Plott Hound

This standard was framed for the purpose of furnishing suggestions for breeding to the breeders in their aims toward improving the breed, to higher ideals in their breeding, and to try and establish a nationwide breed of this particular hound strain of bloodlines to look alike and to have a universal conformation.

HISTORY
Of the six breeds of U.K.C. registered Coonhounds, only the Plott Hound doesn't trace its ancestry to the foxhound; 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. Jonathon 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. Jonathon 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 probably 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 United Kennel Club in 1946 Today's Pbtts are known for their great courage and stamina. They have a clear voice that carries well.

CHARACTERISTICS
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.

HEAD AND SKULL
The head is carried well up. The dome is moderately flat. There is moderate width between and above the eyes. The muzzle is of moderate length, but is not square.

TEETH
A full complement of strong, white teeth meet in an even bite. Neither undershot or overshot.

EYES
Brown or hazel in color. Prominent. No drooping eyelids.

EARS
The ears are set moderately high and are of medium length. They are soft and have no erectile power.

FOREQUARTERS
The shoulders are muscular and sloping to indicate speed and strength. The chest is deep, with adequate lung space.

FORELEGS
Straight, smooth. Forearm muscular. Straight at knees. Perfectly in line with upper leg.

BODY
The back is slightly arched, well-muscled and strong; not roached. The hips are smooth, round and proportionately wide. The flanks are gracefully arched, with muscular quarters and loins.

HINDQUARTERS

HIND LEGS
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.

TAIL
(Stern)
The tail is moderately set, strong at root, tapering there, rather long with brush, carried free, well up, saber like.

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

COLOR
Brindle or black with brindle trim. The National Plott Hound Association's definition of the word 'brindle': 'A fine streaked or striped effect or pattern of black or tan hairs hairs of a lighter or darker background 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. No solid colors accepted. Some white on chest and/or feet permissible. White not permitted elsewhere on dog. Should have a streak effect.

VOICE
Open trailing, bawl and chop.

HEIGHT AND WEIGHT
Males: 22" to 27" at the shoulder; 50 to 75 pounds. Females. 21" to 25"" at the shoulder; 40 to 65 pounds.

DISQUALIFICATIONS
Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Extreme viciousness or shyness.

SCALE OF POINTS

(Revised as of January 1, 1976)
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

 

 

Reproduced with the permission of the FCI