Plott Hound
| Size at withers | 51-64 cm |
|---|---|
| Weight range | 20-27 kg |
| Life expectancy | 12-14 years |
| Size class | Small–Medium (10–25 kg) |
| Normal resting vitals | Heart rate 70–120 bpm · Respiration 15–30/min · Temperature 38.3–39.2 °C |
| Temperament | Bold, tenacious, courageous with game; loyal and alert at home |
| Common health issues | Ear infections from drop ears; occasional bloat in the deep chest; otherwise a hardy breed |
| Exercise needs | Very high - 90 min/day of vigorous work or running |
| Climate & housing suitability | Low to moderate suitability - the short brindle coat tolerates heat, but its grit and gameness demand serious physical and mental outlets. |
| Owner notes | The only coonhound of German rather than English descent; a fearless big-game trailing hound. |
Origin and purpose
Hound (AKC); FCI Group 6 (not FCI-recognised). Origin: United States (North Carolina); from German Hanover-type hounds, bred for boar and bear.
The only coonhound of German rather than English descent; a fearless big-game trailing hound.
What a breed was built to do explains most of what it will do in your home. A dog selected for hundreds of years to run, guard, herd, or hunt does not stop wanting to because it now lives in an apartment — the drive is the breed, and the owner's job is to give it somewhere to go.
Temperament and training
Stated temperament: Bold, tenacious, courageous with game; loyal and alert at home
Reward-based training from the day the puppy arrives, with the socialisation window (roughly three to sixteen weeks) treated as the priority it is — what happens in those weeks shapes the adult dog more than anything you do later. Short, frequent, positive sessions. See Parts IV and IX.
Conditions this breed is predisposed to
Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV, 'bloat')
Otitis externa (ear canal inflammation)
Health screening — what to test, and when
| Screen for | Test | When |
|---|---|---|
| Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV, 'bloat') | No screening test. Discuss preventive gastropexy with your vet in deep-chested breeds | At neutering, if the vet agrees it is indicated |
| Otitis externa (ear canal inflammation) | Ear examination (otoscopy), and cytology of any discharge | At every annual visit; on any head-shaking, odour, or scratching |
Every dog, every breed: an annual health examination (twice yearly from seven years), body-condition scoring at each visit, dental assessment, year-round parasite control, and the core vaccinations.
For breeders — test before you mate
- Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV, 'bloat') — No screening test. Discuss preventive gastropexy with your vet in deep-chested breeds
Feeding
The most forgiving size to feed. A good-quality complete diet appropriate to the life stage, measured with a cup or scales rather than judged by eye, split into two meals a day. Weigh the food; guessing is how dogs get fat. Treats counted within the daily allowance, not added on top.
Exercise and enrichment
Stated requirement: Very high - 90 min/day of vigorous work or running
This is a genuinely high-energy dog and the commonest reason such dogs are rehomed is that their owners underestimated this. It needs hard daily physical exercise AND a job to think about; a walk around the block is not exercise for this breed. An under-exercised dog of this type becomes destructive, noisy, and anxious — behaviour problems that are, correctly understood, an exercise deficit.
Climate and living conditions
Stated suitability: Low to moderate suitability - the short brindle coat tolerates heat, but its grit and gameness demand serious physical and mental outlets.
Ageing and senior care
Life expectancy: 12-14 years. This dog is a senior from around 8–9 years, at which point wellness examinations should move to twice a year and senior blood and urine screening begins. Watch for the gradual onset of arthritis, dental disease, and the endocrine conditions of middle age. Senior care →
Before you take one home
- Ask the breeder for the health-test results listed above — for BOTH parents, on paper, before you pay a deposit. A breeder who has done the tests will be proud to show you; one who deflects, or who tells you the tests are unnecessary in this line, is telling you what you need to know.
- Consider adoption. Shelters and rescues have dogs of every kind, including purebreds, and the local native or landrace dog is often healthier, better adapted to its climate, and more in need of a home than almost anything you can buy. See Part XII.
