The Treeing Walker Coonhound is unlike any breed of dog you are likely to encounter. Often reffered to simply as a “Walker,” this hound stands far apart from other sporting dogs.
The Walker hound owes his ancestory to the American Foxhound and the English Foxhound. This is apparent in the hound’s looks. The Walker hound is almost always tricolored in black, white and tan (sometimes called red). A saddle back, sometimes reffered to as a blanket back, type of coloration is preffered. “Ticking” or spotting will usually occur as the dog matures.
Coonhunters will often argue about the best hound breed, but the Walker’s assets are difficult to dispute. The Treeing Walker is an intelligent dog, sometimes to a fault. He knows his surroundings and is very aware of what is going on. He is usually a quiet dog in the kennel and has (what is reffered to as) “yard dog” sense. The Walker hound gets along with adults and children as well as other dogs. The Walker should never be left alone with cats, rabbits or other small animals as his strong game drive makes it a dangerous proposition. The Walker hound is a good family pet if he is allowed the physical and mental exercise that is needed. He is first and foremost, a hunter.
The Walker hound is of a competitive nature and has a tendency to be independent of other dogs. This is interesting as the breed has its beginnings as a pack hound (fox hunting). The hound is able to hunt consistently and successfully without the help of other hounds.
The Walker hound is so game driven that procedures may need to be taken to prevent the dog from trashing, that is, hunting skunk, possum, or deer. The Walker is rarely stubborn but each one that I have encountered tends to have a “moody” streak. The dogs are friendly, as a rule, and very rarely aggressive towards people. When training, be aware that this breed can be very sensitive to scolding. I have had a few dogs in my kennel absolutely refuse to come out of their boxes or look at me after I had raised my voice to them. They enjoy praise, affection and physical contact and are very eager to please. These dogs are definite individuals and need to be treated as such.
The consistency of success and the game drive of the Treeing Walker Coonhound ranks it up top at competitive coonhound events. The beautiful markings, intelligence and eagerness to please make the Walker a top winner in the show ring.
When choosing a pup, research the bloodlines, attend shows and hunts and ask to hunt with the pup’s parents – if this is possible. The United Kennel Club has information on national events and a message board community that will make your research much easier. The united Kennel Club also publishes a monthly magazine called Coonhound Bloodlines devoted to coonhunting. Other such publications include American Cooner and Full Cry.
If you enjoy coonhunting, the Walker hound is hard to beat. He’s sure to impress you with his determination and his skill. Enjoy your hound. You will both be better for it.
Reference:
- www.prohound.com – The Professional Kennel Club www.ukcdogs.com – The United Kennel Club www.tripleswalkers.com – Triple S Walker Kennels
