Plott Hound

The history of this breed resembles a gripping historical novel. It all started in 1750 when a young German immigrant named Johannes Plott stepped onto American soil. He brought with him not only hope for a new life but also five Hanoverian Hounds (Hanoverian Schweisshund). In Germany, these dogs were used for boar hunting and were famous for their ability to follow a cold trail.

Settling in the mountains of North Carolina, the Plott famliy continued to breed these dogs, selecting only the best for hunting bears and boars. For seven generations, spanning over 200 years, the breed remained an exclusively family affair. The Plotts rarely crossed their dogs with other breeds, which allowed the unique German type to be preserved. Only once, according to legend, was the blood of a “leopard dog” (possibly a Catahoula or another local type) added to inject energy and improve working qualities. This sharply distinguishes them from other coonhounds, such as the Black and Tan Coonhound, which was formed mainly on the basis of Bloodhounds and Foxhounds.

The Plott Hound is an athlete in the canine world. The first thing that catches the eye is the powerful musculature under thin, shiny skin. It isn’t a massive dog like a Rottweiler, but it radiates strength and speed. The body is slightly stretched, ensuring a long stride and endurance over long distances.

Coat and colour: The breed’s calling card is the brindle colour. The background can vary from yellow to dark brown, almost black, with dark stripes. Solid black individuals (often with a brindle sheen on the legs) and rare “buckskin” variants also occur. The coat is short, thick, and able to protect the dog from throny bushes and bad weather. The skin is elastic but shouldn’t form heavy folds like a Bloodhound.

Head: The skull is flat, the muzzle long and strong. Ears are hanging, of medium length, quite wide, but not as long as other coonhounds. The eyes are the mirror of the hunter’s soul: attentive, intelligent, hazel or dark brown.

The Plott Hound’s character is a complex cocktail of hunting excitement and boundless love for its pack. It is a dual-purpose dog: a ruthless beast in the forest and a gentle friend at home. However, future owners should remember a few key aspects of this breed’s psyche.

• Confidence and courage. The Plott knows no fear. This dog was bred to stop a bear weighing 200 kilograms. In everyday life, this manifests as absolute self-confidence. They aren’t hysterical or skittish.
• Territoriality. Unlike many hounds that are happy to see all strangers, the Plott can be wary and show guarding qualities. It will protect its territory and food bowl (so it is important to work on food aggression from childhood). In its vigilance, it resembles the smaller Majorca Rater, although the Plott operates in a much heavier weight class.
• Loud voice. The Plott’s “singing” is a separate art form. They have a loud, piercing bark that hunters call a “bawl”. This is wonderful in the forest when you need to find the dog, but can become a disaster in a block of flats.

Socialisation is critical. Without it, natural mistrust of strangers can turn into aggression. If we compare them to other hunters, for example, the Bluetick Coonhound might be softer in communication, whereas the Plott is a serious “worker” with a tougher core.

The Plott Hound isn’t just a dog running after a scent. It is an intellectual hunter. They are known for their ability to unravel the most complex tracks (“cold trailing”). When a Plott picks up a scent, it transforms completely. Its voice changes to a characteristic, rhythmic bark that allows the hunter to understand what stage the chase is at.

Interestingly, the breed has an extremely high pain threshold. In the heat of a fight with a boar or bear, the dog can receive serious injuries but will continue to hold the beast until the master arrives. This tenacity makes them akin to terriers. For instance, the small but brave Patterdale Terrier is also famous for its uncompromising nature in a burrow, just like the Plott in open combat. Both breeds work “on contact”, which requires special attention from the owner to the animal’s safety.

Training a Plott Hound is a challenge to your patience and pedagogical skills. They are smart, but not in the sense that they will fetch your slippers on the first request. Their intellect is aimed at solving problems: how to get food, how to open a door, how to catch a cat. Here are the main principles of working with this breed:

1. Leadership without violence. The Plott will not respect a weak master but will shut down from cruelty. A firm, consistent approach is needed. “No” must mean “no” always, not just when you’re in a bad mood.
2. Nose work. The best reward for a Plott is the opportunity to use its nose. Games of “search”, man-trailing (searching for people), or coursing will be a great alternative to real hunting.
3. Early socialisation. Introduce the puppy to other dogs, people, and city sounds. This will help avoid excessive suspicion in adulthood.

It is important to understand that the Plott can be stubborn. If it has picked up a trail, recalling it with the “come” command is a “master” level task. Therefore, practising perfect obedience is a matter of the dog’s safety.

In general, the Plott Hound is a healthy breed formed under harsh conditions of natural selection. Weak and sick individuals simply didn’t survive in the mountains and weren’t allowed to breed. However, like any breed, they have their predispositions to certain diseases. Owners should be attentive.

An energetic dog needs quality fuel. The Plott Hound’s nutrition should be based on a high-protein diet, especialy if the dog is actively working or training. Cheap food with a lot of fillers (maize, soya) won’t provide the necessary energy and can lead to digestion problems.

Natural feeding: The basis is meat (beef, poultry), offal, sea fish. Add vegetables (courgette, carrot) and fermented milk products. Porridge (rice, buckwheat) only as a source of carbohydrates in small quantities.
Dry food: Choose “super-premium” or “holistic” class for active breeds of large and medium sizes.

• Pros:
  • Incredible endurance and health.
  • Minimal coat care (wiping with a glove is enough).
  • Devotion to family and good guarding instincts.
  • Rare, exclusive breed with an interesting history.
  • High intelligence in solving applied tasks.
• Cons:
  • Very loud voice (barking/howling), which can disturb neighbours.
  • Strong hunting instinct (risk of running away after a scent).
  • Need for significant physical exertion (a walk around the block won’t do).
  • Possible aggression towards other animals (especially small ones).
  • Specific “doggy” smell, typical of many hounds (requires hygiene).

This breed is full of surprises. Here are a few facts with which you can surprise your dog-loving friends:

• State symbol. In 1989, the Plott Hound was officially declared the State Dog of North Carolina. This is a tribute to the history of the Plott family and the breed’s contribution to the development of the region.
• No British accent. This is the only one of the six coonhound breeds recognised by the AKC that doesn’t have English Foxhounds in its ancestry. It is a pure German line, preserved in America.
• Universal soldier. Although the main specialisation is bear and boar, Plotts are successfully used for hunting cougars, coyotes, and even for police work (drug detection and tracking) thanks to their phenomenal sense of smell.

Does the Plott Hound moult a lot?
Moulting is average. The coat is short, so it isn’t as noticeable on carpets as the hair of long-haired breeds, but tiny “needles” can get stuck in clothes. Weekly brushing with a rubber glove solves the problem.

Is this breed suitable for allergy sufferers?
No, the Plott Hound isn’t a hypoallergenic breed. Moreover, due to active sebaceous glands (to protect the skin in the forest), they can cause a stronger reaction than “dry” breeds.

How much should I walk with a Plott?
Minimum 2 hours of active movement per day. Just walking on a lead isn’t enough. Running, ball games, swimming, or special classes (coursing, agility) are needed.

Are they aggressive towards people?
They can be mistrustful of strangers but shouldn’t be aggressive without reason. They are very gentle with their family. Aggression towards humans is considered a vice of the breed.