History of the Plott

Peter Hildebrand was born in 1655 in the Palatine region of southwest Germany. In 1690, he, his wife Mary, and their three sons left Germany and traveled to New York. A few years later, the Hildebrands settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. This migration, while not the start of German immigration to the New World, laid a Bavarian trail that eventually led to North Carolina.

In 1764, Conrad Hildebrand I, Peter’s grandson, arrived in Philadelphia aboard the ship Hero and later moved to North Carolina, becoming a substantial landowner. It’s said that state land grants provided him with the land between the Henry and Jacob’s Fork Rivers. Conrad thrived as a businessman, later owning a grist and powder mill, which supported the American Revolutionary War. With land across present-day Mecklenburg, Catawba, and Burke counties, it’s likely that young Johannes (George) Plott encountered the Hildebrands while traveling through North Carolina.

The Palatinate region, from where the Hildebrands and Plotts emigrated, was a hotly contested area, once ruled by Romans and the German monarchy, but besieged by both the French and British in the 1600s and 1700s. The region endured war from 1618-1648 during the Thirty Years’ War, and again from 1689-1697 with King Louis XIV’s involvement. Likely motivated by a combination of personal safety, financial security, and religious freedom, these two German families left for a new world, bringing business acumen and, in the Plotts’ case, five of their finest dogs.

If you could use Google Earth back in 1800, you’d see that the area Johannes Plott left in the Black Forest of Germany resembled the mountainous terrain where his family settled in western North Carolina. The Black Forest, named by Romans for its dark, dense tree cover, stands at 2,000-4,000 feet in elevation, with peaks nearing 5,000 feet. Tall pines blocked sunlight, much like the forests of North Carolina, likely evoking a sense of home for Johannes.

The region around Waynesville, NC, is stunning with its tall mountains, deep gorges, and abundant game. A paradise for hunters, it was also treacherous terrain. Without the navigational aids we have today, it’s astonishing that hunters returned safely from bear hunts. This rugged land tested both man and dog, cementing the Plott family’s legacy in the 1800s through the mid-1900s.

The Plott Hounds, both past and present, have changed little. Remarkably, you can find modern Plotts with striking resemblances to their ancestors in photos. The biggest differences in the breed emerged within the Plott family itself. John and Vaughn (Von) Plott, sons of Montraville Plott, had differing views on what the ideal Plott should be. According to Bob Plott’s Strike & Stay – The Story of the Plott Hound, these brothers had distinct styles: Von’s hounds were traditional hounds with longer, low-set ears and heavier builds, while John’s hounds had cur-like features, with shorter ears and a tenacious grit.

One can imagine a Thanksgiving conversation between the brothers:

Von: “Whew, doggie! That was a chase. Ole Happy caught a trail so cold his nose nearly froze off, but Balsam and Link treed that bear.” John: “Heard the race, Von. Thought you were chasing a bear or maybe an escaped convict!”

John adhered more closely to his father’s preferences, favoring cur-like features and grit. Over time, the official Plott standard would align with John’s ideal, though echoes of both men’s influences remain in the breed today.

Now, let’s examine some key points of the Plott Hound standard, which define this breed distinctly from other coonhounds. As I often say in my seminars, while the Spinone is the hound of the sporting group, the Plott is the sporting dog of the hound group.

What I mean by this is that a Plott is not hound-like when compared to the Bloodhound, the Black & Tan Coonhound, or the other scent hounds for that matter. It is far more like a German Shorthaired Pointer than a Bloodhound. While the Plott is not a “head breed,” the headpiece does distinguish it from the other coonhound breeds.

From the Plott standard:

“Ears – Medium length, soft textured, fairly broad, set moderately high to high. Hanging gracefully with the inside part rolling forward toward the muzzle.”

The standard goes on to give a length range that, unlike the old black and tan standard, does not promote length of ear but the lack thereof. In fact, in an effort to remove the “hound-like” appearance in some Plott strains, a disqualification was added:
“Disqualification – Length of ear extending beyond the tip of the nose or hanging bloodhound-like in a long, pendulous fashion.”

