Skip to content 
Treeing Walker Coonhound Dog Breed Introduction
Treeing Walker Coonhound ( or Treeing Walker for short) is a medium-to-large sized Coonhound from the United States. Like other coonhounds ( Bluetick Coonhood, Redbone Coonhound, and Plott Hound), Treeing Walkers are highly vocal breeds. They are known for vocalizing in different ways to communicate while on the hunt. A Treeing Walker makes a bugle-like sound while tracking to help the hunter or owner to easily follow him. After trapping the prey in a tree, the dog switches to a short choppy bark. Treeing Walkers are hot-nosed dogs that will quickly abandon an older scent trail for a fresher one. These dogs may hunt by themselves or in a pack.
Treeing Walker Coonhound History
Treeing Walker Coonhound got its name from its “treeing” role of trailing the scent of a quarry until it scurries up a tree for safety. Meanwhile, the coonhound would be camping out below and barking waiting for the hunter to arrive. This breed takes the name ‘Walker’ from Thomas Walker, a breeder from Virginia who was pivotal in the development of the breed.
Treeing Walker was descended from Walker Foxhound that evolved from the Virginia Hounds that descends from the early English Foxhounds that were brought to the US. Initially, this breed was classified as an English Coonhound until 1945 where its breeders broke away from the English Version. The American Kennel Club recognized Treeing Walker as a breed in January 2012, therefore, making it 174th recognized breed by AKC.
Treeing Walker Coonhound Lifespan
A Treeing Walker has a lifespan of 12 to 13 years.
Treeing Walker Coonhound Grooming
A Treeing Walker has a smooth and short coat that sheds moderately all-year round. The coat repels mud and dirt making it a low-maintenance breed. Weekly brushing using a hound glove or a grooming mitt brush will remove loose hair and promote new hair growth. Regular brushing helps to reduce the amount of shed hair on the floor. Parents may also wipe down the dog using a damp towel to keep the coat shining.
Treeing Walkers need an occasional bath unless they roll off into something stinky. Use a hypoallergenic dog shampoo and conditioner for bathing and moisturizing the coat. After a bath, thoroughly clean off the grooming products from the coat using lukewarm water to prevent skin irritation. Wipe the eye corners using a damp clean wash cloth instead of soapy water that irritates the eyes.
Trim the nails of a Treeing Walker fortnightly using nail clippers or grinders to prevent overgrowth, cracking, and splitting. Overly grown nails are painful for a Treeing Walker while running and walking. Clean the ears on a weekly basis using an ear cleanser solution and cotton balls to remove excess wax and debris. While cleaning the ears, check out for signs of dog’s ear infection such as odor, dark discharge, and redness. Following an outdoor activity, pet owners should always check the ears. This is because the ticks like to burrow beneath the floppy ears of a Coonhound.
Treeing Walker Coonhound Shedding
A Treeing Walker sheds at moderate levels throughout the year. Weekly brushing will help to confine the loose hair in the brush rather than around the house.
Treeing Walker Coonhound Coat
A Treeing Walker has a Smooth haired coat that is short and glossy, although dense enough for protection.
Treeing Walker Coonhound Hypoallergenic
A Treeing Walker is not a hypoallergenic dog breed. It has a moulting coat that sheds moderately throughout the year. Shedding releases fur and dander into the environment aggravating allergies. Apart from Treeing Walker’s dander and fur, saliva, mucus, and protein contain a protein allergen that triggers inflammation.
Treeing Walker Coonhound Training | How To Train A Treeing Walker Coonhound
A Treeing Walker is a confident, intelligent, and loving dog. This breed enjoys interacting with humans. They make make excellent companion dogs for parents who understands the characteristics of the breed and is willing to work with their innate nature as a hunting dog. Treeing walkers are also eager to learn which is a plus while training. However, they are also independent dogs with a stubborn streak. This may seem difficult for a trainer who does not understand how the Coonhound brain works.
Use of positive reinforcements methods such as treats, toys, verbal praise, playtime, and petting encourages positive outcomes while training. Parents should also assume pack leadership. This is because Treeing Walkers are pack dogs that thrive where a pecking order has been established. Avoid use of harsh corrections methods such as yelling, beating, kicking, shoving and use of prong or choke collars. These methods makes the training process counterproductive.
