Plott Hound

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Plott Hound Profile

The Plott Hound is a muscular dog of medium size raised and developed almost solely in the Appalachian, Blue Ridge, and Great Smoky Mountain ranges of North Carolina, United States. They have a short glossy coat that is very dense. Plott Hounds have a long tail and will wag it up high when he/she is alert. They have long drop ears that wrinkle the forehead when they are alert as well. Large and long ears are a distinct characteristic of the breed. They also tend to drool and slobber. Active, brave and enthusiastic, this breed enjoys the outdoors excessively. They are better kept in a kennel, and are usually kept as working dogs and pets, rather than just as pets. They are very intense and adamant about their job and perform well in the field. They are very determined hunters. The Plott is highly trainable and able to get along with most anyone. They are good with children, adults, and are very friendly. The Plott Hound has great stamina, perfect for hunting practically anything, including puma, wolf, boar, coyote, deer, and even bear. Adamant, courageous and keen, the Plott Hound has been said to be the best bear hunter breed there is.

Other Names: Plott

Type: Scenthound

Height: 21 - 27 inches.
Weight: 40 - 75 lbs.

Colors: Brindle with any mix of black, brown, grey, red, tan, brindle, blue and yellow. No solid colors. They should have a streak color effect.
Coat: Hair is fine - medium coarse, usually short - medium length, gives the dog a smooth, glossy look. It is very dense.

Temperament: The Plott Hound is loyal and intelligent. They also have good scent skills and great courage. They are very brave in the face of large animals, including 500 lb. bears! Plotts are determined, skilled, and adamant about their job. They get along with both children and other pets, as long as it is not what they are supposed to hunt! They are very friendly, and very enthusiastic. Plotts are an active breed that is very trainable. They can be wary of strangers.
With Children: Good, they adore children.
With Pets: Good, they get along with family pets but are wary of strangers.
Special Skills: Scenthound and gundog.

Watch-dog: High. Very alert, their brow wrinkles and their tail raises high when they sense something different.
Guard-dog: High. They have a very high-pitched and choppy voice, it is very distinct from the other hounds who have more of a bawl. Not only is their voice threatening, but they are unafraid to defend against any kind of animal or person.

Plott Hound Care and Exercise: High exercise with moderate care. Plott Hounds need lots of physical exercise as compared with other breeds; they have a lot of endurance and stamina. They require minimum grooming. Long walks or coldtrailing trips are best for exercise.
Training: High (they have superior hunting instincts). They are very trainable.
Learning Rate: High. They are quick to learn. Obedience - High. Problem Solving - Medium.

Activity: High. Plotts are very active dogs.
Special Needs: Exercise, fenced yard, leash, and the capabilities to do outdoor activities.
Living Environment: Definitely not recommended for the apartment. They should be kept in a safe area because they tend to wander. They are good to kennel, and it is suggested that they be kept outside. The best owner for this breed would be an outdoorsy, active owner living in a rural environment with a job for the Plott to do.

Plott Hound Health Issues: They eat fast so they are prone to gastric torsion and life-threatening twisting of the stomach, also known as bloat. Other than this, they are a healthy breed.

Life Span: 12 - 14 years. This is a relatively long-lived breed.
Litter Size: 4 - 10 puppies.

Country of Origin: United States
Plott Hound History: Originated in the 1750s, the breed was brought from Germany by Jonathan Plott and his brother, who died on the trip. Plott was only 16 on his way to America, and brought with him his Hanoverian Hound. Soon Jonathan began a family, and the Plotts began to spread over the entire mountain region of Tennessee and North Carolina, all spreading with them their hounds. They settled over the Great Smoky Mountains. The Plott family used a mix of Bloodhounds, Blevins hounds and Curs to create the Plott Hound of today. This is the only coonhound that does not descend from English foxhounds. Plott's hounds roamed that mountain range for over 200 years, and soon became known as Plott Hounds. Other hounds of the same type that were bred by the Cables family of Swain County were called Cable Hounds in much the same way, even though they were entirely the same breed. The breed was used to hunt any type of game, and was exceptionally good at not only cornering it but bringing it down. Plott Hounds hunted bear, puma, mountain lion, coyote, wolf, deer and boar. Some differently colored lines of the Plott Hound were not included in the registration of this breed, due to their lineage being of Redbone Coonhound descent. Fanciers of the breed continue to make sure it remains pure to its original state. Today the breed is hardly kept as a mere pet, and does well as a hunting dog.

First Registered by the AKC: 2007
AKC Group: Hound
Class: Hound
Registries: AKC, UKC (Scenthound)

Plott Hounds

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