Meet Our New Plott Hound, Oscar, and Learn About the Breed

In April, we welcomed our four-legged handsome boy to our family. Meet Oscar!

Oscar, formerly Roo, is an eight-month-old Plott Hound whose birthday happens to fall the day after mine, December 16.

He, along with his three brothers, sister and mom came to the Voorhees Animal Orphanage from Tennessee. The Voorhees Animal Orphanage is also where we adopted his (now) older sister, Bailee, in 2013.

Although a bit timid at first, Oscar has certainly warmed up to his new home. He spends a lot of his time exploring in the backyard, chasing his sister and playing with his toys. He is quite a furry ball of energy and a bit clumsy since his paws are big. He’s very affectionate and never wants to stop giving kisses, and loves to snuggle (big snorer, too). This southern boy is a charmer for sure.

Caring for two dogs can be a lot of work, and it’s even more demanding when one is a puppy since puppies require a lot of attention to train. Oscar’s getting the swing of things rather quickly watching Bailee, though. The two of them get along great. They love playing together outside, cuddling together and they scuffle over toys as siblings do.

Anywho, when I learned that Oscar is a Plott Hound, I became curious about the breed and decided to do some research. Here’s what I learned:

• Plott Hounds are relentless, big-game hunting dogs that were originally bred for hunting wild boar and have been used for hunting bears, raccoons, and other animals.
• They originated in North Carolina and are one of only four breeds native to the U.S.
• Their ancestors were brought to America (North Carolina) by German immigrant Johannes Plott in 1750.
• They’re extremely affectionate, loving and loyal companions at home.
• They are the only hound in the U.S. not derived from the English foxhound.
• They are medium to large in size, with males averaging 50 to 70 pounds and females averaging 40 to 65 pounds.
• They mostly come in any shade of brindle and their coats are smooth, glossy and thick. They have webbed feet and big drooping ears.
• They are easy to groom and don’t shed excessively.
• They are easy to train but tend to have a dominant personality.

Do you have a Plott Hound or have you owned one? You have all bragging rights as I’d love to hear about him/her! Any tips or advice you can provide would be greatly appreciated!