Treeing Walker Coonhound
The people's coonhound — all-night stamina with a voice you can navigate by.
Vital stats
| Size | Large · 51–69 cm |
| Weight | 23–32 kg |
| Life expectancy | 12–13 years |
| Energy | Very high — bred to run all night |
| Shedding | Moderate |
| Coat | Smooth tricolour · white, black, tan |
| Group | Hound · AKC |
Breed traits
Friendliness
Care
Mind
Temperament
Bred to trail raccoons at speed through the dark and hold them treed with a rolling bawl until the hunters arrived, the Walker is driven, independent on scent and cheerfully sociable off it. At home that means an affectionate, easy-going companion with other dogs and people — and a selective deafness the instant its nose finds something interesting.
Habits & quirks
The tree salute
Anything chased upward — cat, squirrel, drone — gets announced from the trunk, at length.
Nose-first navigation
Walks are conducted entirely through the nostrils; the eyes are decorative.
The hound bawl
A voice bred to carry across valleys, deployed with pride in suburban gardens.
Pack-sofa protocol
Bred to live in packs, it sees no reason your sofa shouldn't hold everyone at once.
Care
| Exercise | At least ninety minutes daily — running, hiking or scent sports; an under-exercised Walker becomes a loud escape project. |
| Containment | A high, secure fence and a lead near roads — no recall reliably survives a hot scent. |
| Training | Patient, reward-based work pays off, but accept that the nose outvotes you outdoors. |
| Ears | The long drop ears need weekly checks and cleaning to head off infections. |
Common questions
Are Treeing Walker Coonhounds good family pets?
Yes, in active homes — they're gentle, sociable and great with children and other dogs. They're a poor fit for flats or noise-sensitive neighbours.
Do Treeing Walker Coonhounds bark a lot?
They bawl, bay and 'sing' — it's what they were bred for, and no training removes it entirely. Plenty of exercise and company keeps it to a minimum.
Can a Treeing Walker Coonhound be let off lead?
Only in securely fenced areas. Once the nose locks onto a trail, even a well-trained Walker may be half a county away before it hears you.