None of us today know the exact mixture that made a Plott. What we do know are the important traits that our Plott forefathers thought a Plott should have. As long as we breed for a balance of these traits, we will keep “Plott”ing along; however, if we place more weight on one trait over others, we end up with problems.

For example: we really want a dog that aggressively engages the bear, hog, or lion. Breeding for a terrier-like tenacity will eventually lead to a lot of injured or dead dogs. On the other hand, if we continuously breed for scenting abilities, we may end up with dogs that will not actively engage the game, which either gets other dogs injured or killed or loses the game being hunted.

These traits are all well and good, but do they translate to physical characteristics? The high-eared, almost terrier-like look of some Plotts gives them an aggressive look that, to me, denotes that very trait, while a Bloodhound-like long ear look suggests a softness and ability to track.

John Plott wanted a more medium-type nose and high-set, medium-length ears to go with it. Eventually, this is what made it into the Breed Standard. These observations of mine do not mean that a shorter-eared dog can’t strike, trail, and tree a cold track in no way, shape, or form. What I want you to focus on is the look.

A Bloodhound looks like it can smell into tomorrow if it wanted to. An Airedale Terrier looks like it would tear the hide off a bear, boar, or sofa if given the chance. Whether they will, can, or do is not up for debate. The desired look of these Plotts has withstood the changes in hunting and sport for the breed and is basically the same today as it was in John Plott’s day.

As I stated earlier, the Plott is not a head breed, although when judging for breed type, the headpiece will and should play an important role.

The tangible hallmark of the Plott breed, if there is one, is the color. That is a big “if” since there are so many acceptable variations to the color. I say tangible because anyone can point to a beautiful brindle hound-like dog and assume Plott. It is easily recognizable, although the true hallmarks of this exciting breed are mostly intangible. Their courage, tenacity, and versatility have no limits and no means to be easily measured.

Color, however, we can work with. “Any shade of brindle (a streaked or striped pattern of dark hair imposed on a lighter background) is preferred.”

This means if two equal dogs are exhibited, the one with brindle should place over the one without. I hope we all know that there is no such thing as two equal dogs, and the color should seldom impact judging. The AKC standard thankfully allows the solid black and solid buckskin-colored Plotts: “Some white on chest and feet is permissible as is a graying effect around the jaws and muzzle.”

I suppose “some white” is highly subjective and better left to your personal taste; however, I find white extending beyond the chest and up the throat very offensive. Even with that, I would not let color be my final point of judgment.

While on the topic of color, you may see Plotts or other coonhound breeds with freeze brands on their flanks. These are for identification purposes only and should not count against the dog. If they obscure your ability to judge the dog in question, have the handler turn it around, as they are typically on one side of the dog. These markings allow owners to quickly separate packs when gathering dogs after a hunt, and they discourage theft of dogs that sell for large sums of money.

The most important part of the Plott breed standard is the general appearance. When a Plott walks into the show ring or pops out of your dogbox on a leash, this is what I expect to see: “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.”

The temperament of the breed can seem aloof, but they should never be fearful. Many times in my seminars, I use the phrase, “if it looks wrong, it probably is wrong.” I naively assume that the judges I see are dog people, and I will continue to err on that side of things. Maybe you have been hunting with dogs before, and maybe you have not. You need to picture the Plott doing its job and then ask, Can that dog right there do that job? If the answer in your mind is yes, then you are looking at a Plott.

A great reference tool for this breed can be found in Strike & Stay: The Story of the Plott Hound, by Bob Plott. It is a very informative book on the Plott family and can be purchased at www.bobplott.com. If you are just a hound person, it is a must-have for your library. If you are a Plott person, it is a fair and comprehensive history of your breed. If you are a hound judge or a potential hound judge, it is a photographic bible for learning the desired look of this breed.

