Breeds / Medium
Plott Hound puppies
Loyal, alert and determined, a courageous American hunting hound that is affectionate and even tempered with their own family.
The facts
- Size class Medium
- Country of origin United States
- Adult weight 18.1 to 27.2 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 40 to 60 lb
- Adult height 51 to 64 cm
- Energy level High
- Grooming Low
- Coat type Short smooth
- Shedding Low
- Typical lifespan 12 to 14 years
- Good with children Fine with supervision
- Good with other dogs Reliably good
About the Plott Hound
The Plott is an American hound, built in the mountains of the eastern United States from German hunting dogs brought over in the eighteenth century and bred down the generations by a single family to trail and bay big game. This is a muscular, streamlined dog of about 18.1 to 27.2 kg standing 51 to 64 cm, usually brindle, with a short glossy coat and a lifespan of 12 to 14 years. Plotts are relentless at work and steady, loyal and affectionate with their own people.
This breed needs hard daily exercise, long runs, hikes or hunting work, and they should stay on lead outside a fence because the prey drive is intense. Grooming is a weekly brush plus regular ear checks, since pendant ears trap moisture. The voice is loud and carries a long way. Plotts suit active, rural households, with supervision and socialisation around children and small pets. A Plott wants the work they were built for, so make sure you can provide it before the looks win you over.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Plott Hound puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Hip dysplasia, which breeding stock should be x-rayed for
- Ear infections, caught by checking and drying the pendant ears each week
- Bloat and gastric torsion, a surgical emergency in deep chested dogs
Your Plott Hound puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a Plott Hound.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 18.1 to 27.2 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Kit sizes: crate 36 inch (36 x 24 x 26 in, 91 x 61 x 66 cm) for an adult of up to 27.2 kg; chew toys made for medium breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other medium breeds
American Cocker Spaniel
American Pit Bull Terrier
American Staffordshire Terrier
American Water Spaniel
Aussiedoodle
Australian Cattle Dog
More on the Plott Hound
Previous: Pharaoh Hound · Next: Pointer
Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type, country of origin and health notes
- Health notes from Plott Hound breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/plott-hound/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Photo: Canarian, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.