Plott hound theory

[T-Bob Parker]

I saw a post on Facebook a few minutes ago, a picture of Von Plott I think it was and some of his original dogs. Leggy, shorter eared, and across the color spectrum, it reminded me of a theory I’ve always held about the plotts.

I’ve never had a full blood Plott, and honestly I don’t know that I’ve actually been around many, but over the years, all the different cur strains I’ve been around and reading about how the original Plotts weren’t directly referred to as “Hounds” necessarily, I’ve crafted this crazy theory in my head. Here’s the comment I posted on that thread;

My theory on the Plotts;
They were just a family kept strain of general European/American hunting curs. The Plott family held a few traits in high regard and bred their dogs to maximize those traits and over time their name became synonymous with high quality hunting dogs far and wide.

Until relatively recently, “cur” was a pejorative, not a breed description. Meaning, if you respected a mans hunting dogs, you would have referred to them as “hounds” because that has always been the commonly understood descriptor for “hunting dog” Likewise, when referring to your own dogs or those of a close friend, you might fondly refer to them as mutts, curs, potlickers etc. If you think about it, we still do this today. I am incredibly happy with my dogs, but when a stranger asks what kind they are I usually smirk and and say “Ah heck, they’re just a bunch of ol trashy curs”

Now, if I stayed devoted to my dogs for the rest of my life, then my sons and grandsons follow the same devotion, the people 100 years from now who see a well developed strain of fine hunting dog, with loads of nose, speed, grit, bottom and heart will rightly refer to them as “Parker Hounds” even though I never originally intended them to be labeled a “hound”

Does that make sense to everyone else?

[Reuben]

I do know before Plott hound they were called Plott dogs or Plott curs…
The Crocket line of plotts many will have cur type ears that fold even with the top of the scull…

The leopard hound used to be a leopard cur 15 years ago…some are looking more like a hound nowadays…

[Rough curs]

From what ive read Plotts are curs. People just recently started calling them hounds. But you are right,years down the road people good be calling your strain Parker dogs or hounds or curs.Idk jmo

[Cajun]

T Bob, I think you are right on the money. This is just my opinion but there is no documented proof That Johannes Plott even brought dogs on the boat with him or if there is, I would sure like to see it.  The Plott like so many of the cur breeds are a American bred dog whose ancesters came from Europe being bred for the purpose of whatever the individual wanted. Back in the mid 80's Taylor Crockett did tell me that the old time Plotts were referred to as curs and they were more of a multi purpose dog. Bob Plott explains it pretty good in one of his books where the dogs started getting more houndy.
  When UKC registered them, they registered them as Plott Hounds and I do think the Plotts of today are definitly more hound like then curs. When they registered the Leopard curs they wanted them to compete with the other 5 hound breeds and registered them as Leopard Hounds. It is all about the money and now they register about anything.
  If you put your life,sweat and blood into these dogs, yeah they are probably going to be called by the name or kennel of the person breeding them and rightly so whether it is hounds, curs or dogs. lol

[The Old Man]

I've always called them "Plott Dogs" to em they don't fit the Hound group nor the Cur group exactly so they're just Plott dogs.

[HuntingHeritage]

I saw a post on Facebook a few minutes ago, a picture of Von Plott I think it was and some of his original dogs. Leggy, shorter eared, and across the color spectrum

Until relatively recently, “cur” was a pejorative, not a breed description.

Mr.Parker I believe your theory is correct but that the use of term “Cur” in the manner you describe goes back a long way.

 Best example is this is a line from from President Abraham Lincoln’s poem

 “The Bear Hunt”

“...The tall fleet cur, with deep-mouthed voice,
Now speeds him, as the wind;
While half-grown pup, and short-legged fice,
Are yelping far behind.”

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45901/the-bear-hunt


One of the earliest known uses of the term “cur” in America that I can find is in President George Washington’s journals December 1770 concerning dogs that had managed to breed with one of his hounds.

“Lined” being an old world term for bred and “Jowler” & “Singer” are hounds named in his breeding program.


“...shut up Singer after She had been first lined by one or two Cur Dogs.
Jowler being put in with her lind her several times; and his Puppies if to be distinguished saved.”

Just thought I could provide some examples of the term being used historically in the manner you described.


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