Plott Hound

• Bathing: These pups tend to stay pretty clean. Bathe them every other month (unless they happen to splash in a particularly muddy puddle).   
• Brushing: You can use a rubber curry brush or slicker brush once a week. You’ll want to brush them more often twice a year in the spring and fall, aka shedding seasons.  
• Ear care: Plott Hounds can be prone to ear infections, so check their ears every day. If there’s redness, swelling, debris, or an odor, your pup may have an ear infection that needs meds. Talk to your vet about how to clean your dog’s ears if they’re prone to irritation or infections.  
• Dental care: Help keep your pup’s teeth in shape by brushing them daily with a dog toothpaste. It’s a good idea to start when they’re a puppy, so they get used to the experience. Get a pro cleaning at your vet once a year. 
• Nail care: Plott Hounds need their nails trimmed every three to four weeks. If nails get too long, it can make it painful to walk. You’ll know it’s time for a trim when you can hear them tapping on hard surfaces. 

Plott Hounds have a slight reputation for being difficult to train, but it’s not their fault if they’re distracted by every smell within a 5-mile radius. Some might even say it’s a strength!  

These kind hounds respond well to positive reinforcement and are treat-motivated.  

However, even the best-trained Plott Hound puppy or adult may not be able to overcome their instinct to follow their nose, so training them to come when called is essential. Loose-leash walking is another skill that may take some time to master, since they might try to follow everything they smell in every direction.  

But teaching your dog when it’s time to sniff and when it’s time to walk can be very helpful. For example, training them to “leave it” and “let’s go” when it’s time to walk, and “OK” or “go sniff” when they’re allowed to sniff around, are useful cues.  

Like many hounds, these canine kiddos can be chatty, and hard as it may be, it’s important not to reinforce their barking or howling tendencies. So, if they’re trying to get your attention with baying, don’t engage until they quiet down.  

When they do, it’s time to shower them with treats, praise, and affection.   

If you need help training, a certified dog trainer is never a bad idea, provided that they use positive reinforcement. Your pup will probably enjoy their special training sessions.  

Plott Hounds typically do well on a high-quality commercial dog food. Choose a diet that’s AAFCO-compliant for your dog’s life stage (puppy, adult, or senior).   

This breed will benefit from a large-breed dog food formula.  

Treat calories count, too, and they’re important for motivating your dog during training. But know when to say when. Treats should never be more than 10% of a dog’s daily calories.  

Plott Hounds are large dogs with deep chests, making them susceptible to a dangerous condition called bloat. To help prevent bloat, pet parents should: 

• Offer their dog meals in a slow feeder 
• Avoid using elevated food bowls 
• Restrict exercising their dog for two hours before and after meals 
• Provide multiple smaller meals throughout the day (most adult Plott Hounds do well with twice-daily feedings) 

Plott Hounds are high-energy pups who need regular exercise—at least an hour or so every day—to keep them entertained and out of mischief. Because they lead with their nose, scent work (where you train a dog to find a certain smell) is a fun option for these dogs.  

You can sign up for scent work classes, but this is easy to do at home as well. For starters, grab three boxes, put a treat under one of them, and let your Plott Hound sniff it out. Always use the same box as the “treat box” and gradually make it more difficult by adding boxes, stacking them, and hiding them around the house.   

They’ll need regular walks—at least two or three a day—and they’ll adore special activities like hikes.  

Agility training is another fun activity to burn off energy, and you can set up an agility course in your backyard if you have the space. Just don’t let your Plott Hound off-leash in spaces without fencing: Their instinct to follow a scent is so strong that they can easily run off.  

If it’s a rainy or snowy day with limited outdoor time, play indoors. Try hide-and-seek, a puzzle toy, or training cues.  

These pups can be a bit vocal (it’s normal for hounds!), so they’re going to live their best life in the suburbs or country—not in an apartment with neighbors close by.  

They would also love room to roam, so a fenced yard is on their dream list. They’ll appreciate anywhere they can get the zoomies out, and they might enjoy a dog park, too.   

Hiking trails will also be a bonus; they’ll be in the car before you are for any adventures. If the whole family’s involved, all the better. When both dogs and kids are well-socialized, the more the merrier.   

They’ll probably appreciate the company of other four-legged siblings, too. (At least the canine variety—felines might be a challenge thanks to their prey drive.)