Plott Hound vs Icelandic Sheepdog - Breed Comparison

The Plott Hound is a scent hound who has always been used for for hunting bears. The dog may well be the state dog of North Carolina, but it isn’t well known.

The Plott Hound is an old dog breed descending from several Hanoverian Schweisshunds which were brought to North Carolina way back in 1750. They were brought by a German immigrant, Johannes George Plott, and that is why it is believed that the dog hails from Germany.

It is believed that in the early 1900s the dog was mated with black-and-tan hounds, giving the canine additional scenting skills as well as its black-saddled brindle pattern. The dog breed has since been registered by the United Kennel Club and is also registered by the American Kennel Club.

There are quite a few different dog breeds that fall under the name of Spitz-type dogs, and in fact they have a number of similar characteristics, one of which is that they have some wolf-like features. They typically have the thick coat with undercoat and the erect, pointed ears and slanted eyes.

There is definitely a strong link between the Spitz type dogs and wild wolves. The tail too is feathery and can curl over the back of the dog.

The Icelandic Sheepdog, a native dog to Iceland, is a Spitz type dog which originates from the dogs brought to Iceland by the Vikings. The dogs have always been used to herd sheep, and they resemble dogs found in graves in Sweden and Denmark.

The dog at one time was facing extinction in the late 20th century, but in 1969, the Icelandic Dog Breeder Association was established to restore and preserve the breed. The Icelandic Sheepdog gained AKC recognition in June 2010.

The Plott Hound is a large dog standing between 50 and 71cm in height, both male and female, and weighing in at between 18 to 27kg.

The dog’s coat is available in a number of brindle shades such as red-, blue, tan-, brown and black brindle. The ears of the dog are long and floppy and the tail is also long and held up or down, depending on whether the dog is quiet or excited. He is active and would not be recommended for a small homes in the city.

Temperament:

Bold, alert and intelligent, the Plott Hound is a confident, courageous and loyal pet, being somewhat aloof around strangers.

Typical of any hounds, he is a strong willed, independent dog, and this is why he will need training and socialization. These make him obedient so that he can respond to simple commands such as sit, lie down, come and stay. This makes him a pleasure to have around wherever you go with him. He is also protective, making him an excellent watchdog.

The Icelandic Sheepdog is a smallish to medium sized dog standing at 40 to 45cm in height and he can weigh anything between 9 and 14kg.

His double coat can be short or long, straight or wavy and in a mix of colors such as grey and white or tan and white, black, tan and white, cream or chocolate. Even though they come in a number of predominant colors, these colors are always accompanied by white markings.

He has a longish muzzle, much like the wolf, giving him an alert, foxy appearance. He has a muscular, rectangular body with strong, straight legs with dewclaws on both the front and hind legs.

Temperament:

Your social, energetic dog will require socialization and training which does him the world of good, turning him into a well-adjusted, obedient dog.

He is an intelligent dog, and training him won't be difficult as he is eager to please. These are social dogs which love being part of the family and they don't like being left outside day after day with little human intervention. He is a lively, confident breed, gentle and not at all aggressive.

The Plott is a bold, aggressive type of dog, but he is also loving, loyal and intelligent.

If you want him as a pet and companion, another bonus part is that his smooth, short coat makes him a low maintenance breed. He’s good looking too, and with training and socialization he’s going to make a great family friend, guardian and pet.

The Icelandic Sheepdog is such a good all-round family pet. He is alert, intelligent, social, playful, loyal, loving and brave.

He is friendly too, getting on well with children and any pets you have in the home. He is essentially a working dog, so you shouldn’t think of owning him as a pet if your lifestyle is centered around the TV and the couch for the best part of the day.

This is an energetic dog who wants lots of action during the day. He is a dog that badly wants to be part of the family and in exchange for looking after him well, he’ll promise to be an exceptional pet.