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Read and learn about the various coonhound performance events, such as Nite Hunts, Bench Shows, Field Trials, and Water Races, as well as the dogs that compete in them. Article by Michelle Zimmerman.

In the glow of moonlight, four handlers reach for the collars of the tri-colored coonhounds on their leads. Standing in a line at the edge of a field, dense, dark woods ahead of them, they await the judge’s call to release—“Cut ‘em!” The handlers point their cap lights toward the woods as they unsnap their leads, releasing the hounds into the darkness. After a moment, the first dog lets out a melodious bawl that echoes off the hills. “Strike Sally,” a handler calls… and the race is on!

Coonhound Nite Hunts

The pillar of coonhound performance events, the Nite Hunt showcases the coonhound’s natural trailing and treeing instinct in a truly wild environment. A group of up to four dogs, called a “cast,” is drawn at random from the total entry of dogs. Casts are assigned a judge and a guide, who may or may not also be handlers of dogs on the cast. The judge’s primary responsibility is to maintain the integrity of the hunt, including scoring dogs in accordance to AKC Nite Hunt Regulations and ensuring sportsmanlike conduct of handlers and spectators.

The judge has authority to “scratch” or disqualify dogs from competition for displaying aggression, babbling (barking when no trail is present), or failing to show hunting activity within required timelines. The judge may also scratch handlers for misconduct while on the cast. The guide’s responsibility is to provide safe territory for the cast to hunt; the guide should be very familiar with the property and be able to alert the cast to any terrain concerns, obstacles, or dangerous areas. The ideal hunting territory is close enough to the hunting club to allow the cast ample opportunity to hunt for the allotted time (Nite Hunts may be 60, 90, or 120 minutes in length) and return by deadline.

When the cast arrives at its hunting territory, the guide directs the cast and judge to the location in which the hounds will be released. At the judge’s call, the dogs are free-cast into the designated area. Unlike Pointer or Retriever Hunt Tests, Nite Hunts do not occur in an environment with planted game. The dogs are not confined to a certain area; they are expected to trail and tree wild raccoons in a natural environment. The distance the dogs travel from where they are cast is dependent upon how far they must go to “strike” or locate a track and how far the track goes before the raccoon is “treed.”

Unlike Pointer or Retriever Hunt Tests, Nite Hunts do not occur in an environment with planted game. The dogs are not confined to a certain area; they are expected to trail and tree wild raccoons in a natural environment.

In mountainous, rugged areas of the United States, such as the Southeast, tracks may be a half-mile or more in length, while in flatter, more open terrain, such as the Midwest, tracks may only be a few hundred yards. Points are scored in a Nite Hunt based on the handlers’ call of their dogs—informing the judge throughout the duration of the hunt what the dog is doing, based on the sound of the dog’s voice. The dogs wear GPS collars so that their handlers are aware of their location; however, handlers may not use the GPS receiver to aid in calling their dogs.

A dog is declared “struck” by its handler upon its vocalization that it has located a track, and points are awarded in a descending manner based upon the order dogs are struck in. The dogs will continue to vocalize as they work the track until they locate their quarry. When the raccoon is located, the dog will give a unique bark, called a “locate,” signifying that it has found its quarry, before its voice rolls over into a “tree” bark, which is distinctive compared to its trailing bark. As dogs are declared treed by their handlers, again, points are awarded based upon the order of tree calls.

The judge or a majority of the handlers on the cast must see a raccoon in the tree for both strike and tree points earned to be considered “plus.” If no raccoon is found in the tree, or “off game,” such as an opossum or bear, is seen in the tree, strike and tree points will be “minus.” If there is evidence that a raccoon could be in the tree, such as a hole large enough for the raccoon to take refuge in or a canopy too thick to see through, the dog will be given the benefit of the doubt and points will be “circled” on the scorecard. Circled points will not count toward the final tally, but can be used to break a tie. If hunt time remains, the dogs and handlers move to a different area and the dogs are released to hunt again.

