How to Groom an Otterhound

The Otterhound is an extremely rare breed from Great Britain, numbering only a paltry 1,000 or fewer in the world. Otterhounds are descended from the Airedale Terrier and have Bloodhound ancestry. They require a fair bit of attention when it comes to grooming. Otterhounds require a general grooming at least twice a week and a full grooming every 5 to 7 weeks.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Slicker brush
• Pin brush
• Matt rake
• Thinning shears
• Scissors
• Clippers

1. Remove the shed undercoat prior to the bath. You may not be able to get all of it, but get as much as you can. Use matt rakes and pin brushes for the removal of shed hair, starting with the rake. Do one area at a time for maximum efficiency.

2. Clear away long hairs around the anus with scissors.

3. Use thinning shears to get rid of clumped hair on the body. Look for these thicker clumps on the rear of the dog. Use thinning shears to neaten the appearance of the dog's back as well.

4. Clean up the edges of the ears using scissors.

5. Mold beard and whiskers to give them a square look, but leave them somewhat full.

6. Remove hair between the pads of the feet with scissors.

7. Bathe your Otterhound.

Tips & Warnings

• Otterhounds are large animals. They range from about 65 lbs. for a small female to about 125 lbs. for a male.
• Be prepared for even more shedding after the dog's bath.
• For a show coat, perform light thinning instead of excessive clipping.
• Otterhounds aren't vicious dogs, but they are large and as puppies are very unstable. They may be a danger to small children or elderly people.