North Carolina designated the plott hound (Canis lupus familiaris) as the official state dog in 1989. Developed in the mountains of North Carolina by German immigrant Jonathan Plott around 1750 as a wild boar hound, the plott hound is a legendary hunting dog known as a courageous fighter and tenacious tracker with a spine-tingling, bugle-like call. One of only four breeds known to be of American origin (the American Kennel Club recognized the plott hound as a distinctive breed in 1998).

The plott hound is athletic, muscular, and agile in appearance with a smooth, dense coat in almost any shade of brindle (sometimes with small white patches on the feet, chest, and underbelly). Plott hounds are eager to please, loyal, intelligent, and alert. They are aggressive, bold, and fearless hunters described as "the ninja warriors of dogdom."

State dogs - Louisiana: Catahoula leopard dog, Maryland: Chesapeake Bay retriever, Massachusetts: Boston terrier, Pennsylvania: great Dane, Texas: blue lacy, South Carolina: Boykin spaniel, North Carolina: Plott hound, Virginia: American fox hound, Wisconsin: American water spaniel, and the state sport of Alaska - dog mushing.

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Source:

Official Symbols - Dog, Plott Hound: NC State Library

Links:

State Animals - Mammals: 50 States List