Plott Hound vs Kuvasz - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

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.

The Kuvasz is an ancient dog breed from Hungary. It is believed that the dog is the oldest of the ancient Hungarian dog breeds, and in fact a fossilized skeleton dating back to the 9th century, and almost identical to the modern Kuvasz, was found near Keszthely.

During the 15th century the Kuvasz became very sought after, being found in royal courts. Puppies were given as royal gifts. Later the popularity of the breed waned and then it was found in its traditional role of guarding livestock.

As Kuvasz numbers dwindled, breeding efforts were started but it is believed that other large dogs such as the Great Pyrenees were used with the Kuvasz to continue with the breeding programs.

In 1884, the first Hungarian standard for the breed was written. It was in 1966 that the Kuvasz Club of America was established.

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 beautiful Kuvasz is a large, muscled dog standing at 65 – 76cm in height and weighing 35 – 52kg. He has a double coat of dense white hair which can be straight or wavy.

It is natural for the dog to lose most of the long coat during the Summer months. In other words this dog has a seasonal coat.

The nose is black, the eyes brown and alert, the ears are of medium length and floppy and the tail is carried long and low.

Temperament:

The Kuvasz is an intelligent dog who will benefit from training and socialization. It is always wise to have large dogs like this trained because just his size can cause problems if he isn’t obedient.

He is also described as a clownish type of dog which means he’ll entertain and amuse you. Certainly he is playful as a puppy but he calms down quite a bit as he grows into maturity. He is independent, and those who have owned such a dog report that he can be loving and loyal with his human family, wanting to guard and protect them. Others will say that he tended to be aloof, even with his human family.

Used as working dogs, the Kuvasz has learned to be independent and they will need a firm, strong owner who is also fair with them, otherwise they just do their own thing. They’re active dogs and because of their size they won’t suit city living where there is a tiny garden.

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.

Kuvasz are guarding dogs, they’re intelligent and loyal, making them excellent family dogs with the right training and socialization.

They’re able to get on well with other pets in the home as well as children. He is a beautiful dog and another bonus is that he isn’t particularly high maintenance.

As is common with many other large-breed dogs, he will have a shorter lifespan than what you’d get with a smaller dog breed, but if you feed him high quality food, exercise him and involve him in your activities, this large dog can become a wonderful friend and protector for you.

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.

The large Kuvasz is a healthy dog breed that with good care can reach 12–14 years of age. Being the large dog that he is, he may well be prone to bone and joint problems. It is why good nutrition is so important for this dog - feeding him the best food with vitamins and minerals.

You know the saying ...you are what you eat... and this applies to dogs too. Good food can help to ward off serious illnesses. Big dogs like this often have to contend with hip dysplasia which can be both painful and debilitating as well as eye diseases.

Entropion:

This is where the eyelid of the dog rolls inwards, causing irritation and pain for the dog. There is also Ectropion, where the eyelid rolls outwards.If you see your pet has a red eye which is watery and which has pus, visit your vet. Entropion surgery will correct and repair and condition.

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.

Grooming:

The coat may be fairly long and thick but it doesn’t require any special kind of grooming. A good brush twice a week will be adequate and will help with getting rid of stubborn knots and matting.

He is a seasonal shedder and this frequent brushing will make sure the coat remains groomed and shiny.

General Care:

The Kuvasz is a hardy breed who just loves the outdoors. He is a dog that doesn’t do well in the heat. Make absolutely sure that he has a cool, sheltered spot where he can lie down. Ensure that there is always a bowl of fresh, cool water available to him.

Diet:

There is quite a bit of conflict and controversy regarding nutrition in dogs. The idea is to keep it simple. If you buy a commercially manufactured dog food, check the ingredients on the packaging.

You want to be sure your pet is getting vitamins and minerals in instead of preservatives, fillers and colorants. Try and give him some home made food too such as some chicken, brown rice or pasta and some vegetables. You can mix this into his dry kibble occasionally with a little bit of raw meat too when you have.

Avoid feeding your dog things such as chocolates, nuts, onions, sweets and chips.