Plott

Plott - Breed Profile:

Origin: Brought from Germany / officially developed in the USA
Colors: Any shade of brindle
Size: Medium
Type of Owner: Experienced
Exercise: Vigorous
Grooming: Very little
Trainability: Very easy to train
Combativeness: Can be a bit dog aggressive
Dominance: High
Noise: Average barker

Physical characteristics

The Plott is a powerfully built hound with prominent eyes, soft pendent ears, and smooth glossy coat. The eye colour is either brown or hazel. The eye rims, lips and nose are black. The skull is moderately flat with well-fitted skin.The muzzle is moderate length and somewhat squarish. The topline is slightly sloping: it's a bit higher at the withers than at the hips. The muscular neck is clean and free of ponderous dewlap. The loin is slightly arched. The long tail is carried saber-like. The gait is dexterous and rhythmic.
The Plott weighs 40 to 60 pounds. The height is 20 to 25 inches.

Temperament

The Plott is known as an aggressive fighter in the field with an enduring desire to "mix it up" with dangerous game. These dogs can make fine pets but the owners should never forget about the dog's hunting and fighting instincts. Plotts need really extensive socialization and early training so they learn their place. It's recommended to supervise this breed around other dogs and animals as it is able to fight to death even over a bowl of food, which can be especially hazardous around small children. Of course, if the humans are firm, confident, and consistent pack leaders, the dog should not have any behaviour problems, but nonetheless this breed is not generally recommended as a family house pet. If you're truly interested in hunting, however, the Plott won't let you down. They are loyal, intelligent, determined, courageous and proud.

Coat and grooming

The coat is smooth, fine, and glossy. It is thick enough to provide good protection from wind and weather. The colour can be any shade of brindle, including yellow, buckskin, tan, brown, chocolate, liver, orange, red, light or dark grey, blue or Maltese, dilute black, and black. Other acceptable colours are solid black, any shade of brindle with black saddle, and black with brindle trim. Very little grooming is necessary.

Health

A robust dog with no known genetic health problems. The ears should be checked and cleaned regularly to prevent infection. Tends to drool. The lifespan is 10 to 12 years.

Other interesting facts

The breed comes from a line of dogs bred by generations of the Plott family in North Carolina's Smoky Mountains. In 1750, young Georg Plott created the first family hounds by mating the boar-hunting bloodhounds he had brought from Germany. The result was a brindled (sometimes saddled) hound with an excellent treeing and fighting instinct. Today, most Plotts are used for coon hunting, although some are bred and raised to hunt big cats, bears, coyotes, and wild boar.

Plott

Physical characteristics

Temperament

Coat and grooming

Health

Other interesting facts

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