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Plott Hound

At a Glance

Built for Big game hunting. Bear, boar, mountain lion, and coon. Built for rough country and long pursuits.
From United States. Developed in the mountains of North Carolina by the Plott family from German Hanoverian hound stock.
Temperament Bold, tenacious, loyal. More intense and driven than most coonhound breeds.
Coat Short to medium, dense, brindle in most patterns. Weather resistant. Low maintenance.
Size 40–60 lbs
Live with Loyal and affectionate with family. High drive — needs significant exercise and hunting to stay settled.
Best for Big game hunters, bear hunters, boar hunters. Hunters who need a dog that won't back down from dangerous game.
Famous for The only coonhound breed with no English Foxhound blood. The state dog of North Carolina. Fearless on bear and boar.

Origin

The Plott Hound has one of the most distinctive origin stories in American hunting dog history. In 1750, Johannes Georg Plott emigrated from Germany to the mountains of North Carolina, bringing with him a strain of Hanoverian Schweisshund — German boar and bear hunting hounds. The Plott family bred these dogs in isolation for generations, selecting purely for big game hunting ability in the rugged terrain of the Appalachian Mountains.

Unlike every other coonhound breed, the Plott carries no English Foxhound blood. It is a direct descendant of German hunting hounds, and that heritage shows in its build, its drive, and its willingness to engage dangerous game at close quarters. The UKC recognized the breed in 1946. It is the official state dog of North Carolina.

Original Purpose

Built to hunt bear and boar in the mountains — game that fights back. The Plott was selected for courage, endurance, and the physical and mental toughness to pursue and bay large, dangerous animals in steep, rough terrain. It was not bred for speed or competition. It was bred to finish the job.

Hunting Style

The Plott is a cold-nosed, endurance-based hound that works methodically and pushes game hard once it's found. On bear and boar it will bay at close range — holding game until the hunter arrives — a job that requires genuine courage. On coon it is capable and effective, though it is not the fastest treeing hound. Its strength is in difficult, long-running pursuits on big game in rough country.

Temperament

Bold, tenacious, and loyal. The Plott is more intense than most coonhound breeds — it has the confidence and drive of a dog bred to face dangerous game. With its family it is affectionate and devoted. With strangers it can be reserved. It is not an aggressive dog, but it is not a pushover either.

The Plott bonds strongly with its handler and responds best to a confident, consistent owner who understands working dogs. It is not the right breed for a passive handler or someone who wants a low-key hound. It has opinions and the drive to act on them.

Coat Type

Short to medium length, dense, and weather resistant. The brindle pattern — streaked combinations of brown, tan, black, and sometimes blue — is the most common and most distinctive. Solid black dogs also occur. The coat requires minimal grooming. Ears should be checked and cleaned regularly.

Trainability

Intelligent and capable, but independent. The Plott's hunting instincts are strong and self-directing — it was bred to work in the mountains without constant handler direction. Formal obedience requires patience and a handler who earns the dog's respect. Harsh or inconsistent handling produces a dog that shuts down or becomes difficult.

For hunting, the Plott develops best through exposure to experienced dogs and progressive work on live game. Its courage on big game is largely innate — the work is in building the skills and control around that natural drive.

What It's Actually Like to Live and Hunt with a Plott Hound

Hunting big game with a Plott is a different experience than most hound hunting. You're not just following a dog to a tree — you're working with a dog that will close on a bear or boar and hold it at bay until you get there. That takes a different kind of dog, and the Plott is built for it in a way that most breeds simply aren't.

At home the Plott is loyal and affectionate with its people. It is a high-drive dog that needs regular hunting and vigorous exercise to stay manageable. A Plott without a job is a restless, frustrated dog. Give it the work it was bred for and it is one of the most rewarding hunting partners available.

If you hunt bear, boar, or mountain lion — or you hunt in genuinely rough, steep country where endurance matters more than speed — the Plott deserves serious consideration.

Family Compatibility

Good family dog for the right household. The Plott is loyal and affectionate with its people, including children it's raised with. It can be reserved with strangers. It does best in a rural setting with space, regular hunting, and an active lifestyle. It is not a dog for casual or sedentary households.

Common Misconceptions

"Plott Hounds are just another coonhound."
The Plott is categorized with coonhound breeds but is fundamentally different in origin, build, and purpose. It is the only American hound breed with German rather than English Foxhound ancestry, and it was built for big game — not coon hunting — from the beginning.

"They're too aggressive for family life."
The Plott's boldness in the field does not translate to aggression at home. A well-bred, well-socialized Plott is stable, loyal, and good with its family. Courage on game and temperament at home are separate traits — the Plott has both in the right measure.

Best For

  • Bear, boar, and mountain lion hunters
  • Hunters who work steep, rough, mountain terrain
  • Hunters who need a dog with genuine courage on dangerous game
  • Coon hunters who want a capable hound with big game ability
  • Experienced hound hunters who want a breed with a unique heritage

Registry & Organizations

Related Breeds

Bluetick Coonhound · Black and Tan Coonhound · Bloodhound · Bavarian Mountain Hound

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