Otterhound

Aptly named for their otter hunting history, the Otterhound is a large breed that originated in England during the late 17th Century. While fox hunting is the better-known sport of the time, otter hunting was also a popular pastime and an important one at that. Otters were depleting the fish populations that humans relied upon as a source of food and income, and so the Otterhound was developed as a solution. Their course, dense topcoats and woolly, oily undercoats protected them from the frigid waters and rough terrain that were their hunting grounds. Over time, the traditional Otterhound was crossed with other breeds, with today's version containing a mix of Bloodhounds and various hounds from France.