Treeing Walker Coonhound Dog Breed: Pictures, Info, Traits, Care, & More!

The Treeing Walker Coonhound is a medium-to-large-sized dog with a short, dense coat. It is a breed of hound descended from American and English Foxhounds; however, the Treeing Walker came to be in the 19th century when a dog breed called the “Tennessee Lead” was crossed with the Walker Hound. Like other members of the hound breed, Treeing Walker Coonhounds make excellent hunting companions.

Breed Overview

Treeing Walker Coonhounds often get mistaken for larger beagles. They have similar face shapes and long floppy ears. Like beagles, they have a tricolor pattern. However, Treeing Walkers are taller and heavier than Beagles. Treeing Walkers are also easier to train.

Treeing Walkers can make excellent pets for people. They are affectionate and loyal to their owners and family members. They can be a bit on the loud side and need to be around people most of the time. However, there is a reason why this dog is often referred to as “the people’s choice.” Read on to find out more about this incredible canine!

Treeing Walker Coonhound Characteristics

Treeing Walker Coonhound Puppies

If you are interested in buying a Treeing Walker puppy, you can find one for an affordable price. Many people buy these dogs for their affectionate and active temperament. Other people might be getting a Treeing Walker for their hunting ability. If that is the case, they will be going to reputable breeders. Purebred Treeing Walker Coonhounds from generations of adept hunters come with a higher price tag. Finding a Treeing Walker Coonhound in a shelter might not be an easy task, but you can still ask and you might get lucky.

Treeing Walker Coonhounds are not the right dog breed for those who live in apartments, since these dogs are very energetic and will need plenty of space to run around. They also shouldn’t be around small pets because they have high hunting instincts which may harm your small animals. Keep reading the Treeing Walker Connhound’s full care guide to see if this is the right dog for you!

Temperament & Intelligence of the Treeing Walker Coonhounds

There are many positive temperament traits that the Treeing Walker Coonhounds possess. They are very affectionate and love to play. However, this breed is very sensitive. They do not do well if they are left alone. If you own a Treeing Walker, you will have a side-by-side companion for life. This breed also does not do well in an apartment. Treeing Walkers have a high level of wanderlust, meaning they love to wander around and explore. Apartments are too enclosed to be healthy places for a Treeing Walker to live.

In addition to being playful and affectionate, Treeing Walker Coonhounds are intelligent. Their intelligence makes them a relatively easy dog to train. But they can be a bit stubborn at times. First-time dog owners might find this breed of dog harder to train overall. Treeing Walker Coonhounds will respond better to training and commands from an experienced dog owner.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪

Treeing Walker Coonhounds make good dogs for families. They are very affectionate and loving. This breed does need to be with an active family, though. Treeing Walkers need at least a minimum of an hour of exercise a day. They can be destructive if they are bored. Long walks or a game of fetch is an effective way to give your Treeing Walker some exercise.

These dogs are also great playmates with children. However, no child should be left unsupervised when playing with a dog. While the Treeing Walker is not aggressive by breed, they often forget they are medium-large dogs and could knock over a child when playing.

These dogs are not overly friendly towards strangers, but they are not suspicious or aggressive towards them, either. Treeing Walkers will warm up to strangers once they get used to them, so they will not make the best guard dogs.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?

With early socialization, Treeing Walker Coonhounds can get along fine with other dogs. However, they could be problematic with other kinds of pets, like cats. These dogs are natural trackers and hunters. They might consider a cat something they can hunt. If you already own a cat, adding a Treeing Walker Coonhound to your household is definitely not a good idea due to their high prey drive.

Things to Know When Owning a Treeing Walker Coonhound

Owning a dog or any animal is a privilege. Like all pets, Treeing Walker Coonhounds need certain things to thrive. Making sure that you can provide this hound with all the things they need to live a happy and healthy life must be considered before adopting one.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

A Treeing Walker Coonhound’s diet will vary depending on how active they are. If you take the hound hunting, they will need a diet higher in protein. If the Treeing Walker is not used as a hunting dog, they will need less food. Their daily activity will help you know how much food the dog needs. Dog food that is high in protein and healthy fats is a good fit for the Treeing Walker. Raw food is a good choice for them. This breed is prone to weight gain, so make sure the meal portions are controlled. Treats should be given sparingly as well. Too many treats are unhealthy for any pooch.

Exercise 🐕

Treeing Walker Coonhounds are active dogs. They love to run, explore, play, and chase. It is recommended that they get at least an hour of exercise a day. Some Treeing Walker Coonhounds can develop into couch potatoes, but this can lead to them gaining weight.

Training 🎾

In general, this breed of dog is easy to train due to its friendly temperament. The Treeing Walker’s intelligence helps make them respond to commands well, making them stubborn at times. A dog owner who has never owned a slightly stubborn dog before might find the Treeing Walker a minor challenge to train. Firm patience will be helpful when training your hound.

Grooming ✂️

Treeing Walker Coonhounds do not require much grooming because of their smooth short coat. This dog can benefit from being wiped down with a damp cloth or towel to keep its coat shiny. These dogs do not shed much, either. Something to check is their ears. Hounds have long floppy ears, which hide excessive wax buildup and other debris that could lead to infections. Ticks find ears a great place to burrow and feed, so you want to check them regularly.

Health and Conditions 🏥

Overall, Treeing Walkers are a healthy and sturdy breed with a life expectancy of around 12 years. There are a few health issues that the dog owner should be aware of.

Serious Conditions

Minor Conditions

Male vs Female

As seen in most dog breeds, the male Treeing Walker Coonhound is slightly taller and weighs more than the female. There is no significant difference in trainability or temperament between the male and female Treeing Walker.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Treeing Walker Coonhound

1. Treeing Walker Coonhounds were bred to track raccoons.

Back in the 1800s, raccoons were prized for their fur and their meat. Since raccoons will try to escape predators by climbing up trees, Treeing Walkers were bred with the agility to chase these and other small animals down.

2. This dog can climb trees.

Treeing Walkers were bred to hunt and will not stop hunting because an animal climbs up a tree. This is where the first part of their name comes from. When they are “treeing,” they surround and bark up the tree where the animal has climbed. A 6-foot-tall tree is no problem for a Treeing Walker to climb up.

3. They have two different barks.

Treeing Walker Coonhounds use two different barks to convey different messages when they are hunting. When they are on the scent of an animal, they make a bugle-like bark to alert the hunter. Once the animal they are tracking gets cornered or trapped, they will switch to a choppy bark.

Final Thoughts

The Treeing Walker Coonhound is “the people’s choice” for dogs because it is loyal, affectionate, and friendly. They love to play and exercise with you outdoors. However, these dogs are sensitive, a bit needy, and can be vocal. Before buying a Treeing Walker, think about whether or not your lifestyle can accommodate the needs of this dog. People who live in apartments, own cats or other small pets, or are not at home for most of the day should not adopt this dog breed. However, if you have a house with a yard, lead an active lifestyle, and are at home most of the day, then the Treeing Walker Coonhound can make an excellent pet and loyal companion.

Featured Image Credit: Mike Piers, Shutterstock