Breed library

Plott Hound

Plott Hound photograph.
Plotthund Kynnagardens Ziggy Lundamo.JPG - Plotthund. CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Plotthund_Kynnagardens_Ziggy_Lundamo.JPG. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0. License: CC BY-SA 3.0.

Breed overview

The Plott Hound, often referred to as the Plott, is a large scent hound, originally bred for hunting bears. In 1989, the North Carolina General Assembly designated the Plott Hound as the official State Dog. The Plott Hound was first registered with the United Kennel Club in 1946. Plott Hounds were recognized by the American Kennel Club in 2006 and were exhibited at the Westminster Show in 2008. Chosen for their tracking and hunting abilities, two Plott Hound puppies have been trained as K9 deputies for the Guilford County Sheriff's Department in North Carolina.

  • Breed type: dog breedBreed reference breed kind.
  • Country of origin: GermanyBreed reference country of origin.

Breed facts

  • Of the seven breeds of United Kennel Club (UKC) registered coonhounds, the Plott Hound is the only one that does not trace its ancestry to the foxhound.
  • The Plott Balsams, a mountain range in North Carolina, are named for the Plott family, whose ancestor, (Johannes) George Plott (c. 1733-1815), immigrated to North Carolina in the mid 18th century from Germany, settling in Cabarrus County.
  • The Plott Hound breed of hunting dog is also named for the Plott family.
  • The ancestors of today's Plott Hounds were used for boar hunting in Germany.
  • Originally from Germany, in 1750 Johannes "George" Plott emigrated to the English colony of North Carolina.

Size and appearance

The Plott Hound is generally athletic, muscular, and agile in appearance, with a medium build. Unlike some other hounds, the Plott Hound's skin is not baggy. The Plott Hound is a very strongly built yet moderate hound, with a distinct brindle-colored coat. Its appearance suggests the capacity for speed, stamina and endurance. They may have an identification mark on it that is used to identify the dog when hunting. Such a mark is not penalized in conformation shows.

  • Coat texture: smooth

Personality and behavior

Care planning: record what your dog enjoys, how they greet visitors, and how they respond to new places. Add notes after walks and training so you can see their habits over time. Where this profile includes behavior research, use the same named measures when comparing your shortlist.

  • Attachment and attention seeking (C-BARQ mean): 1.84 / 4Owner-reported attachment and attention seeking factor mean for US reference population Plott.
  • Chasing (C-BARQ mean): 2.46 / 4Owner-reported chasing factor mean for US reference population Plott.
  • Dog-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.84 / 4Owner-reported dog-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population Plott.
  • Dog-directed fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.71 / 4Owner-reported dog-directed fear factor mean for US reference population Plott.
  • Energy (C-BARQ mean): 2.15 / 4Owner-reported energy factor mean for US reference population Plott.
  • Excitability (C-BARQ mean): 2.12 / 4Owner-reported excitability factor mean for US reference population Plott.
  • Familiar-dog aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.49 / 4Owner-reported familiar-dog aggression factor mean for US reference population Plott.
  • Non-social fear (C-BARQ mean): 1.04 / 4Owner-reported non-social fear factor mean for US reference population Plott.
  • Owner-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.17 / 4Owner-reported owner-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population Plott.
  • Separation-related problems (C-BARQ mean): 0.80 / 4Owner-reported separation-related problems factor mean for US reference population Plott.
  • Stranger-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.41 / 4Owner-reported stranger-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population Plott.
  • Stranger-directed fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.73 / 4Owner-reported stranger-directed fear factor mean for US reference population Plott.
  • Touch sensitivity (C-BARQ mean): 0.87 / 4Owner-reported touch sensitivity factor mean for US reference population Plott.
  • Trainability (C-BARQ mean): 2.36 / 4Owner-reported trainability factor mean for US reference population Plott.

Exercise and activities

Care planning: build a weekly routine with walks, play and time to explore. Enter the minutes and sessions that work for your dog, then compare the weekly total with your available time. Keep notes about the activities your dog enjoys and adjust the routine together.

Training and enrichment

Care planning: choose one everyday skill to practice and keep a record of each session. Note the cue, the reward your dog enjoys and what went well. Rotate familiar games and new activities, and use your notes to choose the next small step.

Coat and grooming

Care planning: use the coat details above to discuss a grooming routine with your groomer. Record brushing sessions, baths and appointments in the app. Add the tools you use and your preferred schedule so the whole household can follow the same routine.

  • Coat texture: smooth

Health and lifespan

Care planning: keep your dog's veterinary records, health-check dates and agreed care plan together. Add reminders for appointments and record changes you want to discuss at the next visit. Use the linked breed organizations and original references to explore their current health resources.

Living with this breed

Care planning: compare this profile's adult dimensions, coat care and available activity information with your household's routine. Make a shortlist, plan who will handle daily care and save the questions you want to ask a breed club, rescue or breeder.

Compare breeds

Compare supported adult height and weight ranges, matching research measures and sourced coat and care categories.

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Breed history

Of the seven breeds of United Kennel Club (UKC) registered coonhounds, the Plott Hound is the only one that does not trace its ancestry to the foxhound. It is the only breed originating in North Carolina and only one of four breeds originating in the United States. The Plott Balsams, a mountain range in North Carolina, are named for the Plott family, whose ancestor, (Johannes) George Plott (c. 1733-1815), immigrated to North Carolina in the mid 18th century from Germany, settling in Cabarrus County. The Plott Hound breed of hunting dog is also named for the Plott family.

Clubs and further reading

Sources

  1. Wikidata structured breed dataWikimedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC0 1.0. Wikidata contributors (CC0).
  2. National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.PLOS ONE / Figshare Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY 4.0. Bohland, Kyle R.; Lilly, Meghan Leanne; Herron, Meghan E.; Arruda, Andréia G.; O’Quin, Jeanette M. (2023). National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.. PLOS ONE. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289356.s003 CC BY 4.0. Selected rows and field names adapted; values unchanged.
  3. File:Plotthund Kynnagardens Ziggy Lundamo.JPGWikimedia Commons Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 3.0. Plotthund Kynnagardens Ziggy Lundamo.JPG - Plotthund. CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Plotthund_Kynnagardens_Ziggy_Lundamo.JPG. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0.
  4. Plott Hound - WikipediaWikipedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted excerpts from Wikipedia contributors, Plott Hound, revision 1337405112. CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting, citations and selection changed. Source history: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Plott_Hound&action=history
  5. Palipaws everyday care planningPalipaws Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Palipaws original factual summaries. Palipaws. Original care-planning text, separate from breed measurements and licensed article summaries.