Since the 1100's, otter hunting was not only an extremely popular sport in Britain (many royal family members were known for putting together a hunting team and going off to shoot otter), but also a necessity (fisherman found their own tasks daunting and difficult as the local otters had either eaten or scared away much of the fish population they would otherwise catch). A new breed of dog was developed that was extremely helpful (required?) in tracking and hunting otter. This dog was a cross between a Bloodhound and a rough haired terrier. It had an incredibly keen sense of smell that could track otters both on land and under water for many hours and many miles, as well as a great skill for swimming for hours without tiring even in cold waters with currents. This dog, due to it's unmatched skill for tracking and killing otters, came to be known as the Otterhound.

While some Otterhound enthusiasts make the claim that the dog was first mentioned in 1175 by King Henry II, the first recovered record of the animal's mention that can be factually documented came in the 1800's when a huntsman for King Edward II described the animal as being a "rough sort of dog, between a hound and a terrier." Rough indeed. The Otterhound has a double coat consisting of a long and rough primary coat of hair, and a secondary undercoat underneath that is more like wool and unusually oily (though they shed this curly undercoat during the warm summer months). Another uniqueness found in this particular breed of dog is that they have webbed feet, which is no doubt the cause for their superior swimming skill.

While the Otterhound's strong sense of smell makes it a superior hunter and tracker, it also makes it hard for the animal to focus on things like going for a walk or training sessions. Often, the canine will pick up a whiff of a scent that interests it, and being an independent mind, will go off in search of the scent's source.

Otterhounds are kind, fun loving, and devoted. They are, however a bit clumsy... so while the dog is typically good with children, it might not be safe around children who are just learning to walk and are wobbly.