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Hound Handbook
Insurance guide
Breed profile

Plott Hound

Brindle American hunting hound bred to bay boar and bear. Loyal and sociable, with a voice that carries.

Dark brindle Plott Hound sniffing its way across rocky, heather-covered ground
A brindle Plott, nose down on a scent.Photo: Plotthund / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Weight
18–27 kg40–60 lb
Height
51–64 cm20–25 in
Lifespan
12–14 yrs
Group
Hound
Origin
United States
Popularity
#171 USNot ranked in UK · 2025

Known for: Working dogsLow groomingGood with other dogs

Energy
Shedding
Trainability
Barking
Good with kids
Flat-friendly

Temperament

Loyal, Confident, Alert, Tenacious.

Health problems to know about

  • Hip dysplasia
  • Elbow dysplasia
  • Ear infections

Ask breeders for the parents' health test results, and check what your national breed club recommends screening for.

Daily care

An hour or two of exercise daily, with scent work if possible. Minimal grooming; check and clean the ears weekly. Use a long line where recall is unsure.

A good fit for

Rural homes, hunters, hikers and multi-dog households.

Probably not ideal for

Close neighbours (they bay), homes with cats, and flats.

Sources

  1. Plott Hound Dog Breed Information | American Kennel Club
  2. Plott Hound | PetMD
  3. Plott Hound | Wikipedia

Popularity: AKC 2025 registration rankings (US); Royal Kennel Club 2025 registrations (UK, ranked by us). Breed traits are tendencies, not guarantees. Individual dogs vary, and mixed breeds and rescues can be wonderful fits too.

Similar breeds

All breeds
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Basset Hound

A low-slung scent hound with a world-class nose and a voice to match. Easygoing at home, single-minded on a trail.

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Harrier

A hare-hunting pack hound sized between a Beagle and a Foxhound. Cheerful, sociable and rare, with the nose and voice of both.

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Siberian Husky

Built to run all day in the cold. Friendly to everyone, obedient to no one.

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Australian Cattle Dog

Tough, tireless Australian drover with a sharp brain. Devoted to its own people and happiest with a job; an idle one will invent its own.

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