Treeing Walker Coonhound
At home, the Treeing Walker Coonhound is calm, affectionate, and forms strong bonds with its family, earning it the nickname 'The People's Choice.' It is a smart, brave, and sensible dog that thrives on a daily long walk or jog.
22–27 inches (male), 20–25 inches (female); 50–70 pounds
12–13 years
Daily long walk or jog, plus running and play
Bays loudly; a 'quiet' command is recommended
Fenced yard or access to one
Short, smooth, glossy; black, white and tan, or tan and white
High; needs a long walk or jog every day, plus running and play
Temperament
The Treeing Walker Coonhound is a smart, brave, and sensible dog that forms strong bonds with its family. At home, Walkers are calm and affectionate, with an even temperament that suits households with children of any age. They are confident, eager to please, and respond well to positive reinforcement.
They need consistent daily activity. A long walk or jog every day keeps them content and prevents the anxiety and destructive behavior that come from unspent energy. Walkers are runners capable of covering a lot of ground quickly, so a fenced yard or reliable access to one matters. They are not street-smart, especially when they have caught a scent, so off-leash freedom in uncontrolled areas is risky.
For a working household, the key consideration is time. Walkers love attention and benefit from a person home or a reliable daycare arrangement. They are sensitive dogs; a consistent, firm-but-positive approach works best, while harsh correction does not. They also make good candidates for agility and other dog sports.
“They have an even temperament that makes them great with children, and they form strong bonds with their families.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Daily needs and attention
A Treeing Walker Coonhound needs a daily long walk or jog, plus running and play, to stay settled. The breed is built for covering ground, and without enough activity they can become anxious and destructive. A fenced yard or reliable access to one helps. At home, the dog is calm, affectionate, and forms strong bonds with its family, so daily attention matters as much as exercise.
Training should be consistent and positive. The breed is intelligent and eager to please but sensitive; harsh correction does not work. Focus on a solid 'quiet' command, since baying is natural, and on discouraging jumping, a habit carried over from treeing prey.
Grooming is straightforward: a weekly brush and bathing only when needed. Check the ears regularly to prevent infections. The dog has a tendency to eat anything that smells good, whether it is food or not. A working household can meet these needs with a committed daily routine, a doggy daycare option for longer workdays, and a partner willing to stay consistent.
“But don't let that fool you; at home they are calm, affectionate, and great lovers of pillows and blankets.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Health and lifespan
The Treeing Walker Coonhound is a healthy, hardy breed with a life expectancy of 12 to 13 years. Males stand 22 to 27 inches and weigh 50 to 70 pounds; females are 20 to 25 inches at the same weight range. Their coat is short, smooth, and dense enough to protect against the elements. They are average shedders, needing a good brushing once a week and bathing only when necessary.
Two areas warrant regular attention. Ears: Walkers are prone to ear infections, so checking and cleaning the inside of the ears frequently is part of routine care. Digestion: the breed has a tendency to eat anything that smells good, whether it is food or not, and rawhide may cause digestive disorders.
Exercise is not optional. Walkers become anxious, high-strung, and destructive without sufficient daily activity. A working household should plan for a long walk or jog every day, plus some running and play. A fenced yard or access to one helps, and a doggy daycare service can cover days when the schedule does not allow for outdoor time.
“The Treeing Walker is a healthy, hardy breed.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Habits and behavior
At home, the Treeing Walker Coonhound is calm, affectionate, and a great lover of pillows and blankets. They form strong bonds with their families and have an even temperament that makes them well suited to households with children. They are highly intelligent and eager to please, responding well to positive reinforcement, though consistency matters since they look for loopholes.
Two habits to plan for: they are natural bayers, so a reliable "quiet" command helps in shared spaces, and they have a tendency to eat anything that smells good, whether food or not. They are also not street-smart once they catch a scent, making a fenced yard or secure access important.
Walkers are runners capable of covering a lot of ground quickly. A daily long walk or jog, plus running and play, keeps them content. Without enough exercise, they can become anxious and destructive. They love to work and make good candidates for agility and other dog sports. For a working household, a doggy daycare service or a committed daily exercise routine is essential.
