A Plott Hound relaxing in the sand.

Choosing a Plott Hound

An American original, the Plott hound was developed to hunt bear and wild boar. This uncommon breed has a very loyal following and although they make a good family pet, most are kept for hunting.

History and Origin

The Plott hound originated in the southern United States by the Plott family. In the mid 18th century, the Jonathan Plott family of North Carolina began developing the breed by mixing bloodhounds and other breeds. The breed was used to hunt bear, wild boar, coyotes and wolves and is very persistent and courageous – known for not backing down. In 1989, the Plott hound was adopted as the state dog of North Carolina.

In 1998, the Plott hound was recognized by the American Kennel Club as a member of the miscellaneous group. The Plott became eligible to compete in the Hound Group, effective January 1, 2007.

Appearance and Size

The Plott hound is a medium sized coonhound. The ears are set high, long and hang. The tail tapers and is long. The hair coat is coarse and short with a smooth glossy appearance. The color is brindle, black with brindle trim, slate or buckskin.

The adult Plott hound stands around 20 to 24 inches at the shoulder and weighs about 45 to 55 pounds.

Personality

The Plott hound is a loyal and smart dog. They are also very brave, sometimes too brave, and can get in trouble. Unlike other coonhounds, the Plott hound has a high-pitched bark.

Home and Family Relations

The Plott hound is a loyal family pet that does best with older children. As with other coonhounds, this breed is quite active and needs plenty of exercise. They prefer to live in a home with a large fenced yard. If provided adequate shelter, the Plott hound can live outdoors.

This breed should not be allowed to roam unsupervised. Their hunting instincts can easily take over and they will chase a scent without paying attention to cars, etc.

Training

The Plott hound is intelligent and learns easily but should be obedience trained early in life. It is especially important to train them to walk on a leash.

Special Concerns

The Plott hound can be independent and stubborn. The breed tends to drool a lot. They should not be allowed to roam off leash since they tend to wander.

Common Diseases and Disorders

The Plott hound is a hardy breed that has few known diseases. The most common are gastric dilatation and volvulus and obesity.

The average life span of the Plott hound is 12 to 14 years.

We realize that each dog is unique and may display other characteristics. This profile provides generally accepted breed information only.