meet the...Plott Hound
Breed Summary
Breed Group Group 7: Scenthounds and Related Breeds
Sub-group 7-A: Large Scenthounds
Origin Country United States
Weight Males: 50-75 pounds. Females: 40-65 pounds.
Height Males: 20-27 inches. Females: 20-25 inches.
Other Name(s) Plott, Plott Bear Hound
Breed Type Pure
click here for FULL BREED STANDARD
Origins
The Plott Hound breed’s origins are fairly well documented and start with German-born gentleman Johannes George Plott. The Plott family immigrated to the United States from Germany in the eighteenth century, and Johannes was only six years old at the time. The Plott family brought their Hanoverian schweisshunden along for the journey. These dogs are well-known as the famous blood-trailing hounds of Germany, and today are they called Hanovarian Hounds.
The Plott family settled down in western North Carolina in the Smokey Mountains. There, they found that their dogs had no trouble moving from wild boars to bears, as wild boars had yet to be intruded on the United States. Eventually, Henry, Johannes’s son, inherited the dogs and continued his father’s work, working with other hunters to improve his dogs’ lines. By then, the reputation of the dogs preceded them, and stories of their trailing abilities traveled far and wide.
As the Plott family grew and spread throughout Appalachia, so too did their dogs’ popularity. Soon, hunting enthusiasts from all over the Appalachians wanted to use the Plott Hounds to rev up their own hound lines. Plotts were incorporated into the Leopard Hounds, Blevins Hounds, and Cable strains of hounds. It is believed that the results of these crosses may have been infused back into the Plott breed, but to what extent remains a mystery. Eventually, the Plott Hounds became synonymous with bear hunting, and they could be found trailing and tracking all throughout the Smokey Mountains. The Plotts were bred and maintained by the Plott family for over seven generations.
In addition to bears, the Plotts were also excellent at hunting raccoons, and many lines and strains became known as coonhounds. Several notable strains arose in the Plott breed, or from crosses of Plotts, with some distinct enough to be considered a separate breed. This includes the Cable Hounds, Crockett Hounds, Hannah Hounds, Cruse Hounds, Reece Hounds, Orr Hounds, and Blevins Hounds. By the early part of the twenty-first century, Blevins Hounds, which were developed into black-saddled hounds, were bred back into the Plott breed to add fresh blood. The results produced offspring with stellar noses, and they became the pillar of the modern-day Plott breed.
To this day, the Plott Hound retains his high drive, extraordinary nose, and cold-trailing abilities.Breed Characteristics
Head: Somewhat mesaticephalic skull type, moderately large in size, and in proportion to the rest of the body. The head is clean-cut and without excess skin or wrinkles. The head is of sufficient bone and muscle to denote strength and power. The topskull is broad, being equal in width (measured across the top of the skull in front of the ears) as it is long, giving the head breadth. A median furrow, starting at the stop and disappearing toward the occiput, may be accentuated by well-developed temporal muscles, although the temporal muscles should never be overly prominent. The head and skull should never appear overly narrow or lacking in substance. The head is flat to slightly arched when viewed in profile.
Eyes: Moderate in size, oval to almond in shape, and ranging from hazel or amber to medium or dark brown in color. The eye rims are well-fitted and well-pigmented. The eyes are never bulging. There should be sufficient bone in the surrounding orbital sockets to protect the eyes. Any signs of entropion or ectropion are incorrect for this breed.
Ears: Medium in size, set high on the skull, and drop. The ears are broad across the base. Preferable ear carriage results in an inner edge that lies close to the head. The ears should never be overly long and pendulous, semi-erect, or fully erect. They should never extend beyond the nose.
Muzzle: The muzzle is full, deep, and broad throughout, tapering only slightly from the broad base toward the nose. The plane, or bridge of the muzzle, is straight. The upper and lower jaws are well-developed, approximately equal in length, and have good bone substance, never appearing snipey or weak.
Nose: The nose is well-pigmented, black, or self-colored, according to the coat. The nostrils are well-opened.
Neck: Moderate length allows for good head carriage. It is powerfully muscled with a good arch. The neck tapers smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is clean-cut and without excess skin, throatiness, or dewlap.
Chest: Deep and broad but never wider than deep. The brisket extends to the point of the elbows. The forechest is well-developed.
Body: Compact, solid, deep, and of good substance. The body is never racy or refined but capable of stamina, agility, and power. The width at the forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters.
Feet: Oval to round and compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads. Toes may be webbed. Single or double dewclaws may be present.
