A Comprehensive Study Guide to the Conformation Breed Standard for the PLOTT

A Comprehensive Study Guide to the Conformation Breed Standard for the PLOTT

HISTORY On August 12, 1989 the North Carolina Legislature named the Plott the official dog of North Carolina

HISTORY Von Plott The last active Plott hunter/breeder John Plott Elder brother of Von Plott

HISTORY Plott bear hunt with Baseball Hall of Famer Branch Rickey - 1932

HISTORY The Leopard-cross of 1884

GENERAL APPEARANCE A hunting hound of striking color that traditionally brings big game to bay or tree, the Plott is intelligent, alert and confident.

SIZE & PROPORTION Males: 20 to 25 at withers. Females: 20 to 23 at withers. Males: 50 to 60lbs. Females 40 to 55lbs. (in hunting condition) Faults: Extremely leggy or close to the ground.

SIZE & PROPORTION IN Extremely leggy Too close to ground

SUBSTANCE IN Moderately boned. Strong, yet quick and agile. Faults: Overdone. Carrying too much weight and or too much bone to display speed and dexterity.

HEAD Carried well up Skin fitting moderately tight

HEAD IN Dewlap, domed, low-set ear Skin stretched too tightly

EXPRESSION Confident Inquisitive, determined

EYES Brown, prominent Hazel

EARS Medium length, fairly broad, set moderately high

EARS IN Extending beyond the tip of the nose, bloodhound like.

SKULL IN Moderately flat, sufficient width between and above the eyes Oval, excessively domed

MUZZLE Moderate length Flews give square-ish appearance

MUZZLE IN Pointed Downward deviation Long, without stop Bluntly squared

PIGMENTATION Eye rims, lips and nose are black

FLEWS & BITE IN Flews: should be black and not pendulous Bite: Scissors Fault: Overshot or undershot.

NECK IN Medium length and muscular, free of dewlap with dewlap

TOPLINE & CHEST Topline: Gently sloping, higher at withers than at the hips. Fault: Roached Chest: Deep

RIBS Deep, moderately wide, well sprung

BACK Well-muscled, strong, level

LOIN Slightly arched

TAIL Root slightly below level of topline. Rather long, carried free, well up, saber like.

TAIL IN Moderately heavy in appearance. Sometimes with slight brush. Curled

FOREQUARTERS Clean, muscular and sloping

ELBOW Squarely set

PASTERNS IN Strong & Erect Weak & Buckling

FEET & NAILS IN Firm, tight, well-padded and knuckled, with strong toes. Set directly under the leg. Disqualification: Splayed feet. Nails Usually black, although shades of reddish brown matching the brindle body color are permissible and buckskin colored dogs have light red nails. May be white when portions of the feet are white.

HINDQUARTERS Angulation Well-bent at stifles and at the hocks Hips - Smooth, round, and proportionally wide, indicating efficient propulsion Legs - Long and muscular from hip to hock. From hock to pad short, strong and at right angles to the ground

HINDQUARTERS IN Sickle Hock Too long from hock to pad Lacks power

COLOR Brindle with black saddle Yellow or buckskin brindle

COLOR Black Brindle Buckskin

COAT Smooth, fine, glossy, but thick enough to provide protection from wind and water

PURPOSE FOR BEING RACCOON HUNTING BEAR HUNTING

PURPOSE FOR BEING BOBCAT WILD BOAR