly care | $110-$180 |
| Typical puppy price | $1,500-$2,500 |
🐕 Similar breeds›
Add them in the app for feeding by weight, training for their stage, and Otterhound emergency red flags saved to your phone. Free, no account needed.
Add them once and everything here becomes about your dog: feeding by their weight, training picked for their stage, a day built around your hours, and a vitals log that shows the trend. Free, works offline, no account needed.