“WHILE IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE OTTERHOUND BE SHOWN ON A LOOSE LEAD, this is not usually possible because of their short attention span and instinct to follow their nose.”
that springs into a loose, very long striding, active trot. Th e head is extended forward when trotting. Th e Otterhound single- tracks at a slow speed and may shu ffl e at a walk or slow trot as lifting the foot high o ff the ground would require excess energy. However, the “Otterhound shu ffl e” may not be appreciated when the dog is active or alert as in the show ring. While it is suggested that the Otterhound be shown on a loose lead, this is not usually possible because of their short attention span and instinct to follow their nose. Coat Th e coat is another essential feature of the breed. Texture is of much greater importance than coat length and color is immaterial. Th e coat must be oily to enhance water resistance with a short, woo- ly undercoat for warmth. A soft coat would become extremely heavy when wet and be a great hindrance to endurance. A lack of an undercoat is a serious fault; although it must be realized that Otterhounds gener- ally will loose most if not all their under- coat in the summer months. While black or dark-colored hair is always thicker than white or blonde hair, softness should never be allowed. Otterhounds should not be discriminated on basis of color. Otter- hounds, like all dogs should be shown and kept clean. A freshly bathed dog with a proper coat will not be adversely a ff ected by a bath with shampoo, although, the oil will not be as apparent following a bath. Being a working hound, the Otterhound should be shown naturally. Any evidence of scissoring or sculpting should be severe- ly penalized. A “naturally” stripped coat is permissible. Inasmuch as most modern- day Otterhounds are not turned loose in the field, a bit of “tidying up” is acceptable.
BIOS Jack and Andy McIlwaine have been married for nearly 30 years, and together with their son Jason and daughter Jamie, have devoted their lives to Otterhounds. Andy’s mother, Nancy Dorian, gave them their first Otterhound, Ch. Chau- cer’s Sunflower in 1982. In 1985, Jack and Andy imported a dog from England, Ch. Boravin Quarryman. Th ese dogs were the foundation of Aberdeen Otterhounds. Th ey have since produced over 75 cham- pions including several top winning, BIS and BISS winners. Andy has been involved in the world of purebred dogs since the age of 12 when she and her mother purchased their first show dog—a Samoyed. Andy participated in many venues with this dog, including junior showmanship and sled-dog racing
and breeding under the Ijsbear prefix. Th ey produced many champions includ- ing a top-10 Samoyed. Jack had owned several Great Danes and began exhibiting them shortly after meeting Andy. Jason has always been active in the show world, showing a Boston Terrier at the age of 3 and winning a major on an Otterhound at the age of 5. He successfully competed in junior showmanship with his Otterhounds as well as a Border Terrie and a Briard. He is currently working as an assistant handler with Carlos Puig. Jamie, while not a dog show enthusiast, also works diligently in the McIlwaines’ devotion to the Otterhound. In their professional lives, Jack and Andy are the owners of Caveman’s Kitchen, specializing in gourmet catering at dog shows.
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