Treeing Walker Coonhound

OVERVIEW OF THE TREEING WALKER COONHOUND

Treeing. Walker. Coonhound. Those are three distinct terms, each word explaining a unique facet of this distinctly versatile dog breed. The “treeing” refers to this dog’s ability to excel at the treeing method of hunting.

This is where a hunting dog is used to drive arboreal animals into trees. One such arboreal game is a raccoon. And since Treeing Walkers are famous for hunting raccoons, they get the “coonhound” in their names.

But that’s not all that Walkers are good at. They have a cold nose, which in hunting terms, means they can sniff out cold trails. This is great news for hunters of bobcats and cougars, two games that are particularly hard to hunt.

Once the quarry has climbed up into the tree, the Treeing Walker’s voice changes into an unmistakable chop. Interestingly, this practice of dogs barking at the tree gave rise to the idiomatic expression, “Barking up the wrong tree.”

Once isolated into the tree, the hunter can assess the quarry. Then, they may shoot down the animal or leave it if the effort isn’t worth it. So, it’s not surprising the Treeing Walker Coonhound is prized by hunters.

In fact, it was these hunters who developed the dog back in the Colonial era. Initially, crosses of the English Foxhound were used for this breeding. The credit for this initial breeding goes to the Kentuckian breeders, George Washington Maupin and John W. Walker. The latter man is after whom the dog gets its “Walker” name.

In the nineteenth century, a stolen Tennessee Lead was crossed into this Walker Hound genome. This dog was black and tan in color, and it greatly influenced what the present-day Treeing Walker Coonhound looks like.

This look is dominated by a short and smooth coat that has an almost glossy look to it. It can either come in a tri-colored pattern (white, tan, and black) or a bi-colored pattern (white and black or white and tan).

Wrapped under this coat are a well-built body and long legs that move with signature grace. From these legs to the withers, the Coonhound measures 20 to 25 inches, in the case of females, and 22 to 27 inches, in the case of males. Sitting atop this body is a broad skull that is flanked by long ears. Plastered onto the center of these ears is a pair of soft, dark eyes.

While these eyes were built to track game, you can expect them to look all cute and adorably at you if you’re planning to keep this dog as a pet. Speaking of pets, the Walker adapts well to living with other animals. You can even train it to co-exist with small animals, like cats and rodents, even though the Walker was bred to hunt such quarries.

On the note of training, the Coonhound demands a trainer who can match its intelligent and energetic personality. This energetic personality also means you’ll be better off with a large yard at your place where your TWC can burn some energy.

TREEING WALKER COONHOUND FOOD AND HEALTH

Treeing Walker Coonhounds must be fed a diet that is rich in both fats and proteins. This will help sustain their highly active lifestyle and muscular physiques. You can curate this diet by cooking homemade meals or opting for a commercially-produced dry kibble, such as this option from Annamaet. Along with 32 percent protein, it also contains chelated minerals to boost your dog’s immune system and L-Carnitine to foster its lean body mass.

Regardless of the option you go for, make sure you consult your pet’s nutritionist or vet. They will help you set the right kind of macros according to your TWC’s weight, age, sex, and lifestyle. A professional consultation will also ensure you don’t feed them anything that triggers any allergies.

Allergies in dogs can be a result of food, contact, and airborne particles. Symptoms of allergies range from itchy eyes and runny nose to sneezing and wheezing. If you notice any allergy symptoms in your Treeing Walker Coonhound, call your vet immediately.

But vet visits shouldn’t only be booked at times of emergencies. Regular visits to the clinic will ensure your dog’s physical health remains in tip-top shape. Your TWC may at first be reluctant to let the vet touch their paws and ears. So, instill in them the habit of having their face and feet handled from a young age. This will ensure vet exams don’t become too challenging as your pup grows old.

On the medical side of things, Walkers are prone to hip dysplasia and eye anomalies. So, make sure the breeder you get your woofer from provides the right kind of health clearances. In the case of hip dysplasia, this will be the hip radiographs of the puppy’s parents from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. For eye anomalies, you should keep an eye out for clearances from the Canine Eye Registry Foundation

Other than hereditary diseases, Treeing Walker Coonhounds are also prone to injuries, especially if you’re getting one for hunting.

So, always check for wounds whenever your dog returns from the wild. You should also take a look at the dog’s ears for ticks and infections during these checkups. You see, ticks can easily make a home under your Walker’s floppy ears. A good way to keep ticks under control is to keep your Coonhound’s ears dry since yeast and infections will only develop in moist areas.

LEASHES AND COLLARS FOR YOUR TREEING WALKER COONHOUND

Treeing Walker Coonhounds are scent hounds which means they were bred to use their sense of smell to hunt animals. This means their noses are extra sensitive and unique, interesting scents will throw them into a chasing frenzy. So, you must always keep your Walker leashed.

The exact length of this leash will vary according to your pooch’s size and temperament. The general rule of thumb here is to opt for a shorter leash if your dog’s a puller. Short leashes will also prove immensely valuable during training sessions as you’ll be able to easily control your dog.

