The Plott Hound, also known as the Hanoverian Schweisshund (‘Bloodhound’ in German), is a moderately sized dog traditionally used to tree large game while hunting..The Plott Hound is known not only for its incredible hunting abilities which enable it to tree large game including bear, boar and mountain lion, but also for its easy-going, family oriented nature.
The Plott Hound falls in love with its family and from then on is loyal, friendly and affectionate. Plott Hounds adore the company of children and are receptive to obedience training. They do need to be socialized at a young age. The Plott Hound is amazingly courageous, undaunted by gigantic wounded animals. Plott Hounds are not without drawbacks, however.
When one owns a Plott Hound, one must be able to deal with lots of drooling. The Plott Hound does not do well in apartments or other urban environments. They do best in suburban or rural regions. However, the Plott Hound has a tendency to roam and so should not be left unsecured. The Plott Hound needs lots of exercise. They have an enormous amount of energy than enables them to work long hours. If the dog is not to be a working dog, it is essential to ensure that the dog gets plenty of exercise.
The Plott Hound is moderately sized, reaching up to about two feet in height and weighing between 45 and 55 pounds. They have a short, thick, shiny coat, usually brindle in color but with blue and buckskin common as well. Many Plott Hounds have black saddles. Plott Hounds have a long tail, which is held high when working. They have big, long ears. The Plott Hounds body is quite muscular and its feet are strong with webbed toes.
The Plott Hound gets its name from the originators of the breed, the Plott family, who came from Germany in the mid-18th century. For seven generations the Plott family has bred the hounds, beginning with Schweisshunds (bloodhounds) brought with Johannes Geog Plott to America when he immigrated in 1750. Other dogs that added their genes to the breed include other bloodhounds and native American curs. Plott Hounds were originally used to tree bear and other large game.
Today, they are more commonly used as coonhounds although their original purpose holds true in many cases. Because the Plott family likes to keep its dogs close to home, the breed is fairly rare outside the Southern United States. However, despite the scarcity of members of the breed, it was recognized in 1946.Plott Hounds needs enormous amounts of exercise. They should be walked or jogged several times daily if they are not working dogs, as well as given the opportunity to romp freely in a secure area.
The Plott Hound has very little road sense. Therefore, it is necessary that the Plott Hound be well supervised and never allowed to roam freely.The Plott Hound is generally a very healthy dog. However, it does tend to eat large amounts of food very quickly, which can result in gastric torsion and twisting of the stomach, which can be fatal. To avoid complications, avoid exercising the dog after a large meal.