Are you thinking about getting a Treeing Walker Coonhound? Owning a dog is not just a privilege but a responsibility. What things should you know before deciding if this dog breed is right for you and your family? These medium-sized friendly dogs are full of energy and power and require a lot of exercise, but they are loyal and well-mannered companions to those who have the energy to keep up with them. Below is everything you need to know about caring for a Treeing Walker Coonhound.
Breed Characteristics
Adaptability
How easily a dog deals with living in an apartment. Despite the dog's size, you should also consider energy level, calmness, and friendliness.
Some breeds bond very closely with their family and are more prone to panic and separation anxiety when left alone. When left alone, they can become very destructive, bark, whine, chew and cause mayhem. These breeds do best in a home with a family member around during the day, can go to work with their owner, or recommend attending doggy day care if the owner is not home during the day.
Low sensitivity dogs are easygoing, tolerant, and resilient. They can handle a noisy and chaotic household, a loud or assertive owner, and tolerate an inconsistent or variable routine.
Short coat and little to no coat breeds are vulnerable to cold climates. These breeds will have a low cold tolerance and need to live inside in a cool climate and should have a jacket or sweater on for chilly walks.
Breeds with a thick and double coat are vulnerable to overheating. Breeds with a short nose and flat face are also vulnerable as they can't pant as well to cool themselves off. If these breeds of dog live in a warm and humid environment, you will need to be extra cautious about taking them outdoor in the heat.
Friendliness
Friendliness towards cats and humans is very different. Some breeds are gentle and accept cats readily as part of the family. Some breeds will chase, fight, or rough play with a cat and cause severe injury. However, no matter the breed, proper socialization, and training can improve the situation.
Friendliness towards other dogs. Some dogs may try to dominate other dogs and attack and fight, while others would rather play. However, no matter the breed, proper socialization, and training can improve the situation.
How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members or other people he knows well. Some breeds are independent, some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while others treat everyone they know like it's their best friend.
Breed, however, isn't the only factor affecting affection levels. Proper socialization and training can improve the situation.
Kid-friendly dogs should be gentle with children, be more tolerant of screaming and running children as well as other children's behavior.
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some dogs will greet a stranger with wagging tails, while others are shy, reserved, cautious, or aggressive. However, no matter the breed, proper socialization, and training can improve the situation.
Health And Grooming
Amount of bathing, brushing, trimming, and professional grooming needs. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.
Drool-prone dogs may drape ropes of slobber on your arm or wet spots on your clothes when they come over to say hello. If you've got a laid-back attitude toward slobber, fine. But if you are a neat freak, dogs that are drool prone may not be the right choice for you.
Due to poor breeding practices, some breeds are prone to certain genetic health problems. However, this doesn't mean that every dog of that breed will develop those diseases, and it just means that they're at an increased risk.
If you're adopting or rescuing a puppy, it's a good idea to find out which genetic illnesses are common to the breed you're interested in. You may also want to ask if your shelter or rescue has information about the physical health of your potential pup's parents and other relatives.
If you are purchasing from a breeder, be sure to do your research. Purchase from a reputable breeder and ask for the parent's health records to understand what potential health issue your pup may have.
Amount and frequency of dog hair shedding.
If you are getting a dog, you'll need to deal with some level of dog hair on your clothes and in your house. However, shedding does vary greatly among the breeds. Some dogs shed year-round, some "blow" seasonally, some do both, and some shed hardly at all.
Trainability
Easy-to-train dogs are more adept at forming an association between a prompt, an action, and a reward (such as treats, appraise, or toys). Other dogs need more time, patience, and repetition during training.
Dogs bred for jobs requiring decision-making, intelligence, and concentration, need to exercise their brains. Such as, dogs bred to run all day need to exercise their bodies. If they don't get the mental stimulation they need, they can become destructive and exhibit behaviors such as digging and chewing. Obedience training and interactive dog toys are good ways to give a dog a brain workout, as are dog sports and careers, such as agility and search and rescue.
