Rocky the Otterhound: Otterhounds don't play fetch?

I was told by an Otterhound breeder that Otterhounds are not right for training classes because they are problem solvers, they do things thier own way which is generally quicker and takes less effort, but still gives the same result. It apparently doesn't take them but a few tries at something for them to work out an easier way of doing things, or if in fact it is worth doing at all! I was also told that they will certainly not play fetch as they are trackers not gundogs (made sense to me).



This week however, I have been playing with Rocky (as usual) but trying new things in order to stimulate him. He has a ball that when rolled around will despense puppy treats, this is kept strictly for when he is left alone in the house. I have slowly built the times up on this and he now goes 4 hours without a problem. However, it does take the wind out of your sails when you get the impression that your dog can't wait for you to get your coat on and go so that he can have the ball! Doesn't even want his goodbye pat and rub! Maybe it's just the mental stimulation he wants????



Anyway, back to the reason for todays title...............He has a favourite toy which he loves to carry around in his mouth, so, in play, I gently took it from him and threw it across the room, shouting "fetch". For my trouble I recieved a look of complete puzzlemenT! not to be out done, I then proceeded to crawl after the toy on my hands and knees making noises as if I was enjoying myself...........still that same look! I tried this two more times (yes, I was alone in the house with him). I was about to give up and retrieve it myself when he started (oh so slowly) towards his toy, he hovered over it for the briefest of times then pounced on it like a cat! He then ran back to me with it in his mouth, a huge grin on his chops and landed squarley in my lap?!

Fascinated I threw the toy several more times and was rewarded with the same result. He has done this now every time I throw one of his toys. I am wondering if he is just humouring me, but he does seem to enjoy it! I don't understand the stalking and pouncing bit though, unless he and Biskitt (our cat) are discussing tactics when I am asleep (very doubtful as they are still not best mates). Watching him reminds me of those nature programmes where the lioness creeps up on an impala, it does seem an unusual thing for a dog to do?!

On the back of this I thought that I may take him to puppy training classes soon (as long as he enjoys it) and do some more experimenting, he may have more surprises that will increase my knowledge of how Otterhounds behave at home?



Apart from eating and cuddles, one of Rocky's favourite things is sleeping, especially if I am doing other things that don't directly involve him. Yes, he is a couch potatoe, but when there is no one else in the room he is also a bed potatoe.................



In fact sometimes he is just a potatoe!!

He still does little squeeky puppy howls in his sleep, something I hope he doesn't losses as it amuses absolutely everyone










Rocky is growing into quite a handsome young dog and everyone we meet asks what breed he is.
He still hasn't got total control over his legs yet but remained the most gentle of play mates at his last puppy party! He came home with a certificate for passing the sessions (?!) and a new toy........he was happy.

He has had his first week of being allowed out on his lead and has behaved very well, he especially likes being driven up onto the plain and being taken for an explore of the area. We are out of the car for only 20-30 minutes, a lot of which is spent with him sat down and contemplating his new surroundings (Rocky appears big on sitting back and contemplating) but he seems to love it. A bonus from this has been that he will now happily tolerate 10-15 minutes of car journey (to and from a walk) and loves his own personal doggy seat belt, it allows him to sit close enough to the open window to get that special windswept look, without allowing his head to hang out of the car.

A spin off from this appears to be an increase in his curiosity, even the camera is worth an inspection. He has no trace of timidity and, as long as one of us are with him, will happily sniff, watch or taste almost anything in order to understand his new world.

However, today I took him to meet the first thing I have been unable to encourage and excite him about. Driving home we passed a field of cows and I thought AHA! A FIELD OF COWS (nothing gets past me)! An ideal opportunity for socialisation.

We were lucky enought to encounter one of the more curious of cows in the field, but I think Rocky was a little overawed by its size (I don't think it was the smell, although that was a bit ripe!). He usually quite happily climbs onto my lap but this brought on a full frontal hug with head over the shoulder looking the other way, etc. It is early days yet and he is still a little one, so I guess we will go back again another day and have another go with lots more enthusiasm and comfort.

Rocky the Otterhound: The Couch Potatoe Goes To Town

Rocky has now reached the grand old age of 3 months and his relationship with Biskitt has not progressed very much ........ Still confusing, still won't play and still glares daggers at him!

Rocky is only allowed into the living room when one of us is at home, then he is allowed on the sofas providing we are there with him. We lift him on and off and ensure he doesn't re-arrange the furniture with his teeth. This has led to him and Biskitt being in fairly close proximity at times.

This resulted in one evening when they NEARLY progressed with peace talks ...........

I was home, alone with the animals, and like a victorian love story things began to happen. Rocky was quiet and calm and Biskitt seemed to notice him for the first time. He crept quietly closer and she looked at him with curiosity, rather than her usual glare. Closer and closer they got until Biskitt reached out towards him ..... I held my breath and ............... my husband came home from the pub leading to an instant change in the atmosphere .......... and the blossoming romance ended abruptly leading to a renewal of the previous rules of the game!!! Oh well!