Treeing Walkers easily get bored and distracted. Keep the training sessions short, fun, and challenging for a span of 5 minutes distributed throughout the day. Early training is key before the pet gets inclined to bad habits. Owners should not let their youngsters do things they would dislike in the future such as laying on the couch or bed. Socialization is key in raising a well-mannered, well-adjusted Treeing Walker. This training starts from the age of 3 weeks while the pup is with the breeder until the age of 16 weeks after it has already settled in its new home. Normally, owners take their pets home from the age of 8 weeks. Although, socialization may be a life-long process to ensure the dog matures to have a well-rounded temperament.
To socialize a Treeing Walker expose it to a wide variety of people, surfaces, animals, places, sight, smell, experiences, situations, and sounds such as baby crying sounds, door bells, whistles, washing machine, lawn mowers, sirens, and vacuum cleaners. Enrolling a Treeing Walker is also a form of socialization. The classes provide a controlled environment where canines get to interact. Puppy classes also empowers the pet parent to not only identify and correct bad habits, but also have access to training information and assistance.
Start teaching basic command words like come, sit, stay, lie down, heel, wait, leave it, etc. one at a time until the pooch is well-acquainted. Avoid issuing a command word while too excited or frustrated since it no longer sounds the same for your pet. Effectively housebreak a Treeing walker by creating a feeding schedule, crate training, and potty training. Consistency and patience is key while housebreaking.
Treeing Walker Coonhound Temperament | Traits
- Vocal.
- Versatile hunters.
- Confident.
- Loving.
- Intelligent.
- Alert.
- Tireless.
- Sensitive.
- Intense.
- Independent.
- Stubborn.
- Affectionate.
- Friendly.
- Energetic.
- Eager to learn.
Treeing Walker Coonhound Exercise
A Treeing Walker is an energetic breed that loves stretching its legs in a good long run. It makes an excellent candidate for someone who wants a hiking or running partner. Chasing a ball, romping in the backyard, or playing with a canine or human friends will keep a Treeing Walker mentally and physically stimulated. This breed has a high prey drive and should be on a leash for walks and hikes at all times. This is because Treeing Walkers may be unable to resist the innate urge to pursue an interesting scent.
Treeing Walker Coonhound Bark | Whining
As a hunting dog, a Treeing Walker is a vocal dog that vocalizes in different ways while on the hunt. While tracking, this breed makes a bugle-like sound so that the owner may easily follow him. After trapping the prey in a tree, a Treeing Walker switches to a short, choppy bark. While anticipating the hunt, these dogs are known for whining which is normal.
Treeing walker Coonhound Height
A female Treeing Walker has a height of 20 to 25 inches ( approx. 51 to 64 cm ) while its male counterpart has a height of 22 to 27 inches ( approx. 56 to 69 cm ).
Treeing Walker Coonhound Weight
Mature Treeing Walkers have a weight of 50 to 70 pounds ( approx. 23 to 32 kg ).
Treeing Walker Coonhound Size
A Treeing Walker is a medium to large-sized Coonhound that has a weight of 50 to 70 pounds ( approx. 23 to 32 kg ). However, Male Treeing Walkers are slightly taller with a height of 22 to 27 inches ( approx. 56 to 69 cm ) while female Treeing Walkers have a height of 20 to 25 inches ( approx. 51 to 64 cm ).
Treeing Walker Coonhound Aggression
A Treeing Walker is neither aggressive nor fearful. This breed gets along well with children and other dogs. Treeing Walkers are also even-tempered and difficult to drive into aggression towards fellow dogs or people. If well-trained, they can peacefully coexist with small animals like cats, despite being small-game hunters.
Treeing Walker Coonhound Biting
As earlier discussed, Treeing Walkers are even tempered and difficult to drive into aggression towards dogs or humans. Therefore, they have minimal chances of ever biting a person. However, Treeing Walker puppies are prone to nipping and biting when playing, exploring the environment, or during teething due to discomfort. Owners should discourage biting before it becomes a habit through redirection and bite inhibition training.
Treeing Walker Coonhound Health Issues
This is a robust and healthy breed that suffers from few health issues such as hip dysplasia, ear infections, and eye problems such as cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy.
