Treeing Walker Coonhound: temperament, size, care and health

About the Treeing Walker Coonhound

The Treeing Walker Coonhound is a lean, athletic, medium to large American hound, with a refined head, long ears and a body built for speed. The usual coat is a short tricolor pattern of white, black and tan, though bicolor dogs also occur. The standard sets a height of up to about twenty-seven inches for males, and the dog looks rangy and quick rather than heavy.

It was bred to take a trail, run it fast and tree the animal, then stay under it and call the hunter with a clear, ringing voice. The breed is used on raccoon, opossum and other game, as well as in organized night hunts and field events. It is the most common coonhound in competition, and dogs from hunting lines have more drive than many people expect in a pet.

Temperament and family life

A Walker is friendly and social with people. It is affectionate and enjoys being around its family, and it generally greets strangers with a wagging tail, so it is a poor watchdog. It likes other dogs and does well in a pack.

With children it can be a good playmate, though its energy and bounce can overpower little ones. Walkers have a strong prey drive and are likely to chase cats and small animals. Many cannot be trusted loose near them. Alone, the dog is liable to howl, escape or wreck things. It is better suited to a household where someone is home or where another dog provides company.

Exercise and training

This is a very high-energy dog that needs far more activity than a daily walk. It does well with a running or hiking partner, with long fetch sessions in a secure area, and with scent work or field events. Without hard exercise it turns restless, noisy and destructive. A fence is mandatory and should be tall, since many Walkers are good jumpers and diggers.

The breed is intelligent and can learn quickly, but a Walker with a scent in its nose will not listen to cues. Recall is a particular challenge and should be trained in a controlled area, and many owners use a long line outdoors. Reward-based methods and short sessions produce the best results. Teaching an off switch for barking and a calm settle inside the house helps a great deal.

Grooming and shedding

The short coat takes little work: a weekly rub with a hound mitt or a rubber brush, and a bath when necessary. Shedding is moderate and constant. The tricolor coat hides dirt and does not smell strongly.

The ears hang low and should be cleaned and inspected often for wax and signs of infection. After a day in brush or woods, check the feet, legs, ears and skin for cuts, ticks and burrs. Nails wear down on hard ground but should still be checked.

Health

The breed is generally healthy, and a working Walker may live into its teens. The more common problems are ear infections, hip dysplasia, dental disease and obesity if the dog is not exercised enough. Working dogs risk injuries such as torn ligaments, cuts and sprains. Breeders may screen hips and examine the eyes and ears. This overview of the Treeing Walker Coonhound is general information; for any particular dog, ask a veterinarian.

History

The Treeing Walker developed in the United States from foxhounds, in particular a line of Walker foxhounds in Kentucky, in the nineteenth century. Hunters selected for a fast dog with a good treeing voice. The United Kennel Club separated it from the English Coonhound in 1945, and the American Kennel Club recognized it in 2012.

Is the Treeing Walker Coonhound right for you?

A Walker suits an athletic owner, a hunter or a rural household with a high fence and time to exercise a fast dog. It is a poor choice for apartment dwellers, for anyone wanting a quiet home or for a household with cats or small pets.

For a similar hound with a different coat, compare the American English Coonhound or the Redbone Coonhound. The Plott Hound is a tougher, brindled cousin.