Tail: May be set just slightly below the level of the topline, or neither high nor low on the croup, always as a natural extension of the topline. It is thick at the base and tapering toward the tip. The tail is carried in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level, often above the level of the topline or higher, but never tucked. The tail is of a moderate length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down. The tail may be sabered, sickled, or gently curved.
Movement: Smooth, effortless, efficient, and energetic, the characteristics of a healthy structure are evident. When moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the forelimbs and hindlimbs will converge to the centerline of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in line with the nose. When extended, the width between the forefeet should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring.
Temperament: To this day, the Plott Hound breed is still primarily utilized as a working dog. They are bred to be exceptional hunters, and consequently, they tend to be highly driven to perform these duties, which can become problematic if matched to non-working or non-hunting families that do not allow the breed to exercise its natural instincts, drives, and energy. When properly matched to suitable homes, Plott Hounds are loyal, even-tempered, and predictable. They are known to bond strongly with their families, becoming especially fond of “their” children. They are highly instinctual and independent, especially when locked onto an interesting scent. This can make the dogs challenging to keep confined or to train for companion or competitive obedience. They can be aloof toward strangers, but they are generally friendly dogs. Their eagerness to please their owners, coupled with their high scenting drive and ability, makes them great candidates for scent work activities such as search and rescue and tracking. Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed.
Breed Standard
BREED GROUP 7: Scenthounds and Related Breeds
Proportions: Off-square to slightly rectangular, with the length of the body measured from the point of the forechest to the point of the rump, being just slightly greater than the height at the withers. The length-to-height ratio is between 5:4 and 10:9. Females may be slightly longer. The body is well put together, with sturdy substance and moderate (yet sturdy) bone. Males should appear masculine, being more substantial in size and mass, while females should appear more feminine and slightly less substantial. Neither should lack overall type. The Plott Hound is not a dog of extremes. A large, heavy, giant-sized dog lacks agility and stamina. A light and weedy dog lacks power. This breed draws its strength from balance. The weight of males or females is always in proportion to height.
Head
General Appearance: Somewhat mesaticephalic skull type, moderately large in size, and in proportion to the rest of the body. The head is clean-cut and without excess skin or wrinkles. The head is of sufficient bone and muscle to denote strength and power. The topskull is broad, being equal in width (measured across the top of the skull in front of the ears) as it is long, giving the head breadth. A median furrow, starting at the stop and disappearing toward the occiput, may be accentuated by well-developed temporal muscles, although the temporal muscles should never be overly prominent. The head and skull should never appear overly narrow or lacking in substance. The head is flat to slightly arched when viewed in profile.
Expression: Confident, intelligent, inquisitive, alert, watchful, and determined.
Stop: The stop is somewhat definite.
Skull: The ideal muzzle-to-skull ratio is between 4:5 and 1:1, with the topskull being equal to or just longer than the muzzle.
The ideal muzzle-to-skull axis is parallel or may be just slightly convergent.
Muzzle: The muzzle is full, deep, and broad throughout, tapering only slightly from the broad base toward the nose. The plane, or bridge of the muzzle, is straight. The upper and lower jaws are well-developed, approximately equal in length, and have good bone substance, never appearing snipey or weak.
Lips or Flews: The lips are fairly clean and fit rather well over the teeth and jaws. They are well-pigmented according to the coat. They are just sufficiently deep to give the muzzle a rectangular appearance and should never appear pendulous or hang below the lower plane of the bottom jaw.
Nose: The nose is well-pigmented, black, or self-colored, according to the coat. The nostrils are well-opened.
Cheeks: The cheeks are well-developed and well-muscled. They add breadth to the face and head. The cheeks should not appear flat or chiseled.
Dentition and Bite: Forty-two strong, clean, and white teeth. The bite may be level, scissor, or reverse-scissor. Contact must be made between the top and bottom incisors. Missing or broken teeth as a result of routine work is not to be penalized. The gums and soft tissue of the mouth (except for the tongue) are often well-pigmented according to the coat. The pigmentation can range from black to dark brown and blue to gray.
Eyes: Moderate in size, oval to almond in shape, and ranging from hazel or amber to medium or dark brown in color. The eye rims are well-fitted and well-pigmented. The eyes are never bulging. There should be sufficient bone in the surrounding orbital sockets to protect the eyes. Any signs of entropion or ectropion are incorrect for this breed.
Ears: Medium in size, set high on the skull, and drop. The ears are broad across the base. Preferable ear carriage results in an inner edge that lies close to the head. The ears should never be overly long and pendulous, semi-erect, or fully erect. They should never extend beyond the nose.