Your Plott Hound is a healthy dog breed and can live to be anything from 12 to 14 years of age. Just like with any other dog breed, they are prone to certain health conditions. It is however, highly unlikely that he will get any of the diseases, but it is good to be aware of some of them -

Cancer:

There are many forms of cancer and some of the symptoms of the disease include lumps, sores that won’t heal, difficulty with breathing, lack of energy and black stools. Cancer is of course life threatening and treatments will include the likes of chemotherapy, radiation and even surgery.

Heartworms:

This is also a deadly disease where parasites infect a dog’s heart and arteries. With a mosquito bite, dogs are exposed to larvae, and if left unchecked, the larva can develop into large worms. Your dog will be coughing, be lethargic and in a run down state. This disease certainly requires veterinary intervention.

Vomiting:

There are so many things that can cause your dog to vomit and also have diarrhea. Eating the wrong foods, having an infection such as parvo for instance can cause a dog to vomit. An isolated case of vomiting needn’t be cause for alarm, but if your dog is vomiting repeatedly, you’ll need to get him to the vet.

Obesity:

This is more common in small dogs, but big dogs can easily become obese too. Being overweight has a host of negative health effects on your dog such as opening up diseases such as diabetes and putting too much stress on the joints.

Your pet will reach 12 to 14 years of age with good care and is regarded as a generally healthy dog breed. However, they can be prone to a few health conditions, and these include hip dysplasia and diabetes.

Diabetes:

Mercifully for your pet, diabetes is considered a manageable disorder. When your pet doesn’t produce insulin or can’t utilize it normally, his blood sugar levels rise, resulting in hyperglycemia.

If left untreated, your pet can land up with a host of complicated health problems. Diabetes can be classified as either Type 1 or Type II, with the more common form in dogs being Type 1.

Exercise:

The Plott is a hunting dog, used to being outside and used to being active and busy. For anyone who can satisfy his need to be busy, he’ll make a fantastic pet, companion and watchdog. Provide him with a variety of activities to keep him occupied – a walk, ball games, runs in the park, swimming and hikes.

Grooming:

Your Plott Hound has a short coat which sheds. He is regarded as a low maintenance dog and will require a brush twice a week. A rubber curry will keep the coat gleaming.

Check inside his ears for redness which can be indicative of an ear infection. Check his eyes too and make sure they are bright, clear and alert.

Trim your pet’s nails.

If you don’t intend to go in for breeding, have your dog neutered or spayed to avoid unwanted pups.

Provide your dog with a nice warm, dry place to sleep. When he goes outside, ensure he has both shade and sunshine to lie down in.

Make sure you feed your Plott Hound high quality food to promote longevity and good health. There are some commercially manufactured dog foods that have bad ingredients in them which can actually make your pet sick. Buy a quality food, and try to add in some homemade food too from time to time. You don’t have to make feeding your dog a complicated affair – some chopped up boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some vegetables such as sweet potato, carrots and spinach will keep your pet healthy and happy. You can add it into his kibble once in a while for a treat and also give him a little bit of raw meat occasionally. Easy, simple and nutritious – just like your pet wants. He doesn’t want you popping chocolate, raisins, peanuts, coffee and spicy foods into his mouth or bowl as it upsets his stomach.

Make sure he always has access to fresh, cool water.

Diet:

Feed your energetic Icelandic Sheepdog a diet which is appropriate for his age and activity level. Don't just feed him the best commercially manufactured dog food, but give him some cooked chicken, brown rice and vegetables mixed into his kibble as a tasty treat. Also, dogs are carnivores, so include some raw meat into his diet from time to time. Clean, cool water should always be available.

Grooming:

The Icelandic Sheepdog has a thick double coat, with the outer coat being longer and the hair being shiny and glossy. These dogs shed quite a bit with seasonal shedding too so twice-weekly brushing will be necessary to keep the fur free of loose hair. His nails should also be checked regularly and his teeth should be brushed a couple of times a week too.

Exercise:

Icelandic Sheepdogs are athletic, active dogs that require a lot of exercise to keep them in good physical shape.

He loves all kinds of games and outdoor activities, one of which will be going with you for a walk every day. He makes a wonderful companion for those people going on long hikes.