Plott Hound

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

23 Jun 2008 07:02 PM

With one less T in his name, I'd think the Plott hound was some kind of criminal mastermind, always plotting some scheme to take over the world.

The Plott hound is a hunting dog that comes from German stock. The Hanoverian bloodhound -- a dog known for the ability to locate a wounded animal even when the trail is a week old -- is the main ancestor of today's Plott hound. The breed was brought to America in 1750 by Johannes George Plott, who crossed the Atlantic with five hounds. Plott and his son bred seven generations of dogs in North Carolina. Locals began to refer to the dogs as Plott's hounds. Eventually, the stock started to fail and the Plott hounds were crossed with the black and tan Blevins. This revitalized the Plott hound breed.

Although the dogs have been used to hunt everything from bear to boor, coon hunters became interested in the breed. Plott hounds can move quickly over rough terrain and water regardless of the season. When hunting, they are bold and aggressive with a ringing voice. You may see some Plott hounds with an identification mark on the rump -- this is used to identify the dog when it is hunting.

Perhaps the most striking characteristic of the Plott hound is the color. Many of these hounds are brindle -- streaked or striped with a darker color over a lighter background. Some have a black "saddle", a throwback to their cross with the Blevins hounds. You may also see a solid black or buckskin (tan) coat now and then. The hair is smooth and fine, but thick enough to protect against wind and water. Most Plott hounds are single-coated, but occasionally a double-coated dog will appear.

Male Plott hounds stand between 20 and 25 inches high at the shoulder; females are slightly smaller, standing between 20 and 23 inches high. Plott hounds can weigh between forty and sixty pounds, with females generally falling at the lower end and males at the higher. The ears tend to fold over, though some Plott hounds can lift their ears.

In motion, the Plott hound is graceful without sacrificing speed. These dogs have great stamina -- but they need it for chasing down game. You'll find that Plott hounds are generally alert, intelligent, and highly loyal.

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Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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