“They have an even temperament that makes them great with children, and they form strong bonds with their families.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Housing: apartment, house, yard and crate
The Treeing Walker Coonhound is calm and affectionate at home, a great lover of pillows and blankets. At 22 to 27 inches tall and 50 to 70 pounds, they settle well in a house and form strong bonds with their families. Their even temperament suits homes with children of any age.
A fenced yard or access to one is listed as the ideal home setup. Walkers are runners capable of covering a lot of ground in a hurry, and they are not street-smart, especially when they have caught a scent. A secure enclosure matters.
An apartment can work if the daily exercise requirement is met. The breed needs a long walk or jog every day, plus running and play. Without enough activity, they become anxious, high-strung, and destructive. A working household should plan around this: the ideal owner either works from home or uses a doggy daycare service.
The source text does not address crate training or crate use for this breed.
“They have an even temperament that makes them great with children, and they form strong bonds with their families.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Challenges
The Treeing Walker Coonhound is a confident, even-tempered companion that bonds closely with its family. That same drive that makes them a devoted housemate also means they carry a serious need for daily movement. A long walk or jog every day is not optional; without it, Walkers can become anxious, high-strung, and destructive. Their hunting heritage also shapes a few habits that take patience to manage. They are prone to jumping up, a trait inherited from tracking prey up trees, and they will bay loudly when excited, so a reliable quiet command is worth the effort to establish. They are sensitive dogs who respond best to consistent, positive reinforcement; harsh correction tends to backfire. At home, keep an eye on what they can reach, as Walkers have a tendency to eat anything that smells good, and rawhide in particular can cause digestive issues. Their floppy ears need regular checking to prevent infections. Finally, once a Walker catches a scent outdoors, they can lose street-smart awareness, so a secure yard or leash discipline matters.
“They also have a tendency to eat anything that smells good, whether it is food or not.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
The fun part
The Treeing Walker Coonhound is a dog that genuinely enjoys being part of your daily life. At home, they are calm and affectionate, and they are great lovers of pillows and blankets. They form strong bonds with their families and love attention, so a working household that can set aside time for a long walk or jog each day will find a loyal, even-tempered companion. They are highly intelligent and fast learners, which makes training sessions feel like a game rather than a chore. They respond well to positive reinforcement, so a consistent, upbeat approach keeps them engaged. If you enjoy the outdoors, they make great candidates for agility and other dog sports, and their smooth, effortless gait suits a long run together. They are good with children of any age and bring a calm, affectionate presence to a household. Their big floppy ears frame a gentle hound face with round, dark eyes, a look that is easy to warm to.
“They love to work, so they make great candidates for agility and other dog sports.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Living with kids, cats and other dogs
The Treeing Walker Coonhound has an even temperament that makes it a natural fit for households with children of any age. It forms strong bonds with its family and loves attention, so a working household should plan for a long walk or jog every day to keep the dog settled. Without enough exercise, Walkers can become anxious, high-strung, and destructive. In the home, expect a dog that jumps up—a habit carried over from tracking prey up trees—and one that will investigate and eat anything that smells good, whether it is food or not. Training should be consistent and positive; Walkers are sensitive, and harshness will not work. The source material does not specifically address how this breed interacts with cats or other dogs, so prospective adopters should observe the individual dog's comfort level around other animals before finalizing a placement.
“They have an even temperament that makes them great with children, and they form strong bonds with their families.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
What to ask the rescue
Before finalizing an adoption, ask the rescue about the dog's current exercise routine. Treeing Walkers need a long walk or jog every day, and they thrive on activity, so understanding how much movement the dog is getting now will help you plan a consistent schedule. Ask whether the dog has access to a fenced yard or secure outdoor space, since Walkers are runners capable of covering a lot of ground in a hurry. Inquire about the dog's ear-care history; the breed's big floppy ears need regular cleaning to prevent infections. Ask whether training has used positive reinforcement, as Walkers are highly intelligent and sensitive, and harsh discipline does not work. Confirm the dog's eating habits, since this breed has a tendency to eat anything that smells good. Finally, ask whether the dog has been taught a quiet command and how they behave around children, since Walkers form strong bonds with their families and are generally great with kids of any age.
“They respond well to positive reinforcement techniques, but are very sensitive, so harshness and discipline will not work on these dogs.”
VCA Animal Hospitals