Plott Hound vs Hairless Khala - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

The Hairless Khala is from a number of Latin American countries, and these countries have a variety of these hairless hounds.

The dogs are known by different names. Khala is the Bolivian Quechua Indian name and it means 'no clothing' - an absence of fur. Both Central and South America have their hairless dogs, descendants of ancestral dogs owned by the Incan Empire.

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 2 kinds of hairless Khalas – the Medio one which is a short legged dog which stands at roughly 36 – 41cm in height and weighs roughly 6 – 14kg. The other kind of khala is the Hairless Khala Grande, a long legged type.

Although the dog is hairless, you'll find some hair on the top of his head. For sake of space we'll refer to the Medio variety, a medium-sized hound with hairless skin which is dark grey in color.

Temperament:

The Hairless Khala is a friendly dog with his family but tends to be reserved with strangers. He gets on well with children in the home and because he isn't a particularly energetic dog, elderly people also find that he makes a super pet for them.

He is able to adapt easily to city- as well as country living. You need to be careful with him and not allow him out in the garden in the boiling sun as his skin can burn badly. Then again, without fur, he also tends to get cold easily.

He has dark brown eyes and the ears are fairly large in size and erect. He has a chest which is deep and broad and his tail is set fairly low and is held according to his mood.

He is an intelligent dog, and therefore easily trained. He is a loving, loyal dog who is capable of bonding closely with his human family.

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 Hairless Khala will make you an excellent pet, and children and the elderly are attracted to the dog because it is loving and docile. They are aloof with strangers, but training and socialization make him far more tolerant of strangers.

The Hairless Khala is an adaptable dog breed, and will adapt well to life in the city or in the country. Found throughout the Latin American nations, today he is essentially a companion dog, loving to be a devoted friend to his human family.

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 life expectancy of this dog is 10-14 years when he is treated well. The Hairless Khala is a robust dog breed but even so, there are diseases to look out for -

Skin Allergies:

Skin allergies are one of the reasons you may have to take your Hairless Khala to the vet. These sorts of skin allergies can be frustrating for a dog because the skin is irritated and itchy and he may have scaly areas or red bumps on his skin. If your dog is licking and scratching frantically, you will need to get him to the vet.

Dental Disease

Periodontal disease is inflammation of the gums, and if food and bacteria accumulate on the gums, it forms plaque and transforms into calculus, leading to gingivitis. Check your pet's teeth regularly and also brush them with special canine toothbrush and toothpaste at least 2 or 3x a week.

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.

Exercise:

He isn't a super energetic dog but still, he will need to be taken for a walk every day.You can also include typical games that all dogs love – fetching a ball or pulling on a rope.

Grooming:

Because of the dog having little or no hair, they are considered fairly hypoallergenic and also low maintenance. You'd need to brush a dog with fur, but a hairless dog requires different grooming.

Speak to your vet about bathing your dog, the type of body wash to use and how frequently it should be done. Because your dog is hairless, he may require a sun cream in the Summer and a jersey in the Winter.

He will also need his nails clipped and his teeth brushed as part of his grooming process.

Diet:

He may not have much hair, but when it comes to diet he is much the same as any other dog. If you feed him commercially manufactured food, always choose the best quality one in accordance with his age, height and activity levels.

Home-made food is always a welcome treat for your pet, but whatever you feed him, make sure it has the necessary minerals and vitamins to ensure his health. Essential fatty acids will be needed to keep the skin moist. With too much washing, the skin of these dogs will become irritated, dry and flaking if he doesn't received a nutritious, balanced diet. Make sure he has constant access to fresh, cool water.

When in any doubt as to how to look after a hairless dog, speak to your vet.

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.