At a glance the quick version
UKC: males 50-75 lb, females 40-65 lb; Wikipedia gives a narrower 23-27 kg and 18-25 kg.
Coat and looks how to spot one
short to medium, smooth
A muscular, athletic scenthound with a smooth, glossy coat of fine to medium texture.21
Personality what they are like
Relaxed and gentle at home but bold and tireless on a trail. It is bright, confident and devoted to its people, may be wary of strangers at first, and has an independent mind that responds best to calm, consistent training.234
Daily activity how busy a day looks
High. Plan on about an hour of activity a day, split into walks or play. It follows its nose, so keep it on lead or in a securely fenced area.3
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Weekly brushing with a hound mitt or rubber curry brush, weekly ear checks, plus routine nail trims and tooth brushing.3
Home where they are happiest
Best suited to a home with a large, well-fenced yard or acreage.3
Company who they like around
Loyal and affectionate with its family; takes a little time to warm up to new people and enjoys an experienced, consistent owner.3
The story where it all began
Johannes Plott emigrated from Germany to North Carolina around 1750 with five Hanoverian hounds bred for boar and bear hunting. His family kept and developed the line for generations, with his son Henry settling the pack in Haywood County, and it became a distinct American coonhound, registered by the UKC in 1946 and the AKC in 2006.123
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
It has been the official state dog of North Carolina since 1989.1
- 2
It is the only coonhound breed that does not descend from foxhounds.1
- 3
It was originally developed to hunt bear and wild boar rather than raccoons.3
- 4
It is the only dog breed known to originate in North Carolina.1
- 5
Brindle is the preferred colour in the UKC standard.2
Recognised by the official bits
- UKC
- First registered 19462
- AKC
- Hound Group; recognised 20061
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Plott Hound. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Brushingevery week
- Bathevery 8 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
- Ear checkFloppy ears trap moisture, so check and dry themevery week
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 7every year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- Wikipedia: Plott Hound en.wikipedia.orgused for history, recognition, sizes, facts
- UKC breed standard: Plott Hound ukcdogs.comused for history, temperament, coat, colour, height, weight
- DogTime: Plott dogtime.comused for lifespan, care, exercise, facts
- AKC: Plott akc.orgused for temperament summary
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.