Where the Plott Hound came from
The Plott Hound is a bear hunting dog from the mountains of western North Carolina, and it is the state dog of North Carolina since 1989. The breed is named for the Plott family. One common account says Johannes George Plott came to North Carolina from Germany around 1750 with a few boarhounds, bred for stamina and grit.
The family kept the line pure for generations and used the dogs to hunt bear and boar in rough mountain country. Of the seven coonhound breeds recognized by the United Kennel Club, the Plott is the only one that does not trace back to the foxhound. The UKC first registered Plott Hounds in 1946.
The AKC recognized the Plott Hound in 2006, and the breed was shown at Westminster in 2008. Today many are working hunting dogs and some are family pets. They need a lot of exercise and a real job.
- 1750 George Plott is said to emigrate from Germany to North Carolina with a few hunting hounds
- 1946 The United Kennel Club first registers the Plott Hound
- 1989 North Carolina names the Plott Hound its official state dog
- 2006 AKC recognizes the Plott Hound
The job a Plott Hound was bred for
A big game hound that tracked bears and boar by scent, then held them at bay or treed them until the hunter arrived. That is why many Plotts follow their nose for miles, bay loudly and ignore calls once on a scent. They are also known for being bold, tough and loyal to their people.
What you may see at home
Nose to the ground, bays loudly, bold and tough, ignores you on a scent, can be driven.
Give them: Scent games, tracking, long line sniff walks, and a quiet cue. Needs hard daily exercise.
Sports that fit a Plott Hound
- Scent work. Gives a nose-driven dog a legal, focused job
- Tracking. Follow a scent trail the way they were built to
- Fast CAT. A timed sprint for a high-energy hound
- Hunting trials. Coonhound-style night hunts, where available, use their natural skills
- Hiking. A strong, tireless partner on long trails, on leash or with a long line
Training tips for a Plott Hound
- Use food rewards and keep it fun. Plotts are bold and can ignore a weak reward.
- Train a recall around low distractions first, and always use a long line outdoors. A hound on a scent will not hear you.
- Teach a quiet cue and reward silence, since baying is part of the breed.
- Give daily scent games like find-it in the yard to burn off energy.
Body and health
Athletic and muscular, with a short coat. Deep chest, so bloat is a concern. Check ears after outdoor work, and keep up regular exercise to prevent boredom and weight gain.
Fun fact. The Plott Balsams, a mountain range in North Carolina, are named for the Plott family, and the Plott Hound is the state dog of North Carolina.
Breed is where we start
A study of more than 18,000 dogs found breed explains only about 9 percent of the differences in behavior between dogs (Morrill and others, Science, 2022). So your Plott Hound is a starting guess, not a label. We find the drive your dog actually runs on, give it a job, and teach you to read them.
Free tools for your dog
- Breed drive calculatorMixed breed? Add the other breeds and see the drives your dog was bred with.
- Dog breed quizTen photos, four names each. The same quiz our trainers take.
- Dog drive testAnswer everyday moments and find the job your dog runs on.
Looking for a different breed? See what 137 breeds were bred to do, and download any of their guides.