No live game is ever taken during a Nite Hunt; treed raccoons are left to go about their lives after the dogs are led away from the tree. At the end of the hunt time, the dog with the highest tally of points will be declared the winner of the cast. In AKC-licensed Nite Hunts, dogs are not separated by titles earned; dogs that have achieved Nite Hunt titles (Nite Champion, Grand Nite Champion, or Supreme Grand Nite Champion) may be hunted in the same cast with registered (untitled) dogs. Each first-place cast win counts toward title progression.

Coonhound Hunting Styles

AKC recognizes six breeds of coonhounds:

• Treeing Walker Coonhound
• American English Coonhound
• Black and Tan Coonhound
• Bluetick Coonhound
• Redbone Coonhound
• Plott (Hound)

Apart from the Plott, which developed from German big game hounds, the coonhound breeds descend from Foxhounds imported to the New World well before the American Revolution. The distinctive coonhound breeds were developed as hunters selectively bred dogs that produced specific physical characteristics as well as a particular hunting style. The “hot-nosed” breeds excel at trailing fresh scent tracks, while the “cold-nosed” breeds specialize in working aged tracks with fainter scent.

Treeing Walker Coonhound

Known as “The People’s Choice” due to the breed’s popularity among competitive and pleasure hunters alike, the Treeing Walker Coonhound is a quick, hot-nosed, sensible hunter. The Treeing Walker Coonhound is a wide-ranging, endurance hunter, well suited for just about any type of hunting terrain. A typical Treeing Walker’s strike/trailing bark is a melodious bawl—a long, drawn-out bugling voice that is easily heard from a distance—although some lines have a “chop” mouth, which is a shorter, quicker sequence of barks. When treed, the Treeing Walker may chop or bawl; tree voice is often of a markedly different pitch than trailing voice.

American English Coonhound

Best described as a “super-charged hunter,” the American English Coonhound is a hot-trailing hound that is competitive, fast, and perhaps a bit impatient. The American English excels at short-range hunting due to its speed and racy build, but possesses sufficient endurance to go the distance in areas with thin raccoon populations. Voice may differ according to bloodline, but the typical American English Coonhound has a chop bark that varies in pitch when trailing vs. when treed.

Black and Tan Coonhound

The Black and Tan Coonhound is a deliberate trailing, extremely cold-nosed hunter that can track and tree a raccoon even in the worst conditions. The breed’s supreme scenting ability comes from its Bloodhound influence. Confident and courageous, the Black and Tan is known for its musical voice.

Bluetick Coonhound

Bluetick Coonhounds were originally part of the English Coonhound breed. However, there was a division of preference in size and hunting style among breeders; the larger, albeit slower, cold-nosed hounds were selected to become the foundation of the Bluetick breed. The Bluetick is an open trailer with a bawl voice on track that changes over to a steady chop on tree.

Redbone Coonhound

The Redbone Coonhound is a surefooted, aggressive, cold-nosed hunter that excels at hunting difficult terrain. Early Redbone breeders focused on differentiating the breed by its flashy red coat; then turned their focus to consistent hunting ability. The Redbone’s voice is a bawl on both track and tree.

Plott Hound

Plott (Hounds) are cold-nosed, aggressive hunters that excel at hunting raccoons, as well as big game like bear and wild boar. Plotts are nimble dogs, able to traverse all types of terrain with speed and grace. The Plott produces a loud, ringing chop on track and tree, although some lines may have a bawl mouth.

Coonhound Bench Shows, Field Trials & Water Races

In addition to Nite Hunts, coonhounds are eligible to complete and title in AKC-licensed Field Trials, Water Races, and Bench Shows.

Coonhound Field Trials

Coonhound field trials use a scented lure to lay a track, length dependent on the terrain and general conditions of the trial site, and then the lure is hung in a tree located at the end of the track. Field trial classes are separated, Open and Champion, based on the dogs’ title status. In a field trial, groups of dogs are released at the start of the scent track and have 15 minutes to work the track and come treed. The first dog to cross the final set of flags that mark the track is declared the Line winner, and the first dog come treed at the tree containing the scented lure is declared the Tree winner.