Common in most breeds during the puppy stage. Mouthiness means a tendency to nip, chew, and play-bite (a soft, fairly painless bite that doesn't puncture the skin). Mouthy dogs are more likely to use their mouths to hold or "herd" their human family members, and they need the training to learn that it's fine to gnaw on chew toys but not on people. Mouthy breeds tend to really enjoy squeaky toys, as well as a good chew on a toy that's been stuffed with kibble and treats.
Dogs who were bred to hunt have an inborn desire to chase--and sometimes kill. Anything whizzing by, such as cats, squirrels, or rabbits, can trigger that instinct. Dogs who like to chase need to be leashed or kept in a fenced area when outdoors, and you'll need a high, secure fence in your yard. These breeds generally aren't a good fit for homes with smaller pets that can look like prey, such as cats, hamsters, or small animals. Breeds that were originally used for bird hunting, on the other hand, generally won't chase. But you'll probably have difficulty getting their attention when birds fly by.
Some breeds are more vocal than others. When choosing a breed, think about how often the dog vocalizes with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passing bird, some may use other sounds to express themselves.
Physical And Mental Needs
The amount of physical and mental stimulation a breed needs. High-energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. Low-energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to lay around and sleep.
Some breeds do fine with a slow evening stroll around the block. Others need daily, vigorous exercise, especially those originally bred for physically demanding jobs, like herding or hunting.
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities. Without the brain exercise they need, they can be destructive and have unwanted behavior issues.
A dog's inclination to be protective of his family members, home, yard, or even car.
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window.
Origins of the Treeing Walker Coonhound
The origins of the Treeing Walker Coonhound go back several hundred years. The Treeing Walker Coonhound descends from both English and American Foxhounds, which were used as hunting dogs. Therefore, Treeing Walker Coonhound was bred to be used as a hunting dog on small game.
This breed originated in the United States when a black and tan dog known as "Tennessee Lead" was crossed with a Walker Hound in the 19th century. The development of this breed began in the mid-1700s but didn't really begin to take shape until the 1800s.
Treeing Walker Coonhounds are valued for their hunting skills and work ethic. They were quick to follow a scent and then hold their prey at their tree until the hunters came, using their big voices to signal hunters where to go. These factors make them one of the more preferred coonhound breeds.
Originally included in the breed group name English Coonhound, the Treeing variety was recognized as a breed in its own right by the United Kennel Club in 1945. The American Kennel Club followed suit in 2012.
Height: 22-27"
Weight: 50-70 lbs
Height: 20-25"
Weight: 50-70 lbs
Life Span: 10-13
Breed Group: Hound
Size
Treeing Walker Coonhounds are medium to large dogs. Females grow to be 20-25" tall, and males grow to 22-27" tall. They weigh between 50 and 70bs full grown.
Personality
Treeing Walker Coonhound dogs are loving and loyal companions. When their high needs for activity are met, they are mellow house dogs with friendly, affectionate natures.
Appearance
Treeing Walker Coonhounds have a low-maintenance, short coat that is smooth and colored white, black, or tri-colored, with various markings.
Temperament
The temperament of a Treeing Walker Coonhound is very moderate if they are properly cared for. They make good family pets since they love to be around their people and make good companion dogs. But they must be properly socialized and consistently trained to be well-mannered around children, strangers, and other dogs. A walker hound is a loyal, courageous, and friendly dog, though it can be quite vocal, which should be taken into consideration when deciding.
Diet/Nutritional Needs
Your dog's diet will need to be a complete and high-quality dog food. The meals are generally split up into at least two meals a day to prevent bloat, but your vet should also discuss all nutrition and dietary needs. Your vet will help you determine the quantity of the food and the type for your Treeing Walker Coonhound, depending on its weight, size, age, and activity levels. You will need to be careful not to overfeed your puppy, whether with treats or other human food since this can lead to weight issues and developmental problems.
