Plott Hound Pitbull Mix: 7 Things You Should Know!

There is not much known about the origins of the Plott Hound Pit Bull mix breed, but this section traces back the roots of the Plott and Pit Bull parents of this breed. Both parent breeds share a history of being hunting dogs, so it should be no surprise that the mix breed also exhibits hunting and tracking skills of its own.

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Plott Hound

Originating from North Carolina more than 200 years ago, Plott Hounds (or simply, the Plott) descended from Hanoverian Schweisshunds that were brought by a German immigrant named Johannes Georg Plott (hence the name). The breed was developed as pack hunters, as their German ancestors hunted boars, they were trained to hunt bears in North Carolina. Up to the present they are used as hunting dogs and continue to make their name as efficient pack hunters. These hounds can also track and are involved in other dog sports. As such, their breed is most suited to open spaced living conditions in order for them to freely roam.

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American Pit Bull Terrier

The Pit Bull is known by many names and traces its roots to the Staffordshire Bull Terrier from England. This stocky, agile yet powerful breed that is also well-muscled and highly intelligent, which made them ideal as working dogs, guard dogs, hunting dogs, and ratting dogs. Their ancestors were bred for activities such as pit fighting and bull baiting, and it’s a sad truth that this breed is still being used for illegal dog fighting activities. Despite this, Pit Bulls are known for their trainability, gameness, and their surprising loyalty and affection.

Grooming

Grooming a Plott Hound Pit Bull mix should be a breeze, given that both parents are low maintenance dogs when it comes to grooming. The Pit Bull parent only needs bathing as needed, and due to their single coat they can be kept clean and healthy with weekly brushing and a damp cloth wipe down. On the other hand, Plotts have short but double coats. This is because hunting dogs have been bred to have sufficient protection from the elements. Nevertheless, weekly brushing will also keep their coat healthy and their shedding to a minimum.

Both breeds’ ears should be given proper attention, and so should your mix breed’s. Regularly check for wax buildup, irritation, or in worse cases, infection. You can use a cotton swab to clean their ears along with a cleanser that your vet has recommended.

Regular teeth brushing is also important to help avoid tartar buildup, to keep gums healthy and to avoid getting bad breath. Nails should be trimmed monthly unless your dog has a lot of activities outdoors that wear their toenails off.

Personality & Behavior

Pit Bulls have a certain stigma attached to them as vicious fighting dogs. But you must keep in mind that with the right training and care, Pit Bulls are loving, loyal, even clowns that make perfect companions, especially to people with active lifestyles. Pit Bulls love to be included in all of their human’s activities, and some even say that they’re like babies in a dog’s body.

Plotts still regain their ancestors’ sturdiness and fearlessness, making them great as family watchdogs. Like Pits, Plotts need to be in a household with active lifestyles. It would be even better if they live in a place where the outdoors is accessible. Hiking, running, and romping outdoors remain to be the Plott’s favorite activities. Because of their pack hunter nature, Plotts socialize well with multiple other dogs in the house to socialize with. They are also friendly towards strangers and older, more well-behaved children.

It is important to note that the Plott breed can be quite dominant and should not be put in the hands of a timid trainer. They need to be trained and socialized at an early age to control this behavior and so as not to make them dominant over anyone in the household. They also do not have the patience when their food is threatened, so households with younger children may not be a good fit.

Animal aggression is a common behavioral trait in both parent breeds, so it’s important that you closely supervise your mix when around dogs and other animals that they did not grow up with. As they get older and start asserting dominance, other pets can be put in the line of danger if your dog is not leashed and in a fenced yard at all times.

Activity and Trainability

Both breeds are not suited in cooped houses without yards like apartments. This is because both breeds, and thus their offspring, are the happiest when they are active and can freely roam around a large area. Running and roaming are necessities for the Plotts, and Pits can also get destructive if their energies are not well spent. Both breeds need vigorous exercise and activity in order to be healthy and happy.

Training for both parent breeds requires that you start early. Plotts, as mentioned above, have a tendency to dominate if not trained and socialized properly. As such, you have to establish leadership early on in their life. Consistency is key when training the Plott, and patience is necessary when training the Pit, due to their short attention span. Calmness and assertiveness are also relevant as Pits will not respond to discipline or harsh tones. Both breeds have a tendency to be aggressive to children outside their own family, and it must be taught early that children must be treated with patience and should be welcomed.

Health

Pits have an average life span of 10-12 years, while Plotts can live as long as 12-14 years. This means that a mix can live long enough somewhere on the average of these two life spans. While the Plott side of the family can simply predispose a mix to bloating (which is also possible to come from the Pit parent), the Pit side has more health concerns attached to it. Such health concerns include the following: allergies, congenital heart disease, hip dysplasia, hyperthyroidism, and more.