Having mentioned the fact of our pup getting onto the sofas, I should let you know about the dangers of such things. Namely the fact that he has eagerly become a couch potatoe in the evenings! I know that pups sleep a lot; but when I want to play, he wants to sleep ......... shouldn't it be the other way round?

Anyway, it has been an eventful week for Rocky. He attended his penultimate puppy party and was blown away to find 8 other puppies there! Being his usual thoughtful self he sat back until the various cliques had evolved and then chose to play with a little Staffy pup. His playmate was very cute but made me laugh so much ........................ if you have ever seen the film "Snatch" you'll know about the Staffy that squeeked every time it barked because it had swallowed a sqeeky toy, well this little fellow did exactly the same (without the benefit of swallowing anything)! He valiantly kept trying very hard to get close to Rocky in order to give him some puppy play bites, but Rocky (like his name sake) kept on whapping him (gently) with his paws (he had the longest reach of all the pups at the party due to his long legs, which he still hasn't quite learned how to handle!) The Staffy eventually gave up and the two of them went hopping and skipping along side by side for a little gamble about. I was very proud of Rocky as the other little cliques often deteriorated into open little brawls, with owners frantically picking up thier pups and telling them to behave ............... Rocky didn't need any of that, he was the most laid back and playful of them all and had picked his playmate well!

Rocky also had his first real trip into the big wide world this week, today in fact. Lead practice at home hadn't been going too well ...................... We were a little concerned that we wouldn't even reach the end of the drive!

So we hatched a cunning plan ....................... we have been building up the short trips in the car, which has been going well; so we drove 9 miles to our nearest Waitrose store, parked up and walked him across the car park to spend a while outside!

Brilliant plan, if I say so myself, he was so curious about everything and I don't think he even realised he was on a lead. He was marvelous with all the cars, pushbikes, children and crowds and had a lot of fussing by a lot of people. The only thing that seemed to upset him were the shopping trolleys (we all know how that feels). Anyway, some reassurance and an introduction to an empty pet trolley got over that one and by the end of it he wasn't even noticing them. He did a little walking, a lot of sniffing and got up close and personal with his favourite things .......... people. The bonus points were that he was so tired after all that new stimulation he fell asleep the moment he got back in the car and didn't even know he had been driven home.

As Rocky grows I hope to write my blog more often as he will need a little less stimulation and will be into more things. But that's it for this week.

Rocy the Otterhound: 16th Sep 2007

Rocky remains confused over the cat, Biskitt. She was brought up with a dog and they got on famously, however we have been without a dog for a few years so she worked hard and successfully at becoming queen of all she surveyed.


Then one day in walked this messy creature with no manners who although friendly enough, seemed to be staying instead of visiting.


Rocky has his own very comfy bed....but made the mistake, on his first night, of prefering something a little cosier..................the cat's bed!

Well anyone who knows cats knows how they can sulk! Biskitt has spent Rocky's first 2 weeks with us turning her nose up and glaring at him with an entirely put on supercillious air.

Rocky has remained confused and can't understand why whenever he goes up to her she glares daggers at him. Twice Rocky has been very brave and almost got his nose up to her, with a waggy tail and gentle (for Rocky......Biskitt didn't quite agree) paws, out to make friends. Biskitt rewarded this brave and selfless act with a huge hissing fit..........this in turn sent rocky shooting across the room and trying frantically to crawl onto my lap!!! Once on my lap he proceeded to hide his head under my arm in the firm belief that this most unfriendly of pack mates couldn't see him.

2 weeks after his arrival with us Rocky had his face (and of course his ears) in his bowl of water having a merry old drink, Biskitt, of a mind to make peace with this messy creature, crept up behind him to have a little sniff and make up. Rocky suddenly had the feeling he was being tailed and turned his head at great speed........the resulting shower of water from his ears covered most of the kitchen and ended up getting the cat full in the face!!!!! Needless to say Biskitt shot out of the room at supersonic speed (she doesn't do water) and has resumed her glaring sulk!!

A sort of peace has insued wher Rocky has agreed not to follow her and she has agreed to remain aloof. However progress has been made insofar as Biskitt will stay in the same room, as long as certain manners are adhered to........such as no eye contact with the queen and no creeping up from behind for a sniff and make up. This seems to be going well and I have hopes that an eventual peace treaty will be signed and Rocky can stop charging under my arms or legs when he catches Biskitt's eye by mistake............very difficult when you are trying to make dinner!

Rocky has attended his second puppy party, he decided to wear his smart new collar this time, just to impress you understand. He was pleased to meet 2 small black labradors and relented from his previosly superior attitude enough to have a bit of a game; mainly with the water bowl. The game seemed to centre on who could get most water on themselves, thier play mates and the floor, Rocky I think came in third! Realising that he wasn't as good at the game as the other 2 he reverted to sitting on the sidelines looking wisely superior.

