This event is made possible by funding from the North Carolina Humanities Council, a statewide nonprofit and affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities

The Plott bear hound is the official state dog of North Carolina and is widely recognized as one of the world’s premier big game hunting hounds. The breed is unique in many ways, including its Germanic origins, distinctive appearance, fierce loyalty, tenacity, and intelligence. But it is the story of the breed that truly sets it apart from all others.

In 1750, the breed’s original founder Johannes George Plott and his brother Enoch, left Germany with their prized hunting dogs. Their trip across the Atlantic began a two-hundred year journey, culminating in the mountains of North Carolina with the development of what is now considered by many to be the world’s finest breed of hunting dog.

This fascinating story of the Plott family and the Plott hound is a classic American tale of adventure with roots deeply entrenched in North Carolina soil and American history and culture. And it is a story that award winning author and historian Bob Plott, the great-great-great grandson of Johannes George Plott, is uniquely qualified to tell.

Bob is sometimes accompanied on his programs by one of his own Plott hounds, or by Nannie and Robert Plott, two dogs featured with Bob on national television shows.

About the Author

Bob Plott can trace his family roots in the Old North State back to 1750 when his great-great-great grandfather, Johannes George Plott, arrived here with five of the family’s prized hunting dogs. The dogs would later become an officially recognized UKC and AKC breed and were designated as the official state dog of NC in 1989.

Bob is the award winning author of four books — that have been sold in all 50 states and 11 foreign countries — as well as numerous magazine articles, including two monthly columns for national publications.

In addition, Bob has conducted his exceptionally well received historical programs across the southeast, and he continues to perpetuate his family legacy of raising Plott hounds today –a tradition that has been maintained by the Plott family in NC for more than two centuries. Please visit his website, www.bobplott.com for further program details, book reviews and program testimonials.