Coonhound Water Races

Water Races are similar to a field trial, except that the dogs swim across a body of water after the lure. The water race pond should be approximately 50 yards in length and deep enough to guarantee that the dogs must swim the entire length. A water race event has a Novice (non-titling) class for beginners, as well as an Open class that is open to all coonhounds, regardless of water race title status.

In a water race, dogs are placed in a starting box at the entrance to the pond; a scented lure is suspended on a cable above the water or floated across the pond. The lure is drawn across the pond, and the dogs swim after it. The first dog to exit the water in the direction of the tree will be declared the Line winner, and the first dog to show treed at the tree is declared the Tree winner.

Coonhound Bench Shows

Bench Shows bring the demonstration of form and function together at a coonhound event. In a typical event, after the field and water events, and prior to the Nite Hunt, handlers showcase their dogs’ conformation to the breed standard. Dogs are gaited individually in a pattern, usually a down-and-back followed by a go-around, and then examined by the judge on
individual benches. Evaluation and placement should equally consider movement on the ground and the exam. Dogs earn points toward their Bench Show Championship as they advance through the Class, Breed, and Best of Show levels of judging.

Coonhounds in Conformation

When judging a Coonhound in the Conformation ring, it is important to understand that many of the dogs exhibited today remain close to their working heritage. Some dogs may be hunted during the week and be cleaned-up for the show ring on the weekends. Others may enjoy a full-time show dog’s life of luxury but still exhibit their breed’s natural hunting instinct if given the opportunity.

When judging a Coonhound in the Conformation ring, it is important to understand that many of the dogs exhibited today remain close to their working heritage. Some dogs may be hunted during the week and be cleaned-up for the show ring on the weekends.

The breed standards describe an ideal working dog and should be interpreted as such. Coonhounds must be sound enough to hunt from sundown to sunrise, in terrain varying from rugged mountains to swamps. Some get to hunt most of their nights in the flat Midwest, but must still be able to handle rough terrain, when necessary, especially if they are campaigned in National Level Nite Hunts. It is not uncommon to see top-ranked competition dogs aged seven-plus years old; the emphasis coonhound breeders put on producing a sound, structurally correct dog is exemplified by their longevity in the woods.

Reference:

American Kennel Club. Regulations for AKC Coonhound Bench Shows, Field Trials, Nite Hunts, and Water Races. History and Standards for Coonhound Breeds. www.akccoonhounds.org.

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The Plott Hound has his own unique look among the scenthounds for a good reason. His ancestry does not include the Foxhound nor does it hold a direct infusion of Bloodhound genes. Rather, the Plott owes his singular appearance to his immediate ancestors, the old Hanoverian Hounds of Germany. Their existence traces back to the 5th century in that country. These German dogs served as efficient boar hounds when the forested lands of Germany and Bavaria held a plentiful supply of wild boars.

…the Plott owes his singular appearance… old Hanoverian Hounds of Germany

The Plott Family

The Plott family bred and raised these Hanoverian Hounds in the early 18th century. So, when Elias Plott decided to emigrate with his family to the New World, he brought some of his best dogs with him. The family first settled in Pennsylvania within a community of German immigrants, and his son, George (Johannes) Plott (born in Germany in 1743) found a wife within that community who had also come from Germany.

Before the American Revolution, George and Margaret joined a large number of fellow German immigrants who headed for a new life in the wilds of western North Carolina. George took several of his Hanoverian Hounds with him. George and Margaret had nine children, all of whom contributed—both themselves and then through many generations of their offspring, right up to the present—in the creation of a tough, brindle scenthound like no other.

No wild boar existed in North Carolina at that time for the Plott family’s hounds, but plenty of black bears inhabited those mountains. George’s hounds eagerly took to trailing this large game animal. So began the development of this unique hound named after Herr Plott in honor of the multi-generational breeding program pursued by him and his large family.

