The Plott Hound is a unique breed with an interesting history, distinctive physical appearance, and loyal personality traits that make them excellent hunting companions and family pets. In this article, we will discuss the various aspects of the Plott Hound breed including its temperament, health problems, exercise needs, grooming requirements, training methods as well as compatibility with children and other pets.
History:
Originally from Germany in the 1700s where they were used to track wild boar and hunt big game such as bears. These dogs were eventually brought over to America by Johannes George Plot who settled in North Carolina in 1750 after fleeing his homeland during religious persecution. The original German hounds crossed with Bloodhounds resulted in what’s now known as today’s Plott Hound which was developed mainly for hunting bears but could also hunt raccoons and deer.
Physical Appearance:
A male Plott stands at around 20-25 inches while females measure between 20-23 inches tall when measured from their shoulders to their feet. Males weigh between 50-60 pounds while females typically weigh between 40-55 pounds making them medium-sized dogs.
Their coat is short-haired which can come in brindle or solid color patterns of black or blue ticked blends too! Eye colors can be yellow-brown (amber) or brown-black (hazel). Their ears are medium-sized floppy ears that hang close to their heads on longish necks giving them almost wolf-like features.
Temperament:
Plotts are considered brave hunters – intelligent yet independent dogs with strong work ethics that require a lot of physical activities daily. They’re extremely friendly towards people they know but wary strangers so proper socialization early on is essential for good behavior throughout life!
While they tend not to be aggressive toward other animals unless provoked into defending themselves if necessary; keep a careful eye on any interactions your dog has with new furry friends you may encounter. Plotts need to be socialized with children too early on – they are great family dogs as long as properly trained and supervised with kids!
Health Problems:
Like any breed, Plott Hounds can suffer from common health issues such as hip dysplasia, ear infections, skin allergies or problems related to their ears (they’re floppy and thus more likely for debris or bacteria). Routine vet checkups are recommended especially once your pup turns into a senior dog so you’re aware of its needs in terms of nutrition and lifestyle adaptations.
With good care, the average lifespan expectancy is between 12-14 years. It’s essential that owners ensure their pets maintain healthy weight levels by ensuring exercise requirements are met daily! Overweight plotts can suffer joint problems that may shorten life-span even when receiving quality healthcare.
Exercise:
Plott hounds require at least an hour of physical activities per day – whether through walks around the neighborhood or going out hiking in nature’s trails! They love having jobs to do during playtimes: use them for fetching tasks like retrieving balls/sticks/toys while enjoying the outdoors together! Invest in quality toys they won’t destroy easily since this breed loves playing rough!
Special Grooming Needs:
The short-haired coat requires minimal upkeep beyond routine grooming which includes brushing two times weekly plus bathing them twice yearly or when particularly smelly/soiled from rolling around outside after playing hard then training becomes harder due smells might attract other animals. Ears should be checked regularly cleaning using veterinarian-recommended products designed specifically for these delicate areas.
Training:
Due to their independent personalities, Plott Hounds often take a little longer than other breeds to train successfully but positive reinforcement methods work best such as praise/treats given when correct behavior is exhibited making it feel rewarding every time they succeed learning something new or performing commands correctly on cue like “come,” “sit” or “stay.”
Compatibility with Children/Pets:
Plotts can do well in homes with children and other pets provided they’ve undergone early socialization training to establish rules for playing together positively. Younger children may not be ready to handle the strength or speed of plotts so always supervise playtimes closely.
Personality Quirks:
Plott Hounds have been known for their howling (or baying) which is a unique trait hound breeds like them possess due to being part of their vocalization natural instincts.
Famous Examples:
There are no famous examples however, Plott Hounds have made many appearances in hunting magazines & blogs catering to hunting enthusiasts as this breed was initially bred to help hunters.