St. John's Water Dog vs Otterhound - Breed Comparison

St. John's Water Dog vs Otterhound - Breed ComparisonOtterhound is originated from United Kingdom but St. John's Water Dog is originated from Canada. Otterhound may grow 17 cm / 7 inches higher than St. John's Water Dog. Otterhound may weigh 13 kg / 29 pounds more than St. John's Water Dog. Both Otterhound and St. John's Water Dog has almost same life span. Otterhound may have more litter size than St. John's Water Dog. Otterhound requires Moderate Maintenance. But St. John's Water Dog requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Working dog
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United Kingdom
Canada
Height Male:
61 - 70 cm
24 - 28 inches
48 - 53 cm
18 - 21 inches
Height Female:
61 - 70 cm
24 - 28 inches
47 - 52 cm
18 - 21 inches
Weight Male:
35 - 54 kg
77 - 120 pounds
25 - 41 kg
55 - 91 pounds
Weight Female:
35 - 54 kg
77 - 120 pounds
16 - 35 kg
35 - 78 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 13 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 10
4 - 6
Size:
Large
Large
Other Names:
None
St. Johns Dog, Lesser Newfoundland, St. John’s Newfoundland
Colors Available:
black, red, grizzle, Wheat, cream and tan - white markings.
black
Coat:
Medium length, curly, weatherproof
short, thick coats
Shedding:
Minimal
Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Intelligent, Loving, Responsive
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

otterhoundThere aren’t many Otterhounds around and this British pure-breed dog is a scenthound and dates far back to the 19th century.

The dog is regarded as a Vulnerable breed by the English Kennel Club. It is believed that these dogs descended from Bloodhounds and that it was developed in England to hunt otters.The dog’s nose is so sensitive that he was well suited to this job. He was appreciated by royalty and had many royal admirers.

The dog was brought to the United States in 1900 and the Otterhound Club of America was founded in 1960 with the Otter Hound being officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1991.

st john s water dogThe breed known as the St. John’s water dog is an extinct landrace breed. They were domestic dogs found in Newfoundland and at times were called the lesser Newfoundland. There is not much information available about the other breeds that went into its development. Hypothetically it is believed they are a mix of the Irish, Old English and Portuguese dogs bred to work.

It is also thought that other breeds in their family tree, descending from them, include the Golden Retriever, the Flat-Coated Retriever, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, the Labrador and the Curly-Coated Retriever. The Newfoundland is also related to the St. Johns Water Dog through the line of Rafeirio do Alenteios that Portuguese fisherman brought to the island.

The breed was exported to England in the 19th century and early 20th. There the breeds of retrievers were developed. In Canada during this time frame restrictions were placed on dog ownership in order to encourage people to raise sheep. At the same time England imposed a long quarantine on all animals coming into the country in order to get rid of rabies. These two factors contributed greatly to the extinction of the breed. It seems the last two dogs were seen in a remote area in the 1980’s. All attempts to save the breed failed.

Description

otterhound puppy - descriptionThe Otterhound has a weather-resistant double coat which is somewhat oily. The coat is available in a number of colors such as wheat, red, grizzle, black, cream and tan with some white markings.

The double coat is somewhat oily and he has webbed feet, making him particularly suited for his life around water. This large hound stands at between 61 and 70cm and weighs in the region of 35 to 54kg. He has a large head with a nose that can track and scent in mud.

Temperament:

Otterhounds are active dogs, loving nothing more than to be running and playing, and that of course includes swimming. He makes a great sporting companion too and won’t have trouble keeping up with you as you jog or cycle.

These dogs are friendly, social, docile and amicable but they are also strong-willed, stubborn and independent. If you want him to be obedient and well behaved, then he will most certainly require training and socialization.

They get on well with children and will appreciate a firm, consistent, kind owner. He isn’t a city dog as he requires room to run, and therefore a farm or home with large grounds will suit him. Not only that, he is quite a barker, especially when he is bored with nothing to do so city life and living close to neighbors won't do for him . He will suit an active, outdoor family.

st john s water dog puppy - descriptionSt. John’s Water Dog is strong, medium sized and stocky. They looked more like English Labs than American Labs. They had a thick, short coat, loved swimming, had a lot of endurance and rudder tail. It was also described as a thin, black dog with short hair. They had white patches on their chest and feet. His nose was thin and tapered, his legs powerful, his chest muscular. The breed is quick, swims, runs quickly and is a fighter as well.

