Description. The Treeing Walker Coonhound is a large dog standing 20-27 inches in height and weighing in at 50-70 pounds. They have a proportionate head with a deep muzzle, which is approximately half the overall length. The ears are large and hang to the sides reaching the upper part of the thick muscular neck. The body is a little shorter than they are tall, with a deep chest. There front legs are slim but powerful whilst their rear legs are well muscled. Their tail is set high and carried in a sickle fashion. The coat is smooth and fine. They come in a variety of two colored or tri-colored coats, breeders tend to prefer the tri-color.

History. The Treeing Walker Coonhound is named after the first person to breed them, Thomas Walker. Thomas Walker brought English foxhounds to his home in Virginia in 1742 and started using them in his breeding program. At some point in the 19th century Walkers dog (known then as the Walker hound) became crossed with a Tennessee Lead. The result of this was a powerful, focused and fast dog that is untiring and was a great coonhound. The Treeing Walker Coonhound was recognized, as an individual breed in 1946. This breed still maintains a resemblance to its English Foxhound ancestors. Because of the popularity of coonhounds the Treeing Walker Coonhound will also be classed as the ancestor of some of the other breeds, having been further crossed and bred on by other breeders. Raccoon hunting is a big sport in America and the breeders will probably continue refining all the present breeds to try to breed the ultimate coonhound.

Temperament. As a bred these dogs are quite easy to train and learn well from just following an example. They are quick and intelligent with a great deal of affection and love to play. They are generally happy dogs and enjoy company and being in the thick of things. As a working dog the Treeing Walker Coonhound has a lot of energy and needs plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. They will thrive if given tasks to do, simple hiding games work well. This dog needs to be socialized well at a young age to avoid shyness and aggression to other dogs. They love to be fussed and this is a good way to train them, and it’s not as fattening as a treat based system. When training, the dog needs to respect you as the alpha and their pack leader, or problems will occur. They have an excellent sense of smell so be careful when out walking this dog. As with most hunting dogs it is always a good idea to only let them off their leash in an area you know is secure and safe. They are very good with children but do not leave them unattended with small household pets.

Health issues. With an average life expectancy of 12-13 years the Treeing Walker Coonhound is a generally healthy dog.

Grooming. The Treeing Walker Coonhound is an average shedder but only requires the occasional brushing to keep their coat looking good. As with all flop eared dogs you need to check their ears regularly for any signs of infection. Only bathe when necessary.

Living conditions. This is a breed that needs exercise and stimulation; they are not suited to an apartment. They need to be given a couple of long walks a day, jogging with them is better. They appear happy and content whilst lying around, but they will not be for long. It is vital they get exercise their lazy appearance is just that an appearance, they will not be happy if left to lazy habits.