Breed Characteristics:
Apartment Friendly
?How well will this breed adapt to apartment living? Is the apartment size the most important factor when it comes to proper living conditions? Is the breed suitable for apartment living?
Good For First-Time Owners
?Some dogs aren't suitable for first-time dog owners. Is this breed a good match for someone with no dog experience? Can training help them be on their best behavior with owners with no dog experience? Are they suitable to be handled by someone who is just entering the canine world?
Overall Sensitivity
?Some dogs are sensitive. Certain breeds are rough on the outside, while having the softest heart on the inside. In other words, some dogs are 'thick-skinned' while some are 'easygoing.' Is this breed prone to sensitivity?
Tolerates Being Alone
?Separation anxiety in dogs is a serious condition that can affect a dog's life quality. Is this breed prone to this condition? Can you leave him alone for hours? How destructive this breed can become when bored, neglected, or not loved enough?
Affectionate With Family
?How affectionate this breed will be around his humans? Will he welcome new family friends easily or he will choose to be shy? Some breeds can be clingy with owners, while others don't attach a lot. Will this breed act as the family's best friend?
Kid-Friendly
?Some dogs will tolerate children, while others will adore well-behaved ones. Dogs and children should always be supervised, no matter how well trained the dog might be. Will this breed act as a nanny dog or he will stay away from children?
Friendly Toward Other Dogs
?Some dog breeds cannot wait to run to the dog park and run with others. Others prefer to be with their humans, and not to be a part of a multi-pet household. Is this breed dog lover or not? How friendly this breed will be toward other dogs?
Friendly Toward Strangers
?Some dog breeds tend to be reserved toward strangers and highly suspicious. Others are fast to walk away with them easily. How welcoming this breed is toward strangers?
Drooling Level
?If you love to clean all the time drooling level in dogs is a trait that you should mind. Is this breed less likely to drool, or you will always need a towel on hand?
Easy To Groom
?Heavier shedding during the shedding season is something that every dog needs to go through. However, some dogs shed just a bit all year round. Is this breed one of them? How often should you groom this dog?
Overall Health
?What can you expect from this breed in terms of health? Are there any genetic conditions to vary about? Is obesity a major issue in this breed? By knowing more about the dog's health, you are learning how to help him live a longer and healthier life.
Prone To Obesity
?Treats are a great addition to training sessions. Dogs love sweet bites of dog treats but they should be served in moderation. Treats can lead to obesity, next to poor nutrition. Can this breed gain extra weight from treats? How prone to obesity this breed actually is?
Trainability Level
?Training some dogs is easier than others. How easy this dog will be to train? What can you expect? Some dogs are huge people pleasers and they will master commands easily, while others will try to outsmart you.
Intelligence Level
?Dogs are smart beings. We do our best to train them, but they do still end up training us to adapt to their needs. How intelligent is this breed? Will he try to outsmart you? Or he will need multiple training sessions to master basic commands?
Prey Drive
?Dogs were bred for a specific purpose. Those who were bred to hunt have natural instincts to hunt, even today. This is why many dogs, like Terriers, will chase other animals. They will also have a hard time concentrating on your commands when there is something small moving. Is this breed prone to following his prey instincts?
Barking Level
?How vocal this breed is? Can you expect neighbors to ring you often to calm your dog? Or you can sleep without worries of hearing your Fido bark? Some breeds are highly vocal, others have unusual sounds, and some are silent. Is this breed prone to barking?
Energy Level
?Low-energy dogs are happy with regular walks and indoor chill times. High-energy dogs are always ready for action. Is this breed a couch potato, energetic dog, or somewhere in between?
Exercise Needs
?Some dogs are more than happy with a slow stroll down the street. Others need hours of active time to stay happy and fit. Is this breed demanding in terms of exercise? How much exercise this breed needs to stay happy and healthy?