This week Rocky has also been for his second visit to the vet and had his second injection. In honour of this we have been doing a little lead training at home, ready for the big day. If things continue as well as they have so far we should reach the bottom of our (very short) drive before he sits down and refuses to go further! Still, early days and all that!

Rocky the Otterhound: 8th Sep 2007

Rocky has had an eventful week, he has gone off slugs but like the French is sticking with snails. He has also mastered the art of plant pot and cardboard roll destruction !

He responds well to the command to sit, .......well......if he wants to! Usually dependent how much of his food you have in your hands at the time!

Rocky has also attended his first puppy party, where he decided to be the party pooper (no, not literally)। He sat in a corner observing the other (playing) pups with a look of utter disdain, when he wasn't hiding behind the reception desk and peering out round the corner to check that these upstarts weren't still acting like hooligans that is. I don't think he has got the hang of this socialising skills thing; still next weeks party may be more fun for him............but.........what to wear to another party?

One way or the other Rocky has shown quite a few French tastes this week. One night we had some rain, not a bad thing as disasters go, however, the night time toileting schedule turned out to be a bit tricky as the patio was full of frogs (.........well 3)! I was able, however, to exhibit my kung fu skills by trying to hold back an excited pup (determined to find out what the French see in frogs) with one hand while trying to capture and relocate constantly hopping frogs with the other. I came out of that one a lot more tired than I should have been! Aren't frogs ungrateful creatures?

Todays finale!

Rocky has revealed his wonderful houndness while sleeping.......while out for the count he will start running wildly (whilst on his side, not charging round the room) this is invariably accompanied by whining and a beautiful (if not extremely high pitched) long drawn out baying song. Although oblivious it would upset him I'm sure if he realised how funny we all found it! when he is asleep now we all wait for this moment and visitors are treated to it as if a new trick.........does that make us the daft Muppet's?!

Rocky the Otterhound: Sep 2nd 2007 - Who is Rocky?

Rocky is a 9 week old Otterhound pup, he came to live with us on the 29th August 2007 at 6.30pm. His first meal was 1 slug, a snail and the few remains of the cat food (which we had forgotten to pick up before we put him on the floor). The slug and snail, by the way, were from the back garden not from the floor we put him down on! Our 2 children (who are now in their 20's) instantly reverted to childhood and were scampering around on their hands and knees in an effort to outdo each other in the get Rocky's attention stakes. Rocky appeared to be delighted and reveled in the individual attention he was getting, showing his approval by chewing on noses and bouncing clumsily from one person to the next. Thus started our lives together.

A bit of background to his arrival in our home.

Otterhounds are an endangered breed in this country and there are few breeders around. Most of the existing breeders concentrate on showing or running working packs (not for otter hunting) which are important for keeping the breed going and publicising its existence. However, after some research I was able to locate a breeder who also allowed some of their pups to go to private homes.

Otterhounds are large dogs and being hounds have specialist characteristics, so are not for everyone, but the breeder was excellent in matching the right dog with the right home and us lucky few were able to enrich our families with these lovely characters.

Why an Otterhound? My husband and I were brought up with dogs (as were our children) and the last dog we owned had such a wonderful character we couldn't imagine replacing him with a dog of a different type. It took some research but I eventually found information on dogs with very similar characteristics - http://clubs.akc.org/ohca/OH-special.html, http://www.otterhound.org.uk/Ode.html, http://www.petpublishing.com/dogken/breeds/otterhoun.shtml.

After talking with a breeder about our old dog (who sadly left us at age 14) and taking into account the time and place we got him; it was identified that he was more than likely an otterhound cross. I was delighted, as I had finally confirmed which breed I wanted to share my time and family with! And now we have Rocky.

Why Blog?

Otterhounds appear to be quite popular family pets in the USA but have not got the same record in this country, so I am intending to provide a weekly blog that details the events and experiences that Rocky and I have as he grows up in our family and hope that it raises interest. I am sure there will be some funny tales to tell and it may be interesting to document how much of a challenge (if any) it is to have these lovely characters as pets. I am hoping that this may be another way to both increase publicity for the breed and create demand; which in turn may help with keeping these wonderful animals within the country of their origin.

Todays finale!

As todays posting started with diet perhaps ending on the same note may be appropriate. Rocky really enjoys his food and his regular feeds do not take long to disappear. However he seems to have a penchant for stones, dead leaves, slugs, snails and the last of the summer flowers struggling to maintain blooms! He came in this morning (after playing in the garden) and put his head down to his (metal) bowl to see if he'd left any tidbits. Opening his mouth to give the empty bowl a final lick a stone fell out and clanged loudly in the bottom. This noise made Rocky jump back and land in a heap on the floor, all legs and surprised expression. It took removal of the stone and some heavy duty coaxing to get him to accept his bowl again as something other than a Rocky eating monster! Daft Muppet!