Activity/Exercise Needs
Because the Treeing Walker Coonhound is a hunting breed, it has an extremely high level of energy that must be exercised. These dogs are strong, fast, with incredible stamina, and require physically and mentally challenging exercise. They need owners who live an active lifestyle since they prefer to be loyal to their people, so it is impotent that you are aware of the time commitment of this breed. Treeing Walkers need at least 1-2 hours of activity every day. This can be walking, running, jogging, or hiking, as well as various dog sports like tracking and agility. They enjoy games like fetch and tug-of-war as well.
Because these dogs have a very high prey drive, you must always exercise them on a leash when you are not in an enclosed area. Otherwise, your dog may take off at some animal scent. Enclosed areas should also have fences that are very tall since Treeing Walker Coonhounds are very adept at scaling fences.
If your dog does not get adequate exercise, it will resort to trouble behaviors such as excessive barking or baying and becoming destructive in its boredom. Bored dogs can also become anxious and aggressive, so if you do not have the time or space to care for this dog breed properly, you should consider something less active.
Grooming Needs
On the flip side, Treeing Walker Coonhound dogs have minimal grooming needs. Their short coat repels dirt and barely sheds if the loose hairs are brushed out once a week or so. There may be a bit more dog hair shedding seasonally, which may require a few more brushes a week to keep hair messes to a minimum. You only need to bathe your coonhound when it gets first, and you can easily wipe them down with a wet towel in between bathing to keep the coat clean.
It would be best if you had the nails checked monthly and clipped as needed. Brushing your dog's teeth can help with dog breath and any tooth problems. One important aspect of caring for a Treeing Walker Coonhound is that you have to be vigilant about check-in and cleaning their floppy ears to prevent infection, ticks, and other issues.
Adaptability
Treeing Walker Coonhounds are a pretty adaptable breed. As long as their humans are close by and there is plenty of room to roam, these dogs thrive in many settings. They can even be considered for apartment living through their barking and baying may bother nearby neighbors. If properly trained, Treeing Walker Coonhounds can get along with other pets though their prey drive may make this a little more difficult with smaller pets. Provided these dogs get ample exercise and are trained and socialized from a young age, they are very adaptable creatures.
Trainability
For the most part, Treeing Walker Coonhounds are pretty easy to train. They are intelligent dogs and are eager to please. However, they can become stubborn and strong-willed, and using positive training methods will be very important to counter it. You should start obedience training your Treeing Walker puppy as early as possible and enroll it in training classes as soon as it meets the requirements. Walker hounds must be thoroughly trained and fully socialized if they are going to be well-mannered pets, so consistency and positivity are key.
Life Expectancy
Healthy, well-cared-for Treeing Walker Coonhounds have a life expectancy of about 12-13 years.
Potential Health Issues for Walker Coonhounds
Generally, Treeing Walker Coonhounds are quite a healthy breed of dog though they are prone to a few hereditary and genetic health problems.
Hip Dysplasia
This common orthopedic condition affects the stability and function of the hip joint. Factors such as excessive growth rate, types of exercise, improper weight, and unbalanced nutrition can magnify this genetic predisposition. It develops due to a multitude of reasons, but mostly, it is a genetic health problem that is quite common in large dog breeds. Hip Dysplasia can even start in your walker coonhound puppies.
Ear Infections and Other Ear-Related Issues
This inflammatory reaction to a bacterial or fungal overgrowth in a dog's inner or outer ear canal is more common in dogs with long floppy ears. These infections need to be caught early because the deeper the infection goes, the harder it is to treat and the more damage it can cause. Ear infections are very painful to dogs, and symptoms can include your dog pawing at his ears or shaking his head a lot. A few of the most common irritants include ear mites, allergies, water in the ear, excessive hair around the ear opening, and ear tumors or polyps.
Eye Problems
Eye issues include trouble with allergies, infection (like a pink eye), a corneal ulcer, chronic dry eye, and glaucoma.
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