Plott

History

Of the six breeds of UKC registered Coonhounds, only the Plott Hound doesn't trace its ancestry back to the Fox hound; and of the breeds, we can be most certain of the Plott's heritage and the men most responsible for its development.

The ancestors of today's Plott were used for boar hunting in Germany many years ago. Jonathan 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. Jonathan Plott used his dogs for hunting bears. Plott supposedly kept his strain entirely pure, making no outcrosses. 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 introduced into the Plott Hound since they first came to this country.

Other crosses possibly took place around the year 1900. G.P. Ferguson, who was a neighbor of the Plott family in North Carolina in those days, was a major influence on the Plott breed. He made a careful study of the Blevins hounds and the Cable hounds of that era. To what extent he used these bloodlines in his Plott breeding program, is not known.

The Plott hound was first registered with UKC in 1946. Today's Plotts are known for thier courage and stamina. They have a clear voice that carries well.

Standards

HEAD: Carried well up, dome is moderately flat, moderate width between and above eyes.

EARS: Set moderately high and of medium length soft and no erectile power.

EYES: Brown or hazel, prominent, no drooping eyelids.

MUZZLE: Moderate length but not square.

TEETH: Scissors bite preffered, but even bite acceptable.

SHOULDERS: Muscular and sloping to indicate speed and strength.

CHEST: Deep, with adequate lung space.

BACK: Slightly arched, well muscled and strong, not roached.

HIPS: Smooth, round, proportionately wide, flanks gracefully arched, muscular quarters and loins.

TAIL: Moderately heavy, strong at root tapering there, rather long with brush, carried free, well up, saber like.

LEGS-FRONT: Straight, smooth, forearm muscular. Straight at knees, perfectly in line with upper leg.

LEGS-HIND: Strong and muscular above hock, slightly bent at hock, no cow hock, speedy shaped and graceful.

FEET: Round solid, cat foot, well padded and knuckled, set directly under leg.

COLOR AND COAT: The National Plott Hound Association's definition of "brindle": "A fine streaked or striped effect or pattern of black or tan color. Shades of colors accepted: yellow brindle, red brindle, tan brindle, brown brindle, black brindle, grey brindle, and maltese (slate grey, blue brindle.)" Grey muzzle accepted.

COAT: Hair fine to medium coarse, short or medium length, to give a smooth or glossy appearance.

COLOR: Brindle or Black with Brindle trim, no solid colors accepted. Some white on chest or feet accepted. White not permitted elsewhere on dog. Should have a streaked effect.

VOICE: Open trailing, bawl and chop.

HEIGHT: Males: 22 to 27 inches at shoulder. Females: 21 to 25 at shoulder.

WEIGHT: Males 50 to 75 pounds. Females: 40 to 65 pounds.

Characteristics of this Breed

Active, fast, bright, kind, confident, courageous, vicious fighters on game, super treeing instinct; take readily to water, alert, quick to learn, have great endurance and beauty.

Points

Head...........................................................................10
Neck...........................................................................5
Shoulders.....................................................................10
Chest & Ribs...............................................................10
Back & Loins..............................................................15
Hindquarters................................................................10
Elbows.........................................................................5
Legs & Feet.................................................................20
Coat & Color...............................................................5
Stern.............................................................................5
General Make-up..........................................................5

Total......................................................................................100