Despite the name, this breed is an active breed that can cover quite a bit of ground in a hurry. Like other hounds, the Treeing Walker Coonhound was bred to be hunting dogs and will definitely follow their noses after interesting smells if given the chance. These dogs look like tall Beagles and with consistent training and exercise, they’ll make a great addition to any home and family.
The name ‘Treeing Walker Coonhound’ refers to three different parts of the breed’s traits and history. An important figure in this breed’s development was Thomas Walker in mid 18th century Virginia, which is why they’re named in part after him. When hunting, they tend to chase their prey until it climbs a tree for safety. The Treeing Walker would then camp out at the base of the tree while barking, waiting for their owners to arrive. Lastly, ‘coonhound’ refers to any dog developed to chase raccoons (or bigger game). Ancestors of the breed include the English Foxhounds brought to the US in the 18th century and the Tennessee Lead, a stolen dog in the 19th century.
If you’re looking for an active dog to join you on runs or on hunting trips, the Treeing Walker Coonhound is a great dog for you. They’re friendly, confident dogs but they’re also incredibly intelligent, competitive, and easily bored. Without regular mental and physical exercise and enrichment, these hounds will be stubborn and destructive, which is why they don’t make great apartment or lone backyard dogs. If you don’t hunt, there are still so many things you can do with a Treeing Walker Coonhound to keep them happy and healthy! They’d make great hiking companions because of their endurance and would thrive in activities like tracking, field or agility trials, or search and rescue.
While their exercise needs and energy levels are high and they can be very vocal dogs, other parts of caring for this breed are low. Their short tricolored coats only need a weekly brushing and a bath as needed. Other care is just basic work like trimming nails as needed and regularly cleaning teeth and ears. Plus, they are a relatively healthy breed but may suffer from polyradiculoneuritis, an acute inflammation of the nerves that can cause paralysis.
The Treeing Walker Coonhound is an active, sensitive dog that would be a great running, hunting, or hiking partner. If you are an active person who can keep up with their energy levels, a Treeing Walker would be a great dog for you! These dogs aren’t meant for apartments and will need a fully secured and fenced back yard, in addition to daily walks/runs.
