Fun Plott Hound Facts For Kids

Plott Hounds are a large scent hounds that are classified as coonhound breeds. They are native to the Carolinas (South and North Carolina) in the USA, where they were first bred more than two centuries ago to hunt bears, wild boars, and other big game.

In fact, they are the state dog of North Carolina. However, over the years, they have been domesticated, and are now found in homes all over the USA. Their hunting capabilities have also made them excellent police dogs.

These athletic and sleek mid-sized dogs are American Kennel Club (AKC)-registered - one of the very few breeds that were bred in the USA itself. Apart from their proficiency at hunting, Plott Hounds are also known for being loyal creatures. They're also incredibly social and love to spend time outdoors.

In this post, we'll take you through the most interesting North Carolina Plott Hound facts. So, if you're interested in adopting a Plott Hound or simply love our four-legged canine friends in general, read on to know about Plott Hound puppy, training, and much more.

For more amazing fact-based articles on Kidadl, check out American English coonhound facts and Croatian sheepdog facts.

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Plott Hound Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a Plott Hound?

The Plott Hound is a dog.

What class of animal does a Plott Hound belong to?

The Plott Hound belongs to the class Mammalia.

How many Plott Hounds are there in the world?

The exact number of Plott Hounds in the world is unknown. However, there are no known issues regarding its population, as they are quite popular and are nowadays found both in their native habitats along with other places in North America.

Where does a Plott Hound live?

The Plott Hound has become domesticated over the years and mostly lives in homes in today's times.

What is a Plott Hound's habitat?

The Plott Hound was originally bred in the mountains of the Carolinas, where owners relied on them to hunt bears, boars, and raccoons in the wild. They are the state dog of North Carolina. While these dogs can adapt easily to a wide variety of domestic environments, they thrive in habitats with open spaces and lots of running ground.

Who do Plott Hounds live with?

Domesticated Plott Hounds live with humans, while wild Plott Hounds live in a group.

How long does a Plott Hound live?

On average, a Plott hound has a life span of 12-14 years.

How do they reproduce?

Plott Hounds are mammals and like most other mammals, they reproduce by means of sexual reproduction. Pregnant female Plott Hounds typically deliver 6-10 puppies.

What is their conservation status?

The conservation status of Plott Hounds is Not Listed. However, there are no real concerns regarding the population of Plott Hound, as their populations are no longer restricted to their native habitats in the Carolinas. Today, Plott Hounds are found all across North America, where they are either employed as police dogs or domesticated by owners at their homes.

Plott Hound Fun Facts

What do Plott Hounds look like?

The Plott Hound is a compact mid-sized hound. Most males are around 20-25 in (50.8-63.5 cm) tall while the females are around 20-23 in (50.8-58.4 cm) tall.

In terms of weight, males weigh approximately 50-60 lb (22.7-27.2 kg), while females weigh 40-55 lb (18.1-24.9 kg). All in all, they're not the most huge dogs you'll ever see. However, they are quite muscular, and they have deep chests, streamlined forms, and long tails.

Arguably the most iconic feature of Plott Hounds is their glossy and smooth fine double coat with vivid colors and more than one shade of brindle - red to chocolate to yellow to blue. Some rare Plott Hounds also have buckskin coats, which range from golden tan to light cream shades.

There are also some Plott Hounds that have a solid black look. They typically have hazel or brown eyes and have long ears. Their expressions almost always are somewhat inquisitive and curious.

How cute are they?

Plott Hounds are not very friendly towards strangers. However, they are extremely loyal towards their owners and are known for their amazing rapport with children.

Whenever they encounter strangers, they're quick to interact with them to find out whether or not they want to be petted by them.

If you want to warm up to a Plott Hound, we recommend being friendly towards it. This extremely intelligent dog will understand your cues and if it likes you, it will do everything it can to show you that it's eager to please you.

How do they communicate?

Plott Hounds, just like any other dog, communicate both verbally and non-verbally. Barking is their primary form of verbal communication, and while they're not typically very loud animals, they can be quite expressive when in the company of people they love.

When hunting, a Plott Hound's bark is one of the most high-pitched barks, which enables it to scare off potential predators in the wild. Apart from its physical traits, it's this bark that allows Plott Hounds to be fearsome guard dogs.

How big is a Plott Hound?

Compared to Great Danes, which are the largest dog breed in the world, Plott Hounds appear small. While the average height of Great Danes is around 28-30 in (71.1-76.2 cm), most Plott Hounds are 20-25 in (50.8-63.5 cm) tall.

