A smart, brave, and sensible hunter, the Treeing Walker Coonhound is a genuine American favorite, nicknamed "The People’s Choice." Don’t let the name fool you—Walkers are runners and are capable of covering a lot of ground in a hurry.
Characteristics - Called 'the people's choice' among all coonhound breeds, the energetic Treeing Walker is perfectly suited for the task for which it was bred - tracking and treeing wild raccoons in their natural haunts. The breed's competitive spirit makes it an ideal choice for competitive coonhound events where the breed excels. The Treeing Walker Coonhound is alert, intelligent, active, courteous, and courageous with extreme endurance and the desire to perform.
Height - Slightly more at shoulders than at hips. Shoulders should measure: Males, 22 to 27 inches, Females, 20 to 25 inches. Balance is key with all of the parts coming together in proper balance to form the whole. Weight - Should be in proportion to dog's height. Working dogs are not to be penalized when shown, if slightly under weight.
Skull - Should be medium length with the occipital bone prominent; cranium is to be broad and full. Fault-very flat narrow skull; having excess of bone; not in proportion to the body. Ears - Should be set moderately low and of medium length, reaching or nearly reaching to the tip of the nose; oval or round at the tip, hanging gracefully towards the muzzle. Fault - short ears set high on the head. Eyes - large, set well apart with soft hound-like expression, pleading and gentle; dark in color, brown or black. Fault - yellow or light eyes, protruding or small. Muzzle - Medium length and rather square; medium stop, neither Roman-nosed nor dish faced. Nostrils - large and black. Fault - any other color than black.
Neck and Throat - clean with no excess of skin, neck of medium length, rising from the shoulders cleanly; strong but not loaded, smooth. Fault - short, thick neck carried in line with the shoulders; throatiness. Shoulder-blade sloping forward and downward at a 45 degree angle to the ground; presenting a laid back appearance, neither loaded nor heavy, providing freedom of movement and strength. Length of shoulder blade and upper arm to be equal. Chest and Ribs - Depth of chest is more important than width; descending to the approximate point of elbow. Ribs well sprung, never flat or slab-sided. Back and Loins - Strong, muscular back of moderate length; topline nearly level or sloping slightly from shoulder to rear. Faults - higher in the rear (hips) than at the withers, roached or sway-back. Tail - set moderately high, coming right off the topline, carried well up and saber-like. Curved gracefully up, tapered and moderately long without flag or excessive brush. Fault - having an excess of curve in tail; rat tail; excessive brush.
Forelegs - Straight and parallel to each other, from elbow to pastern. Pastern, from the joint to the top of the foot is strong and distinct, slightly slanting but standing almost perpendicular to the ground. Faults - out at the elbow, crooked forelegs, weak pasterns, knuckling over. Feet - thick pads, well arched toes giving a 'cat foot' appearance, tight. No rear dewclaws. Front dewclaws may be removed. Fault-flat, splayed feet.
Hind Legs - Muscular and powerful with great propelling leverage. Well muscled thighs of considerable length. Stifles well bent. Clean hocks. Legs viewed from the rear are parallel. Defined angulation denotes endurance and power.
Smooth hair that is glossy and short, yet dense enough for protection while being a close and hard hound coat. Fault - too short or thin or too soft.
Tri-colored is preferred, white, black and tan. White may be the predominant color with black marking and tan trim; or black may be the predominant color with white marking and tan trim, such as a saddle back or blanket back. White with tan spots or white with black spots may be accepted. Fault-any other color combination will be penalized when shown.
Gait is smooth and effortless, free and balanced, showing good reach in the front with powerful drive in the rear quarters, producing efficient movement, covering ground effortlessly.
Working dogs will not be penalized for scars or blemishes due to hunting injuries.
Hound
Smart, Brave, Courteous
Few things can quicken a coon hunter’s pulse like the sight of this swift, tricolored hound in full stride—the long, muscular legs, the powerful and propulsive hindquarters, and the streamlined frame all working to cover maximum ground with minimum effort. Later, basking in the warmth of a campfire after an honest night’s work, this sweet-faced hound will look up and stir your soul with his gentle, pleading expression. Mercy, what a pretty picture! No wonder Treeing Walkers are called the People’s Choice.
Let’s unpack the name a word at a time. “Treeing” refers to a hound trailing the scent of his quarry until the quarry scurries up a tree for safety, with the hound camping out below and barking, vigorously and distinctively, for as long as it takes for the gun-toting hunter to arrive. “Walker” is Thomas Walker, of Virginia, who in the mid-1700s was a pivotal figure of the breed’s early development. “Coonhound” is a dog developed to “tree” raccoons and, sometimes, bigger game.
Characteristics – Called ‘the people’s choice’ among all coonhound breeds, the energetic Treeing Walker is perfectly suited for the task for which it was bred – tracking and treeing wild raccoons in their natural haunts. The breed’s competitive spirit makes it an ideal choice for competitive coonhound events where the breed excels. The Treeing Walker Coonhound is alert, intelligent, active, courteous, and courageous with extreme endurance and the desire to perform.
The Treeing Walker Coonhound should do well on a high-quality dog food, whether commercially manufactured or home-prepared with your veterinarian’s supervision and approval. Any diet should be appropriate to the dog’s age (puppy, adult, or senior). A hound who isn’t working can be prone to becoming overweight, so owners should monitor the dog’s calorie consumption and weight level. Treats can be an important aid in training, but giving too many can cause obesity. Learn about which human foods are safe for dogs, and which are not. Check with your vet if you have any concerns about your dog’s weight or diet. Clean, fresh water should be available at all times.
The Treeing Walker is a very low-maintenance breed. His short, smooth coat repels dirt and mud, and he will require only the occasional bath to maintain his handsome appearance. Wiping him down with a damp towel or a hound glove will keep his coat shining. His nails should be trimmed every couple of weeks, as long nails can cause the dog discomfort and structural problems. A hound’s ears should be cleaned regularly to keep them free of excess wax or debris and to check for any signs of ear infection. The Treeing Walker will look forward to grooming sessions as bonding experiences with the human he loves.
Like most coonhounds, the Treeing Walker is a high-energy breed who delights in stretching his legs in a good, long run. He is an excellent candidate for someone who wants a running or hiking companion. While most coonhounds can quite happily become couch potatoes, most will still appreciate long daily walks at a minimum. Romps in the backyard, chasing a ball, or playing with human or canine friends will help to keep him mentally and physically healthy. The Treeing Walker has a very high prey drive and should be on a leash for walks and hikes, as he may be unable to resist the instinct to pursue an interesting scent.
The Treeing Walker Coonhound is very intelligent and eager to learn. These hounds love to please their people, but they also have a stubborn, independent streak. This can make them seem difficult to a trainer who doesn’t understand the coonhound brain. Keeping training lessons fun and entertaining and praising good behavior and jobs well done with treats as well as effusive praise will result in a hound who is a joy to live with.
The Treeing Walker is overall quite a healthy breed, and responsible breeders screen their stock for health conditions such as hip dysplasia and eye anomalies. Be sure to always check the dog’s ears when he comes in from outside, as ticks love to burrow beneath the coonhound’s floppy ears. Removing excess ear wax and debris and checking the ears at least weekly will help you to avoid common ear infections.
