Plott Hound

The story begins in Germany. In 1750 Johannes George Plott emigrated to the colony of North Carolina, bringing with him a handful of Hanoverian-type hounds bred for tracking wounded boar. The family settled in the mountains of the western part of the state, and the dogs were bred on for generations to hunt what was actually there: black bear and wild hog in steep, densely wooded country.

Plott's son Henry established the family in Haywood County in the early 1800s, and later generations continued the line largely within the family and among neighbouring mountain hunters. Occasional outcrosses to other regional hounds were made, but the breed remained essentially a closed, working population for roughly two centuries.

Formal recognition came late. The United Kennel Club registered the Plott in 1946, North Carolina named it the official state dog in 1989, and the American Kennel Club admitted the breed to its Hound Group in 2006, with a first appearance at Westminster in 2008.

Even now most Plotts are bred by hunters, and the breed has kept its working nose, drive and toughness to an unusual degree.

The Plott is an athletic, muscular hound of medium size, noticeably leaner and more agile than the heavier coonhounds. Males stand about 20 to 25 inches and weigh 50 to 60 pounds; females are roughly 20 to 23 inches and 40 to 55 pounds. The build is all about endurance and quick movement over mountain terrain.

The head is clean with a moderate stop, medium-length hanging ears set fairly high, and dark, intelligent eyes. The tail is carried up and slightly curved, and some dogs have a light saddle of longer hair along the back.

The signature is the brindle coat: fine to medium in texture, smooth and glossy, and striped in yellow, red, tan, brown, grey, black or the blue-grey called maltese. Solid black is allowed, and white on the chest and feet is acceptable. Grooming needs are minimal, and shedding is moderate and year-round.

In the house a well-exercised Plott is calm, affectionate and closely bonded to its people. Owners describe a dog that follows them from room to room and settles happily on the sofa, which sits oddly alongside its reputation in the field.

In the field it is a different animal: fearless, determined and unwilling to give up a trail. That courage is what the breed was made for, and it means a Plott will face down animals much larger than itself, so a secure garden and reliable lead control are not optional.

The voice is loud, ringing and used freely on scent. Plotts bay rather than bark, and neighbours will hear it, which makes the breed a difficult choice for close housing.

They are typically alert but not aggressive with strangers, and generally sociable with other dogs since they were bred to hunt in packs. Cats and small pets are a genuine problem, and children are usually fine with a dog whose exercise needs are being met, though the breed's size and enthusiasm can knock small children over.

The traditional job is big-game hunting: trailing bear or boar over long distances through rough country, then holding the animal at bay until hunters arrive. Plotts also hunt raccoon, and they compete in United Kennel Club night hunts and bench shows.

The same nose and stamina have found other uses. Plotts have been trained for search and rescue and by law-enforcement agencies for tracking, and pet dogs do well in tracking trials, scent work and long-distance hiking, all of which give an intense working hound something legitimate to do.