Plott Hound

History & Health

History

The Plott Hound's history dates back to 1750, when a sixteen-year-old German immigrant named Johannes (Johnathon) Plott brought five German-bred brindle and buckskin hunting dogs to the Great Smoky Mountains of western North Carolina and Tennessee. These dogs had been used to hunt wild boar in their homeland; in America, they quickly became known for their exceptional hunting skills not only on wild boar, but also on bear, deer, mountain lion, bobcat and raccoon. Johannes Plott passed his prized pack of hunting hounds to his son, Henry Plott, in 1780. His contribution is described as follow, in the words of John R. Jackson, of Boone, North Carolina: "In the mountainous western section of North Carolina lay the frontier, then a virtual game-laden paradise. Deer hides, especially, and other animal pelts could be harvested in great quantity. It was here to this wilderness area (now Haywood County) that Henry Plott settled and concentrated his efforts in establishing a highly successful big-game dog, a dog especially adept at hunting bears. Exactly what Plott integrated with his father's original stock is unknown. Be that as it may, however, breedings were carefully maintained, accounting for the best trackers, fighters, and tree dogs available."
Henry Plott's dogs possessed an uncanny ability to cold-track, fight and tree the American black bear. By the middle of the 1800s, Plott Hounds were well-known throughout North Carolina and in neighboring regions as smart, all-around hunting dogs with keen instincts and exceptional tracking, trailing and treeing skills.
Henry Plott selectively bred his dogs and guarded the purity of their pedigree for more than 30 years. Allegedly, only one outcross happened in two hundred years, that being to a "Leopard Spotted Bear Dog" from Georgia in the early 1800s. Local folklore claims that Henry Plott was visited by a hunter from Georgia who claimed to own the finest hounds in the country. The two men became friends and hunted together – each with his own dogs - for several years. Plott eventually loaned one of his males to his Georgian friend so that he could cross it with his own hound bitches. When he returned that male, Plott's friend also gave him a male puppy from one of his litters. Plott so fancied that puppy that he incorporated it into his pure Plott Hound line. Some breed authorities claim that this is the only so-called "impurity" in the breed, while others suggest that Bloodhounds, Black-and-Tan Coonhounds and perhaps other breeds contributed to the size, strength and stamina of the modern Plott Hound. G. P. Ferguson, a neighbor of the Plott family around the year 1900, kept, hunted and bred Plotts for many years. Mr. Ferguson carefully studied the Blevins line of hounds and the Cable hounds that also were developed in the Smoky Mountains. It is suspected that he incorporated their bloodlines into his own line of Plotts.
Despite the Plott family's tight rein on their dogs, the breed gradually became known beyond the Smoky Mountains. The Plott Hound is one of the purest – if not the purest - of all coonhound breeds. The United Kennel Club recognized the Plott Hound in 1946. The breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 2006, as a member of the Hound Group. Today's Plotts excel in big game competition, as their bear-hunting skills are entirely intact. They are excellent, loyal companions and are friendly to almost all two-legged creatures that they meet.

Health

The Plott Hound's life span is 12 to 14 years. He occasionally may be predisposed to bloat (gastric dilatation and volvulus).

Temperament & Personality

Personality

Plott Hounds originated in the Hills of North Carolina where they were used to hunt bear and wild boar. This makes them sturdy, fearless hunting companions and excellent family watchdogs. Plotts need to live in an active household with people who love the outdoors. They enjoy hiking, running and romping in the yard, and hunters still use them in the field to hunt large game. Plott Hounds are pack dogs and are at their happiest in a home with multiple dogs for him to socialize with. Plotts are generally friendly toward strangers and enjoy the company of older, well-behaved children.

Activity Requirements

Plott Hounds need a lot of activity to maintain health and happiness. They can spend an entire day in the field tracking and penning prey, so companion Plotts should be allowed to run as much as possible during the day to burn off excess energy. They make excellent jogging companions and enjoy trotting alongside bike riders. They make excellent hiking and camping companions, acting as both comrade and protector.
These are pure country dogs and do not do well in houses without yards or in apartments. Plotts need room to run and roam, and if penned inside all day will become rambunctious and destructive.

Trainability

Plotts are a snap to train for experienced dog owners. If used in the field, they need virtually no training to work with a hunter. At home, obedience training goes quickly and smoothly if conducted early. This breed exhibits dominance, so it is imperative to teach them as puppies who exactly runs the household. Once leadership is established, everything else falls into place. Plotts are pack animals who instinctively respect the leader. Treats and positive reinforcement should be all you need to train a young Plott. Older Plotts who have developed bad habits may require a firmer hand, but this breed should never be treated harshly. If they aren't afraid to attack bears, they surely won't be scared to nip at you. Boundaries are important and rule enforcement should be done with absolute consistency.

Behavioral Traits

Plotts are not well-suited for families with small children. This breed exhibits dominance, is possessive of food and is not patient when poked or prodded. They do fine with children over the age of ten, who understand and respect the dog's boundaries.
Plott Hounds were designed to hunt bear and wild boar. This makes them fearless, but also prone to animal aggression. When raised alongside other dogs, this pack breed is very happy, but outside dogs beware, the Plott isn't likely to accept new members. Unless you are in the field with your Plott, he should be kept in fenced in yards or on a leash at all times.
Plotts tend to bark. Their barking comes in handy in the field, but can drive you crazy at home. Teaching your dog to obey commands to stop barking can help, but it is an inborn trait that can not be trained away.