The mountainous terrain required a leggier, more agile hound than the old Hanoverian, so the Plotts practiced selective breeding to produce a taller, lighter-framed hound that could navigate the mountainous terrain with speed and agility. However, very little outcrossing occurred, nor did any Foxhound blood ever enter the gene pool. The Plott retained his distinctive brindle coloring from his Hanoverian ancestors.

The fame of the Plott family’s hounds spread throughout the Smoky Mountain region of the Southeast. So proud of this homegrown scenthound were the citizens of North Carolina, that in 1988, the Plott Hound became North Carolina’s official state dog.

One of the Plott’s notable attributes remains his versatility. The New World offered more than bears for sportsmen who hunted with Plotts. Western North Carolina, before the Revolution and for decades after, held a wide variety of large game; cougars, wolves, and bobcats as well as the bears. The toughness of the Plott and his ability to track a cold trail so impressed local land owners that they came to the Plott family to buy hunting dogs and breeding stock. As the nine Plott children grew up and moved into adjacent regions and states, they took their hounds with them, furthering the fame and popularity of this new breed.

Versatility of the Plott

The Plott’s versatility became evident as the large predators were mostly eliminated from the Southeast of the US through hunting and habitat loss. Sportsmen turned to raccoons, a varmint that was both plentiful and adept at egg stealing and crop raiding. The Plott’s keen nose and relentless
tracking drive, coupled with great endurance, made him a superb coonhound. However, he is much more than that.

Although wild boar may not have reached the mountains of North Carolina when George Plott first settled there, they would soon arrive. Feral pigs had already entered North America thanks to Spanish expeditions, both as a food source as well as for hunting sport. Hernando de Soto and Juan Ponce de León introduced Eurasian domestic swine to Florida in the early 16th century. Other European immigrants introduced various species of hogs throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, and due to the lack of fencing, many of those went feral. Given that sows can typically have 14 piglets in a litter, it didn’t take long for feral hogs to proliferate throughout the Southeast.

Thus, another primary use of the Plott today is on wild boar—feral pigs that have exploded in population numbers. Biologists estimate that five million feral pigs now roam the US. They currently proliferate throughout the Southeast, California, Hawaii, and into the Midwest and even the Northeast, presenting a real threat to agriculture.

Feral pigs can devastate 40 acres of forest in a single night and destroy acres of crops within hours. They are the suspected culprit in contaminating the spinach crop with e-coli bacteria in 2006. As a result of their pillaging, there is no set season to hunt feral pigs—it’s open season all year long. Feral pigs can be extremely aggressive. Hence, the need for a tough, aggressive, fearless hound to hunt them; exactly the qualifications met by the Plott.

In addition, he can compete with the traditional coonhound breeds in that oh-so-crucial “voice” of hunting hounds. Although this trait has no measureable standard, it still ranks high in importance for Plott owners.

Joe Burkett, DVM, a longtime Plott breeder, speaks of what he listens for in his dogs:

“For me, the ideal remains a beautiful hound that opens and trails with a bawl on track and finishes the chase with a distinctive chop at bay or on tree. The voice change in tone, pitch, and volume communicates to the houndsman the progression and state of the chase.”

For those of us who remain relatively ignorant of many of these scenthound terms, Burkett explains:

“Most Plotts are ‘chop mouths.’ They use short, sharp barks when they ‘open,’ meaning they’ve located the scent of their quarry and begun to trail. Plotts may ‘bawl’ while trailing, using a longer, more prolonged voice. Each hunter must recognize his dog’s ‘change over bark’ when the quarry is cornered or treed, and the dog reverts to an excited ‘chop.’ Plotts will not have the long, protracted ‘bawl’ of a Black and Tan Coonhound or a Blue Tick. The fact that the Plotts are used for ‘coon hunting’ is simply another chapter in their versatile character. I suppose that, to me, they have always been Plotts, not strictly coonhounds! Being a Plott always said something more to me than being just a coonhound.”