Playfulness Level
?Some dogs never lose that puppy spirit, not even in their senior years. Others are more serious and prefer having a job to do. Is this breed demanding in terms of playfulness? Can you expect playfulness in their senior years as well?
Did you know that the Plott Hound is the official state dog of North Carolina?
They are so loved and popular that they are the number-one dogs for the Guilford County Sheriff’s Department in North Carolina. Moreover, did you know that the original duty of these dogs was to help people hunt bears?
They are large and equally energetic dogs of muscular appearance.
Baggy skin is common in hounds, but the Plott Hound has smooth and straight skin with fur fine to medium in texture.
Their coat is always short or medium in length, which enables the breed’s a smooth and glossy appearance.
According to the National Plott Hound Association, the dog’s fur should be brindled. Today, Plott Hounds are usually family dogs or working dogs. In Germany, they’re commonly used for boar hunting.
If you welcome this breed into your home you should know that they usually come with what’s called ‘a musty odor.’ This is something that can be kept under control when you provide regular brushing and an occasional bath.
Still, this is something that you should be aware of before you welcome the Plott Hound into your home.
Quick Facts
Real name: Plott Hound
Other names: Plott, Plotthund
Origin: United States
Breed type: Hound Dogs
Weight: 40 to 75 pounds
Height: 20 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder
Lifespan: 12 to 14 years
Litter Size: 5 – 8 puppies
Color: Black, brown brindle, black nridnle, tan brindle, blue brindle, and red brindle
Coat: Short and smooth coat
Plott Hound History
Plott Hounds is a breed with strong ancestry in Germany.
In fact, dogs that we know today as Plott Hounds are ancestors of dogs that were used for boar hunting across Germany.
In far 1750, Johannes “George” Plott emigrated from Germany to the English colony of North Carolina. He didn’t go animal-free to his new ground, but he brought animals with him.
In fact, Johannes brought a few wild boar hounds with him. These dogs were actually five Hanoverian Hounds that were used for bear and boar hunting.
At the time they were known for great stamina and love toward the game. These agile dogs had been bred for generations for their specific traits that people could benefit from during the hunting season.
Together with his wife, Johannes set up his home in a rural area of North Carolina, within the mountains to be precise.
So far there are no records showing that Plott and his wife actually went to western North Carolina, but there are records showing that his son Henry settled in western North Carolina around 1801, who just as his father worked on the development of Plot HOudn that we know today.
Plott Hound Physical Appearance
Plott Hounds are true hound appearance-wise. They were bred to work, and their body was built to support long working hours and intense runs.
These dogs are well-balanced, elegant, and muscular. Plott Hounds are lean and medium-sized dogs with skin that fits their body well.
It’s common for hounds to have skin that is a bit baggy. They are strong dogs with brindle-colored coats.
One look at this dog should show you that this is a breed built for stamina, endurance, and speed. Their coat should be of soft texture and always short to medium when it comes to length.
The coat should also be smooth and glossy. Plott Hounds should always be brindle.
As for the size, they usually have between 40 to 75 pounds and have 20 to 27 inches at the shoulder.
Females are slightly smaller than males are and may have a more slim appearance and elegant posture.
Plott Hound Personality
Plott Hounds are considered to be smart, friendly, and confident dogs.
They are also often described as dogs packed with courage and enormous kindness.
As an extremely loyal breed, they will be suspicious toward strangers and will usually bark to inform that someone is approaching.
As a true hound, Plott Hound will get the best buddy with other dogs. Just make sure that you always introduce a new dog on neutral ground.
When it comes to playing time with other dogs, expect him to be more tolerant toward other dogs than friendly.
When on a walk, make sure that your Plott Hound is on a leash. If he sees a smaller animal like a raccoon or even a bigger one his hunting instincts may easily jump in.
This is why no child should ever walk this dog alone, nor this should be a breed for first time dog owners.
All in all, this is a people pleaser and he will do his best to keep his human family happy. They will love and respect children that live under the same roof, but they are best suited to living with older children.