They are also not as muscular and stocky, and their streamlined forms make them appear smaller and leaner than other dogs with similar heights but more pronounced physical features.

How fast can a Plott Hound run?

Plott Hounds are fast runners. Even though their average and peak running speeds aren't exactly known, their sprinting abilities are renowned.

The best thing about a Plott Hound's running, especially from a hunting perspective, is that it can run at a high speed for a long time, thanks to its amazing stamina. Their speed and stamina across vast open spaces are a reminder that this dog breed was originally bred to hunt.

How much does a Plott Hound weigh?

On average, both male and female Plott Hounds weigh around 40-60 lb (18.1-27.2 kg).

What are the male and female names of the species?

Male Plott Hounds are called dogs, while female Plott Hounds are called bitches.

What would you call a baby Plott Hound?

You would call a baby Plott Hound a puppy.

What do they eat?

Before Plott Hounds were domesticated, they typically ate the meat of the animals that they would successfully hunt in the wild, such as bears, raccoons, and wild boars.

However, since they have been domesticated, humans have shared their food with the hounds such as eggs and vegetables, and they've adapted quite well to human diets. Nowadays, there are a lot of dry dog food products, and we recommend feeding these products to a Plott Hound.

While the occasional egg or vegetable won't affect a Plott Hound too much, regular feeding of these foods may result in vitamin or mineral imbalances.

Are they slobbery?

Drooling is common among Plott Hounds. However, if your Plott Hound drools more than you think is normal, there may be an underlying health condition. In such a situation, you should immediately get your pet checked by a veterinarian to diagnose possible health conditions.

Would they make a good pet?

Plott Hounds make for excellent pets, especially if you raise a Plott Hound puppy. However, for them to be at their best, you need to consider certain things.

The most important consideration is the energy level. Plott Hounds are full of energy and they need consistent mental stimulation to prevent them from getting bored. They also thrive in wide-open spaces, so if you lack space in your home, you'd be better off adopting another dog breed.

However, if you have a fenced yard or any other open space in and around your home, you can consider adopting a Plott Hound as they are family-friendly. They cost around $500-$700.

Did you know...

Johaness Plott, a German, moved to the state of North Carolina in 1750. He brought along with him five boarhounds or Hanover hounds for hunting wild boars and bears.

These dogs were bred originally for hunting big game and had remarkable tenacity, stamina, and hunting capabilities. It's widely believed that these Hanover hound breeds were the origins of the modern-day Plott Hound.

Characteristics and health conditions

We've already discussed the Plott Hound's temperament when it's around friends and strangers. In this section, we'll talk more about how Plott Hounds mix with other animals. If you already have a pet at home such as a cat, you should go through this information before you adopt one or more Plotts.

If you already own a dog, you'd be pleased to know that a Plott Hound has no issues whatsoever with adopting other dogs in its environment, as historically they used to stay in a hound group in the wild. In fact, it mixes very well with other dogs.

However, it's not very naturally friendly towards cats. So if you own a cat and want to adopt a Plott Hound as well, you'll have to invest in training the hound to see the cat as its friend.

Without training, your hound may attempt to hunt the cat. However, through training and positive reinforcement, you can teach your Plott Hound to co-exist with your cat.

In terms of their health, Plotts aren't known for developing too many health problems. Their grooming needs are very limited as well. They don't shed a lot, and most grooming and shedding issues can be kept at bay if you perform weekly brushing.

Bloating is one of the health issues that your Plott Hound may experience. While most of the time bloating issues don't point towards anything serious, you should visit a veterinarian if you see your hound experiencing sustained bloating for several days at a stretch.

Some Plott Hounds are also known to suffer from a condition known as hip dysplasia, which involves an abnormal formation of the hip socket.

It's a genetic condition that may worsen if Plott Hounds are diagnosed with the condition and gain excess weight. If your Plott Hound suffers from hip dysplasia, you should seek treatment in the form of medicines, physical therapy, and/or surgery.

Can Plott Hounds talk?

When Plott Hounds are bored, they are known for making a wide variety of sounds. That's why they have earned a 'talking dog' reputation.

While you may feel entertained and amused by these sounds, remember that boredom is not a great state of mind for any animal. So, if you experience your Plott Hound making 'talking sounds', immediately engage with it to stimulate it.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these Irish Wolfhound facts and bulldog facts for kids.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our hound dog coloring pages.