10 Things You Didn’t Know About the Plott Hound
The Plott Hound is a large breed of scent hound that was originally bred to hunt wild boar. Despite having a long and interesting history, it has not been acknowledged as an official breed until the last few decades. This has led to it being one of the least well-known in the United States. Therefore, there are probably plenty of things that you do not know about this breed. Here are 10 facts that you did not know about the Plott Hound.
1. They Were First Bred by the Plott Family
In the late 18th century, Johannes Georg Plott emigrated to the North Carolina from Germany. He took with him five Hanoverian Schweisshunds. He had formerly used these to hunt wild boar but in the United States, he was using them for bear hunting. He began a breeding program using these dogs as the basis for a new breed development and this breeding program was continued by his ancestors. As they were bred by the Plott family, they became known as Plott Hounds.
2. They Were Once Bred with Leopard Spotted Dogs
A hunter from Georgia was breeding a strain of leopard-spotted dogs but had heard of the skills of the Plott Hound. He visited North Carolina to take a look at the dogs and borrowed one to breed with his own dogs. This is the only known instance of new blood being introduced into the Plott Hound breed. He did this for just one year before giving away all the dogs and returning to his original breeding practices.
3. All Plott Hounds Are Brindled
Although there are various color combinations available, all Plott Hounds are brindled. Some of the options include black brindle, brown brindle, blue brindle, and red brindle. Some have white markings, although this is rare. Breed standards allow for small amounts of white on the chest and feet but consider white markings elsewhere a fault.
4. They Work with the Police
Due to their intelligence, good scent, loyalty, and trainability, Plott Hounds are ideal for police work. As they are good at tracking and hunting, the Guildford County Sheriff’s Department trained two Plott Hound puppies as K9 deputies.
5. They Are the State Dog of North Carolina
As this dog breed has its origins in North Carolina, it was the perfect breed to become the state dog of North Carolina. It was designated to this status in 1989 by the North Carolina General Assembly.
6. They Were Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 2006
Although the origins of this breed date back to the late 18th century, it has only been recognized as an official breed relatively recently. They were first registered by the United Kennel Club in 1946 but were not recognized by the American Kennel Club until as late as 2006.
7. Plott Hounds Are a Noisy Breed
If you have a peaceful home and want a quiet dog, then the Plott Hound is probably not the right choice for you. One of the personality traits for which they are known is that they are very vocal dogs. They are particularly noisy if they scent prey and they make a sharp and high-pitched noise.
8. They Need Socialization to Prevent Dominance
Strict training is needed from a young age for this breed due to their dominant tendencies. It is important that socialization plays a key part in the training program.
9. They Are Prone to Some Health Conditions
Overall, the Plott Hound is known as quite a healthy dog that is not prone to many health conditions. However, if poor breeding practices have taken place, then there is some risk of them having hip dysplasia. Other health conditions that have been linked to this breed include Willebrand’s disease, elbow dysplasia, and hypothyroidism. If you are buying a Plott Hound pup, you can ask to see health clearances first.
10. They Are Most Commonly Found in Wild Parts of the Country
The Plott Hound is still a rare breed and there can be long waiting lists for people who want a puppy. The area in which they are most commonly found is the mountains of Appalachia, the Smokies. People living there use Plott Hounds as hunting dogs. They are also found in other wild parts of the United States.