Children should know how to interact safely with dogs and what is off-limits, like ear and tail pulling. Overall, children, especially younger, tend to see dogs as moving toys which is why they should follow dog-related rules.
No matter how well children and dogs may get along their interaction should always be supervised, This is the best way to keep accidents to a minimum.
Plott Hound Training
Training should start as soon as you bring your Plott Hound home.
Dogs can learn basic commands as of eight weeks of age, and this is the best period to start socialization as well.
When it comes to having well-behaved canine training and early socialization are everything.
By the time the socialization window ends, your Plott Hound should know the following:
- Basic commands such as ‘no’ and ‘come’
- House dog rules
- How to behave around house visitors
- How to walk on a leash
- How to interact with family members
- How to behave in the backyard
To get the most out of training sessions, think ahead. Make training sessions:
- Fun
- Short
- Engaging
- Reward-based
- Consistent
Dogs love when there is a job to be done, and Plott Hounds are no exception.
Use only positive reinforcement methods. No dog should ever experience any harsh training methods.
If you feel lie training sessions are too much for you and you need help think about the following two options:
- Hire a professional dog trainer. This way you can speed up the training process and even get some inputs on further training. This is a great option if you’re too busy to train your dog. However, if you are too busy to invest in training your Fido, doublethink if owning a dog right now is the best decision
- Puppy classes. This is a very popular option because it offers a space for bonding further with your Fido. In most cases, puppy classes are mutual activity and you get to train your dog on professional inputs
Plott Hound Grooming
Once you are done with training sessions, it’s always great to start dealing with grooming sessions.
To have a neat, clean, and healthy dog you should invest in the right grooming tools and think about the best possible grooming practice.
This means that you should brush your dog once to twice per week to remove the dead hair and provide further care.
Brushing is a great way to check a dog’s skin for any sign of fleas and skin infection.
If you choose to use professional grooming services think about still brushing your dog – this is a great way to bond with your dog further.
The rest is basic care:
- Trim or grind nails monthly
- Bathe only when needed
- Check gums weekly
- Check eyes daily for any sigh of eye discharge
- Clean ears when needed
Last but not least, if your veterinarian recommends it, brush his teeth.
Be careful with it comes to bathing and teeth cleaning – use only products that are specifically designed for dogs.
Good to know: Did you know that Plott Hound is mixed with Pitbull to create a new breed, known as Plott Hound Pitbull Mix.
Plott Hound Health
Plott Hounds are generally considered to be healthy dogs.
If you decide to buy a dog, make sure that you deal only with responsible dog breeders. This way you will get medical documentation on the puppy, see the facilities, meet the bitch if not both parents, and get an honest overview of your puppy.
Plus, reputable breeders will always give you additional inputs on how to care about Plott.
Dogs get sick. No matter how great your care might be, they still may get certain conditions.
Here are the most common conditions in this breed:
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
- Hypothyroidism
- Von Willebrand’s disease
- Eye allergies
No matter how great your breeder might be, you should still take your pup to your vet’s office for a full check-up.
Last But Not Least…
If you want your Plott Hound to reach his senior years without major health issues you should provide the following:
- High-quality food
- Learn how to read dog food labels, so you can choose the best meal for your Fido faster and better
- Think about the best nutrition
- Provide regular veterinarian check-ups
- Stick to daily walks
- Provide additional exercise
- Follow the vaccination schedule
- Serve treats as an reward, never as a full meal
- Keep his weigh in balance
- Learn which human foods are safe
Dogs love reward-based methods. To enhance the training and any other practice, always reward your dog with a delicious treat.
Obesity in dogs is on the rise across the States so always serve treats in moderation.
You don’t want your Plott hound to be part of this negative trend.
Last but not least, provide an overall safe and healthy surrounding for your dog, and he will reach his scenario years without any major health issues.
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