Although in the eastern half of the country he hunts mainly raccoon and feral pigs, the Plott can still use that “bawl and chop” on large carnivores in the western lands of the US, Canada, and parts of Mexico.

Writer Richard B. Woodward notes:

“Outdoorsmen from as far away as Africa and Japan hold the Plott in near-mystical esteem as perhaps the world’s toughest dog. Bred to track, run down, tree, and if necessary, grapple with a baying 500-pound bear eight times its size, it is often overmatched but rarely chastened by that fact. Inspect the coat of one that has worked in the woods for a year or more, and you will likely find slash marks from a bear’s claws or a hog’s tusks. Plotts will routinely stay on game, alone or in packs, for days at a time. Willing to sacrifice themselves before they’ll run from a showdown, they are the ninja warriors of dogdom. By comparison, the Beagle is a layabout, and the Pit Bull a pansy.”

Plott breeder, Burkett, adds that these hounds are more aggressive than the typical coonhounds.

“Sometimes a cornered bear will not go up a tree, but just sit down to catch his breath. Other coonhounds will simply bawl at that bear and then take up the chase again when the bear runs off again. Not a Plott! He will leap in for a bite, pulling out a bit of hair in the process, forcing the bear to climb up a tree to avoid this brindle fury.”

It’s nearly unimaginable that a dog of about 65 pounds would fearlessly take on a 500 pound bear, but such is the utter fearlessness of the Plott.

Given their temperament and superb nose, Plotts make wonderful search and rescue dogs. They also assist the USDA Border Patrol “Tick Force.” The Texas fever tick carries a fatal hemolytic disease seen in cattle and sheep that can decimate herds of livestock. Although the US eradicated the fever tick from our soil in 1943, constant diligence is needed to prevent stray Mexican cattle from wandering onto US land and infecting cattle here.

“Tick riders” patrol the border from the Gulf of Mexico in southern Texas west to the Pacific Ocean. These riders use Plotts to track, bay, and help capture maverick Mexican cattle that have crossed into the US. The Plotts help protect the multibillion dollar beef cattle industry all along our southern border.

AKC Acceptance Brings More Opportunities for the Plott

With the acceptance of the Plott into the regular classes and activities of the AKC in 2006, new challenges and opportunities face breeders of this superlative hunting hound. Burkett believes,

“The AKC conformation events and field trials that now include the Plott will afford the all-American Plott its long overdue and much-deserved recognition as one of the world’s finest scenthounds and the American workingman’s dependable and versatile working dog.”

The AKC performance events offer the Plott many opportunities in which to shine. Burkett notes:

“The Plott’s intelligence, tractability, and desire to please their master make them trainable for anything…”

In addition to the obvious choice of field trials, the Plott can excel in agility, tracking, nose work, rally, obedience, dock diving, and much more.

Unlike the softer expressions of the other scenthounds, the expression of the Plott, as described in the breed standard, should be “confident, inquisitive, determined,” as befits this most determined of scenthounds.

A Plott’s love and loyalty belong to his human and to family members; he is wonderful with children, lovingly guarding them from harm.

True to his history as a mountain dog that had to cover a great deal of rough ground efficiently, the Plott Hound breed standard dictates, “With ample reach in front and drive behind, the Plott easily traverses various terrains with agility and speed. Legs converge to single track at speed.” Such structure and gait give him the endurance and agility for just about anything that his owner cares to do with this breed. Add to those traits a keen intelligence and a desire to please his human, the Plott should only increase in his popularity with those who love to participate in performance events with their dogs.

Plott Temperament

The unanimous opinion among Plott breeders is that this “hound of another color” differs not only in looks from other coonhounds, but also in temperament. Plott breeder, Amanda Alexander, has been involved in Plotts for almost 15 years. The breed intrigued her with their striking color, look, and personality. Whereas the other coonhounds are gregarious people lovers, the Plott remains aloof to strangers. As Alexander explains, “Plotts tend to be aloof with strangers, and would prefer to be the one to approach a stranger first.”

