otter hunting

[Robert]

From an otterhound board:

P.56 of Alfred Gingold's "DOG WORLD and the humans who live there"(about dogs & their skill) "Consider, for example, the numerous breeds developed to hunt otters, both ounds and terriers. There are all the otterhounds ( black and tan, yellow speckled), the Dandie Dinmont, Airedale,
a couple of dozen in all. Otters, you would think, would be endangered.
But they are not, suggesting two possibilities. Either otters were once a scourge that they are not today, or otterhunting dogs have never been much good at it."

Robert

[Maverick]

Robert, have you seen any write-ups on an actual otter hunt?

[Robert]

I can't recall ever reading about an entire otter hunt. I have read of things that occurred during English hunts with otterhounds. I posted links to videos of otter hunts to the old board recently. I believe they can be found on line without much difficulty. You can probably get more info by contacting the otterhound fanciers board.

Robert

[Maverick]

Robert said:

I can't recall ever reading about an entire otter hunt. I have read of things that occurred during English hunts with otterhounds. I posted links to videos of otter hunts to the old board recently. I believe they can be found on line without much difficulty. You can probably get more info by contacting the otterhound fanciers board.

Robert

Google's links are stale. Do you have a good link? I am curious, but dubious about "info" put out by anyone labeling themselves as a "fancier" though.

[Robert]

Pete,

The people on the otterhound board are "fanciers." Their focus is on dog shows. But, they have a lot of energy and are enthusiastic about their dogs. If otterhounds had to depend on otter hunting to stay in existence, there would be none left. I'll ask if someone can post the links, and if I can get them, I post them on here.

I have the feeling that if some Airedalers wanted to get some weekend entertainment going with water races or tracking, these folks could do it.

Robert

[Robert]

Pete,

Here is the link to the otter hunting videos:
clubs.akc.org/ohca/Photos-video.html

Robert

[Maverick]

Robert -

I've seen the videos. Were they posted on the old board?

I was interested in finding out if the Otterhounds bayed the otter when they caught it, or fight it. How long is the average otter hunt? What kind of damage do otters inflict on the dogs? How many Otterhounds do you need to catch an otter? If the otter is in a large river, can the hounds actually catch it?

There are many types of hound game throughout the US. Have Otterhounds been tried on anything else? How does an Otterhound compare to the other hounds on raccoon? bear? other game? What is the advantages of an Otterhound over say a Plott or an Airedale or an Airedale x Plott?

I can of course read up on the Otterhound history, but little can I find on current capabilities.

[Robert]

Here is a list of books about otter hunting with otterhounds someone posted to the otterhound board in response to an inquiry I posted:

"A detailed description of otter hunting:
"Otter hunting diary: 1829 to 1871, of the late James Lomax, Esq. of Clayton Hall".
"A Chain of Bubbles.... Otter Hunts 1157-1977, and Mink Hounds. 1977-1998" by Rod Adair is mostly a history of the otter hunt packs but has a lot of great photos."

"Henry Williamson's "Tarka the Otter", and a lot of libraries do have that (though it is a story told from the otter's point of view). The movie [is] made from that, it has great footage of the Kendal and District Otter Hunt in action. Problem with it is that the tape is in PAL format, so it can't be played on most US VCRs. There is now a DVD also, but again, it's in the European format, so will only work on European or universal DVD players."

"History of the Otterhound" by Wayne Kline. "[It] included a pretty thorough bibliography, and Wayne is a book collector.... But again, many of the books would only be available through antiquarian book dealers, several are in French,
and most only have a chapter on or even just a brief mention of OHs."

Let me know if you want to get in touch with the person who posted this info or if you want a link to the otterhound board (it's a members-only board).

I had posted the link to the videos on the old board.

I know otterhounds have been used to hunt other game in this country, but I don't know if anyone is currently using them. If anyone is, I'd be interested in hearing about it. Based only on what I've been told and what I've read, otterhounds have a nose second only to the blood hound, and maybe second to none. There is a woman who has otterhounds trained in SAR, and she is often called for searches in water. From what I gather, the OHs did, traditionally, kill the otter if they could, and I've heard that OHs were sometimes killed by otters. When off leash, OHs follow their nose and become oblivious to verbal commands.

Apparently, no one has found an advantage to otterhounds over anything except for otter and mink hunting, because they are seldom, if ever, used anymore. I would think, if they do have an advantage, it would be working along the edge of streams and lakes and in swamps and other water bodies, and in cold, wet, nasty conditions.

OHs have a strong pack instinct, and consequently, I'd think they would stay with your pack and you could control them to the extent that you could control your pack. I've never hunted with a pack of anything, so I can only guess at the dynamics. It would be interesting to hear from people with experience.

Robert

[Robert]

From the otterhound board:

"I have the Records of the Cheriton Otter Hounds book and it seems a good year was maybe 9 otters. The thrill was in the hunt, the kill doesn't seem to have been that important."

Robert

[Maverick]

If their nose is that good, I think they could find some work as a strike dog. Even better, would be for ADC work, if they stuck to the trail of the problem animal, and were not easily diverted by a hotter track of a different (non-problem) animal.

[Robert]

Pete,

I really don't think many people have even thought about working with otterhounds. They have a reputation for being hard to train. I recently asked a woman who's on the otterhound board and owns both Airedales and otterhounds if she saw much similarity in the breeds. I don't remember exactly what she said, but it was something to the effect that they are bull headed and have a mind of their own, somewhat like Airedales only more so. First you have to convince them that they want to do something. She said they don't deserve the reputation for being hard to train, you just have to know what you're doing - they don't respond the way most other dogs do. She also said that off leash, they are just as bad as everyone claims.

Robert

[Robert]

Michael,

What you say is all very interesting. I expect that if otters aren't already in TX, they'll be there soon. MO started the business of reestablishing otters, and since then, they have been spreading rapidly. MO got their otters from LA.

That game warden sounds too reasonable to be real!

Robert