Plott Hound Dog Breed

The Plott Hound is, as its name suggests, a member of the Hound group in most clubs. These relatively rare hunting dogs were created in the U.S. state of North Carolina to hunt large game--and while Plotts can be decent family pets, they'll need a lot of socialization and training to avoid dominance and possible aggression.

A few North Carolina Plott Hound facts: they're medium-sized, averaging 22 inches at the shoulders in height and 50 pounds in weight; they have short-haired, thick, double-layered coats that don't shed a great deal; and as hunting dogs they have high prey drives, which means they'll instinctively chase other animals.

Some advantages and drawbacks to owning this bold breed:

Plott Hound dogs 101 is that this breed is hardworking, athletic, and bold. Since Plotts were bred to hunt large game like bears and wild boar, they have plenty of courage, and are basically fearless--especially when on the hunt.

An important piece of Plott Hound information, then, is that these dogs are naturally dominant, and can be aggressive to people or animals they don't know. Plotts' original development was to face off with big, aggressive animals like bears, boar, and mountain lions, so their instincts are to be in control at all times. This can translate to some difficulties if your Plott is to be a family pet! Regardless, try to socialize your Plott, starting in puppyhood if possible, in as many environments (and with as many kinds of people) as you can. Doing so when the Plott is still young will get the pup used to different situations, and the dog should be more calm and gentle as it matures.

Plotts' energy, meanwhile, is a lifelong trait. These dogs are accustomed to spending hours in the field on hunts, so they have plenty of endurance, strength, and agility. Your Plott will need a good bit of exercise on a daily basis--and without it the dog will become frustrated and very difficult to handle.

Plott Hound history begins in the United States, by way of Germany. In about 1750, a German immigrant named Johannes Georg Plott brought several Hanoverian Scenthounds to the colony of North Carolina. Though the dogs had been trained to mainly hunt wild boar in Germany, Plott used them to hunt bears, since bear hunting was common in that area. Over the next few decades, first Plott and then his descendants continued to breed the dogs, and they eventually became known as Plott's Hounds.

Through the next couple of centuries the breed became more popular in the mountains of North Carolina, though it still remained pretty rare overall. As years passed, breeders and hunters developed the breed to their particular liking, with people adding skills of hunting boar and raccoons to the Plott's repertoire. At some point the "s" was dropped from the breed's name, and it became known simply as the Plott Hound.

In the mid-1900s the Plott Hound, though still rare outside North Carolina, began being recognized by major organizations including the United Kennel Club. In 1989 the Plott Hound became the official state dog of North Carolina, and the American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 2006.

Today the Plott Hound continues to be a rare breed, and is mainly used as a large-game hunter in mountainous regions. As of 2020, the breed ranks 171st of 196 AKC-registered dogs.

The Plott Hound's overall appearance is streamlined, lean, and athletic--characteristics that serve this hunting dog well. At first glance, the breed's stamina and speed are very apparent.

But specifically what does a Plott Hound look like? The head is the shape of a narrow wedge, the ears are long, rounded, and hanging, and the muzzle is tall and long. Plott Hound eyes are usually almond-shaped, medium in size, and come in various shades of brown. The chest is wide, the legs long, straight, and muscular, and the body is lean and long. The tail is thin, curved, and medium to long in length.

The Plott Hound coat is short and thick, and grows from skin that's not as loose as most other Hound breeds.

These dogs are pretty consistent in size, coat, and physical features. While individual dogs may have slight structural differences (like ear, tail, or leg length), these don't define a specific sub-type in the breed.

Coat length and texture is uniform as well: short to medium in length, thick, and double-layered. One interesting feature of this breed is that its skin isn't as loose as many other Hound breeds (like the Bloodhound, for example)--so the Plott's coat may seem shorter than it actually is.

Size doesn't vary too much in Plott Hounds either. Some dishonest breeders may actually offer a "Miniature Plott Hound" or a "Giant Plott Hound" for sale--but while these dogs may indeed be smaller or larger, they're either the result of deceptive breeding methods or they're simply crossbred dogs.

Intelligent, bold, loyal, hard-working, and often dominant, the Plott Hound temperament is one of courage and activity. Plott Hound behavior tends to be quite forward and controlling, though these dogs are usually friendly with family members. (One of the less-than-desirable Plott Hound characteristics, for example, is that they're extremely possessive around their food bowls, and will often growl or snap at anyone who comes near!) If Plotts get obedience training and lots of socialization starting in puppyhood, they'll be better behaved--but chances are their dominant streaks will always remain.

One of the better Plott Hound traits, meanwhile, is that they're very willing to please their owners--which normally makes training fairly easy. These dogs are very smart and resourceful, and can learn tasks, tricks, and commands rather quickly. As with many breeds, firm, consistent training methods are best.

And their courage makes Plott Hounds excellent watchdogs. Though they're not frequent barkers, Plotts are very alert, and will investigate unknown sights or sounds. Plus, with their history of hunting bears, odds are these dogs will be able to neutralize most potential threats!

Plott Hounds are generally healthy overall, but may inherit a few issues including Von Willebrand Disease, a blood disorder. A few dogs may suffer naturally occurring ailments like hip dysplasia, eye problems, and gastric torsion (or bloat). It's a good idea for potential owners to ask breeders if dogs and/or their parents have had health screenings--or the owners can have their own veterinarians do the screenings.

Life expectancy for the Plott Hound is 12-14 years.