Alt Names: Plott Hound Country of Origin: USA

History: The ancestors of today's Plott were used for boar hunting in Germany many years ago. Jonathon Plott left his native Germany and came to this country in 1750. He brought a few wild boar hounds with him. These dogs had been bred for generations for their stamina and gameness. Plott and his family settled in the mountains of western North Carolina, In those days there were no wild boar in this country. Jonathon Plott used his dogs for hunting bears. Plott supposedly kept his strain entirely pure, making no out-crosses. In 1780, the Plott pack passed into the hands of Henry Plott. Shortly after that time a hunter living in Georgia who had been breeding his own outstanding strain of 'Leopard spotted bear dogs' heard of the fame of the Plott Hounds and came to North Carolina to see for himself. He was so impressed that he borrowed one of Plott's top stud dogs for a year to breed to his own bitches. This single cross is the only known instance of new blood being intrduced into the Plott Hound since they first came to this country. Other crosses probably took place around teh year 1900. G.P. Ferguson, who was a neighbor of the Plott family in North Carolina in those days, was a major influence on teh Plott breed. He made a careful study of teh Blevins hounds and the Cable hounds of that era. To what extent he used these bloodlines in his Plott breeding program is not know. The Plott Hound was first registered with United Kennel club in 1946. Todays Plotts are known for their great courage and stamina. They have a clear voice that carries well.

Appearance: A hunting hound of striking color that traditionally brings big game to bay or tree, the Plott is intelligent, alert and confident. Noted for stamina, endurance, agility, determination and aggressiveness when hunting, the powerful, well muscled, yet streamlined Plott combines courage with athletic ability.

Height; Males 20 to 25 inches at the withers. Females 20 to 23 inches at the withers.

Temperament: Eager to please, loyal, intelligent, alert. Aggressive, bold, and fearless hunter. Disposition generally even, but varies among strains, with a distinction sometimes appearing between those bred for big game and those bred as coonhounds.