Never accepted by any major kennel club except as a foundation breed. They became extinct.

Characteristics

otterhound dog - characteristicsYour Otterhound is a big, beautiful dog who is also lovable, making a great pet for an active kind of family. He is friendly, social and playful but he is also independent and likes to have his own space occasionally.

He is a loyal, fun dog who has a sense of humor, providing quite a bit of entertainment for his owner. He is the kind of dog that is willing to be 100% part of the family and will be thrilled to be counted in on all activities – whether camping, hiking or swimming.

Give him the love he craves and he will make you an awesome 4-legged friend.

Characteristics

1.Children friendliness - yes they are good with children.

2.Special talents swimming is their best talent

st john s water dog dog - characteristics3.Adaptability large need fence, they are not large dogs but they need outdoor space

4.Learning ability – very smart and eager to learn

Health Problems

otterhound puppies - health problemsThe average lifespan of this dog is between 10 and 13 years, but with good care he can reach 15 years of age.

The Otterhound is generally a healthy breed but he can sometimes get one or two of the common dog diseases there are.

Common problems that can occur are hip dysplasia. There are things that can be done to prevent this joint condition and one is to ensure your dog doesn’t become overweight. You also want to prevent having your young dog exercise excessively before his first birthday and you don’t want him leaping off beds or other high places.

st john s water dog puppies - health problemsThere is no documented history of any genetic or hereditary illnesses in the breed. However, it seems rational to believe they suffered from ailments similar to Labradors and newfoundland though they are smaller dogs.

No history like Labs and Newfoundlands .

  • Hip and elbow dysplasia – can cause lameness and arthritis.
  • PRA – progressive retinal atrophy – can cause blindness.
  • Cancer – in their later years.
  • Infectious diseases – not as serious as prior to vaccinations.
  • Myopathy hereditary – affects the muscles.
  • Ear infections.

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Caring The Pet

Grooming:

otterhound dogs - caringYour Otterhound has a curly, longish water resistant double coat which doesn’t shed much. The coat is easy to groom, requiring nothing much more than a brush twice a week.

The nails of the dog should be checked regularly and trimmed. Check in and outside his ears as well as his eyes for any sign of infection.

His teeth should also be checked. Some people are reluctant to brush their pet’s teeth, saying this is a new money-making fad and that it has never been required in the past. Whatever your views, periodically check inside your pet’s mouth for the sign of a rotten tooth as this can cause your pet a lot of pain and illness.

Diet:

The Otterhound has no special food requirements and relies on you to feed him quality, tasty food. For convenience, there are some excellent ready-to-eat, convenient commercially manufactured foods made to cater for your pet’s size and his activity levels.

He also relies on variety in his diet, so give him some home-made food added into the kibble a couple of times a week. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some cooked vegetables such as carrots, sweet pototoes and spinach will be excellent for him.

He will thank you for keeping things so simple for him as then he won’t be plagued by digestive problems and visits to the vet. You can also add in some raw meat occasionally. Never leave him without fresh, cool water.

General Care:

  • Ensure he has a nice dry, warm place to sleep.
  • Never leave him in a hot car ever.
  • If he spends a lot of time outdoors, make sure he has shelter from the sun and rain.
  • Supply him with some stimulating toys.
  • Give him of your time. What’s the point of having a dog, if you neglect connecting with him. Dogs are social creatures and they need to be loved, touched and cared for by their human family.
  • Have him or her spayed or neutered if you don’t want puppies.
  • Get your pet to the vet if he shows signs of illness.

st john s water dog dogs - caring1Feeding the puppy – Don’t overfeed – they have a propensity toward obesity. Feed high quality, high protein 3 x a day.

2.Feeding the adult – Don’t overfeed. Feed a high quality, high protein 1-2 x a day.

3.Points for Good Health - stamina

4. Games and Exercises – They need space to run and they love to explore. They would also love to be near water where they could swim. Good at dock diving, field trials, flyball and frisbee.

Comparison with other breeds

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  26. Otterhound vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
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  28. Otterhound vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Otterhound vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Otterhound vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Otterhound vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Otterhound vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
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  34. Otterhound vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Otterhound vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Otterhound vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Otterhound vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Otterhound vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Otterhound vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Otterhound vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Otterhound vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Otterhound vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Otterhound vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Otterhound vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Otterhound vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Otterhound vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Otterhound vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Otterhound vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Otterhound vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Otterhound vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison