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Treeing Walker Coonhound

smart / brave / courteous
Hound Group >>

Average sizes and life
expectancy of the breed.

Height

22-27 inches (male)

20-25 inches (female)

Weight

50-70 pounds

Life Expectancy

12-13 years

Breed Traits & Characteristics

Affectionate With Family
  • Independent Lovey-Dovey
    100% 100%
How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.
Good With Young Children
  • Not Recommended Good With Children
    100% 100%
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.
GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS
  • Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
    100% 100%
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

  • No Shedding Hair Everywhere
    60% 60%
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

  • Monthly Daily
    20% 20%
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

  • Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
    60% 60%
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

  • Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
    60% 60%
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

  • Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
    80% 80%
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

  • What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
    60% 60%
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

  • Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
    80% 80%
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

  • Self-Willed Eager to Please
    100% 100%
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

  • Couch Potato High Energy
    100% 100%
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

  • Only To Alert Very Vocal
    80% 80%
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

  • Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
    100% 100%
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

Affectionate With Family

  • Independent Lovey-Dovey
    100% 100%

How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.

Good With Young Children

  • Not Recommended Good With Children
    100% 100%
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.

GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS

  • Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
    100% 100%
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

  • No Shedding Hair Everywhere
    60% 60%
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

  • Monthly Daily
    20% 20%
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

  • Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
    60% 60%
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

  • Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
    60% 60%
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

  • Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
    80% 80%
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

  • What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
    60% 60%
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

  • Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
    80% 80%
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

  • Self-Willed Eager to Please
    100% 100%
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

  • Couch Potato High Energy
    100% 100%
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

  • Only To Alert Very Vocal
    80% 80%
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

  • Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
    100% 100%
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

About the Breed

Don’t let the name deceive you; Walkers are runners and capable of covering a lot of ground quickly. The Treeing Walker Coonhound is a real American favorite, nicknamed “The People’s Choice.” The sight of this speedy tricolored hound in full stride, with its long, strong legs, powerful and propulsive hindquarters, and streamlined frame all trying to cover as much territory as possible with the least amount of effort, is one of the few sights that can make a coon hunter’s heart race. Later, after an honest night’s labor, this sweet-faced hound will glance up and stir your soul with his kind, begging smile while enjoying the warmth of a bonfire. Oh my goodness, what a lovely image! Why else would Treeing Walkers be referred to as the People’s Choice?

What To Expect When Caring For a Treeing Walker Coonhound

Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.

Health

Overall, the Treeing Walker breed is relatively healthy, and ethical breeders check their stock for ailments like hip dysplasia and eye abnormalities. Ticks love to hide under the coonhound's floppy ears, so make careful to inspect the dog's ears whenever he enters the house from the outside. You may prevent common ear infections by cleaning out extra ear wax and debris and examining your ears at least once a week.  
Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club:
  • Hip Evaluation
  • Ophthalmologist Evaluation
  • Thyroid Evaluation

Grooming

The Treeing Walker is a breed that requires very little upkeep. He simply needs the occasional bath to keep his lovely appearance because his short, glossy coat repels dirt and grime. He may keep his coat in pristine condition by wiping him down with a wet towel or hound glove. Every two weeks, his nails should be cut because long nails can make the dog uncomfortable and cause structural issues. Regular cleaning of a hound's ears is advised to keep them free of excess wax or debris and to look for any indications of an ear infection. The Treeing Walker will relish grooming sessions as opportunities to connect with the person he loves.

Exercise

The Treeing Walker is a breed with minimal maintenance needs. His short, shiny coat repels dirt, so all he needs to maintain his exquisite appearance is the occasional bath. He can maintain the appearance of his coat by cleaning him off with a moist towel or hound glove. His nails should be clipped every two weeks because lengthy nails can be uncomfortable for the dog and lead to structural problems. It is recommended to regularly clean a hound's ears to keep them free of excess wax or debris and to check for any signs of an ear infection. The Treeing Walker will look forward to grooming appointments as chances to spend time with the person he loves.

Training

The Treeing Walker Coonhound is an extremely bright dog who loves to learn new things. These hounds like pleasing their owners, but they also have a strong sense of independence. Because of this, they could appear challenging to a trainer who is unfamiliar with the coonhound brain. A hound that is a delight to live with will emerge from making training sessions enjoyable and interesting and rewarding good conduct and chores well done with treats as well as effusive praise.

Nutrition

The Treeing Walker Coonhound should thrive on premium dog food, whether it is made commercially or at home under the guidance and consent of your veterinarian. Whatever the dog's age (puppy, adult, or senior), the diet should be suitable. Owners should keep an eye on their dog's calorie intake and weight because a hound that isn't working can be prone to gaining weight. Treats can be a valuable training tool, but offering them in excess might lead to obesity. Discover which foods fit the bill for canine consumption and which don't. If you have any worries about your dog's weight or diet, consult your veterinarian. Fresh water that is clean should always be accessible.  

History

Let’s examine the name word by word. A hound is said to be “treeing” when it follows the scent of its prey until the prey climbs a tree for protection, at which point the hound camps out below and barks loudly and distinctively until the gun-toting hunter shows up. “Walker” refers to Thomas Walker of Virginia, a key figure in the early development of the breed around the middle of the eighteenth century. A dog called a “coonhound” was created to “tree” raccoons and, occasionally, larger prey.

 

The Virginia Hounds, which were descended from the first English Foxhounds imported to America, gave rise to the Walker Foxhound, which in turn gave rise to the Treeing Walker Coonhound. Initially categorized as an English Coonhound, the breeders of the Treeing Walker departed from the English variety in 1945 and selectively selected to maintain the traits they sought. It is a quick, hot-tempered, intelligent hunter, and its voice is either a steady, clear chop with a changeover at the tree, or a clear, ringing bugle. It quickly locates its prey and has exceptional stamina and climbing skills. It has a wide range and may stray from the path if it detects a stronger scent. The Treeing Walker has a reputation for being extremely competitive due to its speed as night-hunts gained popularity.

 

The Treeing Walker is sometimes referred to as a trailing hound with a treeing instinct and nevertheless has the same color and conformation as the Walker Foxhound.