Apart from Treeing Walker Coonhounds, other dog breeds include:
Treeing Walker Coonhound Names
A Treeing Walker owner may decide to find a name for the pet before it joins them, home from the breeder or days after the pup has settled home to understand better the personality of the dog. Parents may get name inspirations from the heritage of the breed, coat color, pattern, and texture, personality, celebrity Treeing Walkers, food, movies, nature, books, or historical figures.
Regardless of where you source the name, ensure the name chosen freely rolls off your tongue and will not make you embarrassed when the name is uttered out loud in the public places. Treeing Walkers and other dog breeds better understand names that have vowels.
Avoid giving your Coonhound a name that rhymes with the command words to avoid confusion especially during the hunt. If the owner settles with a long name, he or she should ensure the breed has a cute nickname. If a treeing Walker shares a name with any household member or guest that frequent you home, it may cause confusion. Some of the names that Treeing Walker owners give to their pets include:
- Hunter.
- Daisy.
- Murphy.
- Nipper.
- Annie.
- Poco.
- Casey.
- Duke.
- Tucker.
- Ginger.
- Zoe.
- Pixie.
- Bambi.
- Tootsie.
- Zeus.
- Buddy, etc.
Treeing Walker Coonhound Colors
Conformation dogs should have a tricolor of white, black, and tan. Although, some Treeing Walkers may have a bi-color pattern of tan and white or black and white.
Treeing Walker Coonhound Food
The amount of food that a Treeing Walker feeds on depends on its age, metabolism, size, activity level, and body build. Treeing Walker puppies have a high metabolism rate as compared to adults or senior dogs. Therefore, a puppy should feed 3 or 4 times a day immediately they start weaning until the age of 6 months. From the age of 6 months, Treeing Walkers will feed a total of two meals for life with snacks in between.
Like other dogs, Treeing Walkers should feed on the right amount of minerals, protein, amino acids, fatty acids, carbohydrates, water, and fats to maintain a healthy bone structure and weight. Depending on the budget and the time of preparation needed, parents may feed a Treeing Walker with dry food, wet food, home made meals, or a raw diet. Owners who prefer commercial dry or wet food should ensure the first three ingredients that are listed are proteins from a known source.
Commercial foods should neither have fillers, chemicals, meat by-products, additives, nor preservatives. The same goes to the snacks given to the pets. Dry or wet food should also be formulated for medium-to large sized puppies, adults, and senior depending on the age of your Treeing Walker. Check the physique of your dog to tell whether it is underweight or overweight.
The pooch is underweight if the ribs are visible. However, if the ribs are not visible but can be felt without pressing hard, a Treeing Walker has an ideal weight. Although, if the ribs cannot be felt after pressing, the pet is overweight and should be exercised. Owners who want to switch to another pet food should gradually do this over a period of one month by mixing old food with new food. As the week progresses, the amount of old food decreases as the amount of the new food increases until the Treeing Walker is only feeding on the new food.
Are Treeing Walker Coonhounds Aggressive
No. Treeing Walkers are even tempered dogs that are barely driven into aggression towards people or fellow dogs.
Are Treeing Walker Coonhounds Smart
Yes. Treeing Walker Coonhounds are smart dogs that are eager to learn.
Are Treeing Walker Coonhounds Protective
No. Although a Treeing walker is alert in the field, at home they are mellow and sensitive lovers of comfort.
Do Treeing Walker Coonhounds Have Webbed Feet
No. A Treeing Walker has a cat-like, compact feet.
Do Treeing Walker Coonhounds Shed
Yes. Treeing walker Coonhounds shed all-year round at moderate levels.
Do Treeing Walker Coonhounds Bark A Lot
Yes. Treeing Walkers are vocal dogs that have a bugle bark to alert the hunter of their whereabouts. Once the prey has been cornered up the tree, a Treeing Walker shifts to a choppy bark.
Treeing Walker Coonhound Quick Facts
- Treeing Walker Coonhounds have a distinctive bugle-like sound that allows the hunter to identify their hound from great distances.
- These dogs make great companion dogs for parents who understand the temperament of the breed.
- Treeing Walkers are affectionate and friendly dogs that are hardly driven into aggression towards people or fellow dogs.
