Plott

The Plott is an American scent hound breed of the coonhound type. The state dog of North Carolina, it is the only American hound that is not descended from English breeds, but is rather of German ancestry. Besides being capable in the tracking and treeing of raccoons, the Plott was traditionally skilled at tracking and bringing to bay large game such as bear and wild boar. It is a sturdy, agile dog capable of great endurance. The Plott is particularly tough and persistent, and is still used for tracking wolves, coyotes and large wild cats. Sometimes called the "Plott Hound"�, this dog is neither stocky nor very lean; it is of medium build, and gives the overall impression of strength, athleticism and stamina. The Plott has a sleek, smooth coat that is brindle, brindle with black saddle, black, or occasionally buckskin in color. There may be bits of white on toes or chest. Very infrequently, the coat is double, but the coats of most Plotts are single.The eyes are brown or hazel with a black rim. This dog does not have the loose skin of a bloodhound or some other coonhound breeds. Its tail is low-set and long. Its ears are of medium size and drooping. This breed has webbed feet and does not hesitate to go into water. The Plott stands 21 to 25 inches tall at the shoulder. Like most hounds, it is capable of a loud bawl but more often uses a high clear bark rather uncharacteristic of a coonhound, which carries well for a long distance. The Plott may have an identification mark on its rump used to distinguish the individual during the confusion of the hunt; this mark is never penalized in conformation. Coonhounds, of which there are at least seven types, share common ancestry with the English Foxhound and various other hounds of Britain. But the Plott is an exception to this rule; it was developed directly from the large hunting hounds used in the mountains of Germany. In a culture where leaving a wounded or dead prey was unthinkable, the Hanoverian Schweisshund, a type of bloodhound, was capable of trailing a scent that was a week old or more. In 1750, young Johannes George Plott arrived in the American colony of North Carolina with his five Hanoverian Schweisshunds - three brindles and two buckskins. He eventually bred his hounds with local coonhounds, and it only took a few generations before the Plott family hounds were legendary in the mountains of North Carolina and beyond. But the Plott family almost never marketed their hounds outside their own clan, and the dogs remained of relatively pure strain, rare and coveted for a century and a half as they gained fame throughout the Appalachian, Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains. Finally, around the turn of the 20th century, the Plott hounds breeding program came into the hands of one Henry Plott, who agreed to sell a few of his stock to a neighbor named Gola Ferguson. Ferguson had for a time made careful study of several of the hounds of the local clans. He settled upon some hounds of the Blevin family to cross with his Plotts. The Blevins were tan and had black markings, including a large black saddle over their backs. The dogs resulting from this cross were exceptional. He bred these dogs back to the pure Plott, and further improved the breed. His dogs went on to have a large impact on future generations of the Plott Hound. The Plott became to be thought of as part of the coonhound family because most of the hounds of the mountains were used for treeing raccoons. But although it could perform with the others, the Plott's strength and tenacity made it uniquely qualified to track large game. Ironically, although it was developed in America, the Plott was recognized first overseas, by the UK's Kennel Club in 1946. Although suitable as a family pet, it was most frequently used as a working dog for hunting, and thus was slow to enter the show dog world. The American Kennel Club formally recognized it in 2006. The Plott is not suited for life in an apartment or even in an urban area: it is a loud, active breed that needs room to roam and a lot of exercise. The prospective owner should be prepared to hear the "voice"� of the Plott frequently. It is not realistic nor is it humane to expect a scent hound not to bark to communicate its thoughts. Wired for tracking, the Plott is largely guided by its nose and when not confined within a fenced area, should be leashed to prevent it from disappearing. The Plott's coat requires little care an occasional brushing will keep the coat healthy and the skin in good shape. Bathing is only rarely necessary as needed. The ears should be kept clean; because of the shape the ears of hounds can be prone to infection. Neglecting ear infections can lead to permanent damage and loss of hearing. Check the ears frequently for signs of mite infestation such as tiny black or red flecks. Look for excessive redness and heat, swelling, or evidence that handling the ear is painful for the animal. Ears should be cleaned weekly using a soluntion specifically made for the purpose, and the Plott's ears should be thoroughly checked by a veterinarian at least a few times yearly, when they can be examined with instruments capable of seeing the deepest recesses.This breed is a very healthy breed. Lifespan is an average 12-14 years, but individuals can easily reach 16 years of age. Because of the deep chest and the Plott's habit of wolfing down its food, the owner should watch for any signs of bloat (also called gastric torsion or GDV); bloat is a life-threatening emergency and requires a veterinarian's immediate intervention. The dog's eating can be slowed by forcing him to have to eat around a large stone placed in the dish. Do not exercise the Plott until at least an hour after eating.The Plott will live happily with other dogs and children. Caution should be used when introducing it to household cats, until it sees them as part of the pack and not as small prey. Keepers of the Plott Hound may enjoy tracking competitions, long hikes, and search and rescue training with their hound.

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