Breeds / Large
Treeing Walker Coonhound puppies
Sociable, confident and built to run, the Treeing Walker Coonhound is a fast American scenthound that is easy with people and other dogs and extremely loud on a trail.
The facts
- Size class Large
- Country of origin United States
- Adult weight 22.7 to 31.8 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 50 to 70 lb
- Adult height 51 to 69 cm
- Energy level Very high
- Grooming Low
- Coat type Short smooth
- Typical lifespan 12 to 13 years
- Good with children Reliably good
- Good with other dogs Reliably good
Where these come from:
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming and the temperament ratings, coat type, country of origin and health notes
About the Treeing Walker Coonhound
The Treeing Walker Coonhound comes from the American South, bred down from the Walker strain of English Foxhound to trail raccoon at speed and bay at the tree until the hunter arrives. It is a tall, lightly built tricolour hound with a short smooth coat and long drop ears. The temperament is genuinely sociable: rated top of the scale with both children and other pets, confident rather than nervous, and equipped with a bawling voice that carries a very long way across open country.
This is a running dog and needs the exercise to match, ideally long daily runs or hikes rather than a turn round the block. Prey drive is high, so it stays on lead outside a fence. The coat is about as easy as coats get, needing a wipe down with a damp towel and an occasional bath, but the ears trap ticks, wax and debris and want checking every time the dog comes in from outside. It suits an active household with tolerant neighbours, and it does not suit anyone who wants quiet.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Treeing Walker Coonhound puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A large breed puppy at eight weeks looks deceptively normal sized and will roughly double every few weeks for a while. Keep exercise short and low impact, the growth plates are wide open. This is a very high energy breed. The mistake owners make is trying to tire it out physically. Training, scentwork and puzzles will do more than distance ever will. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Hip dysplasia, screened by hip evaluation of breeding stock
- Eye anomalies, picked up by an ophthalmologist evaluation
- Ear infections in the long drop ears, found on weekly ear checks and cleaning
- Ticks lodged under the ear leather, found by checking the ears after every outing
From Treeing Walker Coonhound breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/treeing-walker-coonhound/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Your Treeing Walker Coonhound puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Large for a Treeing Walker Coonhound.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 22.7 to 31.8 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Other large breeds
Previous: Treeing Tennessee Brindle · Next: Turkish Kangal Dog
Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.