Redbone Hounds

This standard was framed for the purpose of furnishing suggestions for breeding to the breeders in their aims toward improving the breed, to higher ideals in their breeding, and to try and establish a nationwide breed of this particular hound strain of bloodlines to look alike and to have a universal conformation.

History of the Plott Hound

Of the six breeds of UKC registered Coonhounds, only the Plott Hound doesn’t trace its ancestry to the foxhound; and of the breeds, we can be most certain of the Plott’s heritage and the men most responsible for its development.
The ancestors of today’s Plott were used for boar hunting in Germany many years ago. Jonathon Plott left his native Germany and came to this country in 1750. He brought a few wild boar hounds with him. These dogs had been bred for generations for their stamina and gameness. Plott and his family settled in the mountains of western North Carolina.

In those days there were no wild boar in this country. Jonathon Plott used his dogs for hunting bears.

Plott supposedly kept his strain entirely pure, making no out crosses. In 1780, the Plott pack passed into the hands of Henry Plott.

Shortly after that time a hunter living in Georgia who had been breeding his own outstanding strain of “leopard spotted bear dogs” heard of the fame of the Plott Hounds and came to North Carolina to see for himself. He was so impressed that he borrowed one of Plott’s top stud dogs for a year to breed to his own bitches. This single cross is the only known instance of new blood being introduced into the Plott Hound since they first came to this country.

Other crosses possibly took place around the year 1900. G.P. Ferguson, who was a neighbor of the Plott family in North Carolina in those days, was a major influence on the Plott breed. He made a careful study of the Blevins hounds and the Cable hounds of that era. To what extent he used these bloodlines in his Plott breeding program, is not known.

The Plott Hound was first registered with United Kennel Club in 1946. Today’s Plotts are known for their great courage and stamina. They have a clear voice that carries well.

Head

Carried well up, dome is moderately flat, moderate width between and above eyes.
EARS-Set moderately high and of medium length, soft and no erectile power.

EYES-Brown or hazel, prominent, no drooping eyelids.

MUZZLE-Moderate length, but not square.

TEETH-Scissors bite preferred, even bite acceptable.

Shoulders

Muscular and sloping to indicate speed and strength.
Chest

Deep, with adequate lung space.
Back: Slightly arched, well muscled and strong, not roached.

Hips

Smooth, round, proportionately wide, flanks gracefully arched, muscular quarters and loins.
Tail

Moderately heavy, strong at root tapering there, rather long with brush, carried free, well up, saber like.
Legs (Stern)

FRONT-Straight, smooth, forearm muscular. Straight at knees, perfectly in line with upper leg.
LEGS-HIND: Strong and muscular above hock, slightly bent at hock, no cow hock, speedy shaped and graceful.

Feet

Round solid, cat foot, well padded and knuckled, set directly under leg.
Color and Coat

The National Plott Hound Association’s definition of the word “brindle”: “A fine streaked or striped effect or pattern of black or tan hairs with hairs of a lighter or darker background color. Shades of colors accepted: yellow brindle, red brindle, tan brindle, brown brindle, black brindle, gray brindle, and maltese (slate gray, blue brindle.)” Gray muzzle accepted.
COAT: Hair fine to medium coarse, short or medium length, to give a smooth and glossy appearance.

COLOR: Brindle or black with brindle trim. No solid colors accepted. Some white on chest and/or feet permissible. White not permitted elsewhere on dog. Should have a streak effect.

Voice

Open trailing, bawl and chop.
Height

Males: 22 to 27 inches at shoulder. Females: 21 to 25 inches at shoulder.
Weight

Males 50 to 75 pounds. Females: 40 to 65 pounds.
Characteristics of this Breed

Active, fast, bright, kind, confident, courageous, vicious fighters on game, super treeing instinct; take readily to water, alert, quick to learn, have great endurance and beauty.