Body and Tail
General Description: Compact, solid, deep, and of good substance. The body is never racy or refined but capable of stamina, agility, and power. The width at the forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters.
Neck: Moderate length allows for good head carriage. It is powerfully muscled with a good arch. The neck tapers smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is clean-cut and without excess skin, throatiness, or dewlap.
Chest: Deep and broad but never wider than deep. The brisket extends to the point of the elbows. The forechest is well-developed.
Topline: May be level or gently sloped from slightly prominent withers to croup. The back is broad, strongly muscled, and straight, yet supple. The loin is taut, flat, level, or slightly arched yet supportive. The back is never swayed or roached.
Croup: Broad, powerful, and gently sloped.
Underline: A slight to moderate tuck-up is present. The underline is taut and firm without any indication of sagging or excess weight.
Ribs: Long, well-sprung, well-laid-back, and oval-shaped, never barrel-chested or slab-sided.
Tail: May be set just slightly below the level of the topline, or neither high nor low on the croup, always as a natural extension of the topline. It is thick at the base and tapering toward the tip. The tail is carried in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level, often above the level of the topline or higher, but never tucked. The tail is of a moderate length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down. The tail may be sabered, sickled, or gently curved.
Forequarters and Hindquarters
Forequarters: The forequarters are always balanced with the hindquarters and well-angulated with well-laid-back shoulder blades. The shoulder blades are fairly long and approximately equal in length to the upper arm and forearm.
Elbows: The elbows are close to the body. The point of the elbows is approximately half the dog’s height at the withers.
Forelegs: Frontal View: Straight, of good muscle, of moderate (yet sturdy) bone, and parallel to one another.
Side View: The forelimbs appear straight with strong pasterns.
Pasterns: Never weak or broken.
Hindquarters: The upper and lower thighs are fairly long and equal in length with strong and moderate (yet sturdy) bone. They are well-muscled.
Rear View: When viewed from the rear, the rear pasterns are parallel to one another.
Side View: Good angulation will allow the rear toes to align with the point of the rump or within one to two paw-lengths behind the point of the rump, with the rear pasterns remaining perpendicular to the ground and parallel to one another.
Stifle Joint: Well-angulated with a good bend to well-let-down rear pasterns.
Angulations: The angulation of the hindquarters is always in balance with the angulation of the forequarters.
Feet: Oval to round and compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads. Toes may be webbed. Single or double dewclaws may be present.
Coat
Skin: Well-fitted, yet supple. The skin should never obstruct the outline of the dog.
Coat Type: The coat is short, smooth, and close to the body throughout. The texture is rough to fine and glossy. The undercoat is dense and soft. The coat may be slightly longer on the neck, forming a light ruff, and on the tail, may form a light brush, although a smooth tail is equally acceptable.
Coat Color or Pattern: CKC recognizes two color varieties of the Plott Hound breed: the standard and nonstandard.
Standard coat color variety: Any shade of brindle ranging from and including yellow, tan, red, brown, black, gray, blue or slate (Maltese), liver, gold, or orange, all with or without a black or gray muzzle. May also have a corresponding saddle (black or gray), with brindled tan or black or gray with brindle points markings. All with or without white on the chest and feet. Non-brindles do sometimes occur and can appear black, liver, cream, gold, tan, sandy, yellow, red, ochre, varying shades of fawn or buckskin (tan with melanistic mask).
Nonstandard coat color variety: White extending beyond the feet or chest.
Movement
Smooth, effortless, efficient, and energetic, the characteristics of a healthy structure are evident. When moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the forelimbs and hindlimbs will converge to the centerline of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in line with the nose. When extended, the width between the forefeet should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring.
Temperament
To this day, the Plott Hound breed is still primarily utilized as a working dog. They are bred to be exceptional hunters, and consequently, they tend to be highly driven to perform these duties, which can become problematic if matched to non-working or non-hunting families that do not allow the breed to exercise its natural instincts, drives, and energy. When properly matched to suitable homes, Plott Hounds are loyal, even-tempered, and predictable. They are known to bond strongly with their families, becoming especially fond of “their” children. They are highly instinctual and independent, especially when locked onto an interesting scent. This can make the dogs challenging to keep confined or to train for companion or competitive obedience. They can be aloof toward strangers, but they are generally friendly dogs. Their eagerness to please their owners, coupled with their high scenting drive and ability, makes them great candidates for scent work activities such as search and rescue and tracking. Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed.
Faults
All dogs should be in proper healthy condition, free from disease or defect. Any departure from this description is considered a fault. Unless altered, all male dogs should have two fully descended testicles.