If you’re in the market for a short leash for your dog, consider this option from Carhartt. Along with being durable and easy to use, it also boasts reflective webbing that will glow in low-light conditions. This will keep your doggo visible and safe during your late-night escapades.

This leash should be attached to a harness. The harness you buy for your Coonhound must be soft, breathable, and with a nice fit. An ideal-fitting harness will be snug enough to prevent your dog from backing out of it. But it should be loose enough for you to pass two fingers between the harness and your dog’s fur. Otherwise, the fabric will matt out your dog’s fur.

While a harness can also serve style statements, you should opt for a dog collar for this purpose. Consider something that comes in a myriad of collars, like the KRUZ PET KZV006-03L. You will then have plenty of chances to match outfits with your Rover. Aesthetics aside, a collar will also help you identify your dog when taking them out

BEST CRATES, BEDS, AND DOG HOUSES FOR TREEING WALKER COONHOUNDS

The Treeing Walker Coonhound is a highly energetic dog which means you’ll need a large yard where the dog can burn its energy. Just make sure this yard is covered by large fences. Trust us, the last thing you want is your Coonhound catching a funny scent and chasing after it. These dogs run super fast and underground shock fences won’t kill their chase frenzy.

Other than fences, you should also consider building a dog house for your furry friend. Here, your Walker can rest in between play sessions. Ideally speaking, a dog hound should be large enough for your dog to completely turn around.

Consider making something out of wood because of its insulation properties. Wooden planks are also easy to paint so you can easily give a unique personality to the place. Finally, be sure to construct the house under natural shade to keep things cool. It should also be built above the soil level for hygiene purposes.

If building a dog house from scratch sounds like too much effort for you, check out the ​​Petmate Precision Extreme Outback Log Cabin Dog House. It is easy to assemble and durable enough to last you some years.

While a dog house is fine for napping and lounging, you must not leave your dog out during nighttime. Your dog should have a proper bed for nighttime snoozing. Think about large orthopedic options to give your dog the proper support.

Finally, you’ll also need a crate for your TWC. This crate will serve as a safe space for your dog to retreat to when the guests come over or when you must leave the house unsupervised.

Coonhounds must be trained to accept this crate as home though, so be sure to create a welcoming vibe around it. This can be done by treating your canine for staying in the crate. You can further encourage this behavior by putting a cozy blanket and some toys inside.

TREEING WALKER COONHOUND TOYS

Walker Coonhounds love running around the yard and playing with their humans. High-energy sports like fetch and throw will be ideal to burn all their pent-up energy. If you don’t have the strength to keep up with your dog’s energy, consider getting an automatic dog ball launcher.

Something, like this option from PetSafe, will automatically launch tennis balls up to 30 feet away. You can even set the distance, height, and throwing angle for endless hours of playtime. Once your dog fetches the ball, you simply have to reload it into the machine. If that’s still too much effort for you, consider teaching your furball how the loading works to completely automate playtime.

Physical exertion aside, you must also stimulate your Treeing Walker’s amazing little brain. It is here that interactive dog toys will help you out. The Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound is a great option in this regard. It comes in various designs and difficulties, so there’s definitely something here for everyone.

GROOMING INSIGHTS FOR TREEING WALKER COONHOUND OWNERS

Other than checking your dog’s ears for signs of infections and wax buildup, you must also brush their teeth daily. For this purpose, use toothpaste that is specially formulated for dogs.

Nail trimming should be done every week or two, as long nails will hurt your Coonhound when it goes about frolicking around in the yard. Unsure when your dog’s nails need trimming? Simply keep an ear out for any clicking sounds. If your dog’s nails clack against the floor, it’s high time for a trimming session.

As far as the coat maintenance goes, the Walker requires next-to-nothing maintenance. It doesn’t shed and it is resistant to dust and dirt. Simply pat it down with a hound glove to keep it shiny. The occasional bath will ensure the coat maintains its shine.

TREEING WALKER COONHOUND ACCESSORIES

The accessories you buy for your Treeing Walker Coonhound should complement its temperament and lifestyle. Since these dogs have a knack for dashing away on scent-induced chases, consider getting them a GPS (global positioning system) dog collar.

The Tractive Waterproof GPS Dog Tracker is one such device. It can be attached to any dog collar. You’ll then be able to pinpoint your canine’s location. You can even set a virtual fence for them via the app. Your phone will then inform you when the dog crosses this fence.

Your dog’s location is not all that’s trackable. You can also monitor their health and fitness with something like the Whistle FIT. This option lets you set fitness goals for your pet and track their activity levels in real-time.

But fitness isn’t all about activity. You must also supervise your dog’s diet and feed them the right amount of calories. Fortunately, you can automate this aspect of their fitness routine by investing in a smart pet feeder.

Something like the PETLIBRO Automatic Pet Feeder will let you set portion sizes for your pet. The machine will then automatically dispense these portions at set times of the day. So, you don’t ever have to worry about misjudging serving sizes or missing out on feeding time.

Also, since there’s no human involvement here you don’t have to worry about being emotionally blackmailed to throw in some extra kibble in your dog’s bowl. You see, robots aren’t exactly affected by those adorable puppy eyes!