A Plott’s love and loyalty belong to his human and to family members; he is wonderful with children, lovingly guarding them from harm. To prevent a Plott from becoming a “one man (or woman) dog,” a Plott puppy needs a great deal of socialization to enable it to accept all of the people and experiences that come with our modern world. This is especially true if the puppy will be shown in conformation. To calmly accept handling by judges and the attentions of ringside observers takes careful preparation.

Another hallmark of the Plott temperament is their cognitive ability. They learn quickly and never forget anything! This can be both a plus and a minus in training, because the trainer must be exactly correct in training for any new task. The Plott will have it mastered quickly and permanently stored in his memory.

As Alexander states, “Plotts are thinking dogs that think about everything.”

She also adds that, “Plotts are hyperaware of their surroundings, which is an important trait to have in a hunting dog. If they note a change in their environment, they will fixate on that, wanting to investigate this difference. It becomes difficult to pull their attention back to their human handler.”

Alexander noted that when showing a Plott in conformation, if something catches the eye of a Plott in a neighboring ring, she has a challenge in bringing the dog’s focus back on her.

Perhaps the most outstanding temperament trait of the Plott is his unmatched courage. He truly is the “terrier” of the scenthounds in his total fearlessness when confronted with an opponent—no matter the size or the ferocity.

Challenges for Breeders and Judges

Realistically, most of the die-hard big game hunters using Plotts will not rush to AKC conformation events. For the breeders who want to participate in conformation competition to retain the correct breed type, their challenge will be two-fold: To retain the legendary hunting ability of the Plott while avoiding the pitfall of so many hunting breeds; having two distinct strains of Plotts, one for hunting and one for the show ring. If Plott breeders can work cooperatively to ensure the Plott remains a truly “dual dog,” success in both venues will follow.

Alexander definitely strives for “dual dogs” in her breeding program. She shared some final thoughts on breeding Plotts:

“We do not breed very often, as we feel there aren’t enough qualified homes to place pups and we typically keep pups we produce. Not every Plott should be bred just based on its pedigree, so our dogs won’t make an impact as far as in the breeding pen but moreso as breed ambassadors. When we do breed a litter, our focus is on conformation, ability, and personality. Our dogs that we show are also hunted and we never want to lose that function.”

Plotts are not for everyone. They take a lot of socialization as pups and, although fearless when working, tend to be cautious at shows. They typically prefer their master and aren’t the “social butterfly” of the coonhound world.”

For judges, their challenge remains to sort through the many variations and styles of Plotts to reward those dogs that best match the breed standard. As Burkett observes, “…Two hounds could easily be of similar conformation quality, but appear as substantially different styles.” Regional separation and type of game hunted with the Plotts created this wide variety, so it will take years to sort out a more uniform breed type that breeders and judges can agree should prevail. Achieving that goal for this breed will be well worth the effort. The Plott Hound, with his singular history, appearance, and temperament, deserves a solid future.

Grateful thanks to Joe Burkett, DVM, of White Deer Kennel and Amanda Alexander of Alexander Hounds for their invaluable information and explanations concerning Plotts.

Resources:

The Plott Hound, Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plott_Hound
Featured Breeder Questions and Answers, Joe Burkett DVM, White Deer Kennel Plott Hounds, Sight & Scent, August 2007. http://whitedeerkennel.com/sightnscent.htm
Great Plott! The toughest dog on the planet makes its debut at Westminster, Richard B. Woodward, Slate, Feb. 12, 2008 http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/heavy_petting/2008/02/great_plott.html
(Johannes) George Plott, Duchess of Brookhaven, Find a Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=103853935 – recent genealogical research has replaced the old narrative of George Plott’s arrival in the New World with this current, more
accurate information.
Hog wild: Feral pig population explodes in U.S, Verna Gates, Reuters, Fri Jun 22, 2012. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-pigs-wild-idUSBRE85L1CF20120622
“When is a coonhound not a coonhound? When it’s a Plott Hound.”
—David Michael Duffy, Hunting Dog Expert

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