Treeing Walker Coonhound
About the Treeing Walker Coonhound
Temperament
Physical Characteristics
| Size Category | Large (50-100 lbs) |
|---|---|
| Height | 20-27" |
| Weight | 50-70 lbs |
| Coat Type | Smooth |
| Coat Length | Short |
| Colors | |
| Hypoallergenic | No |
Care Requirements
Exercise Needs
High (60-90 min/day)
60 minutes per day recommended
Grooming
Moderate - Weekly
Mental Stimulation
★★★★★Needs plenty of mental challenges
Drooling
★★★★★Living Conditions
Cost of Ownership
| Purchase Price | $400-$800 |
|---|---|
| Annual Cost | $1,100/year |
Costs vary based on location, breeder, and individual needs. Annual costs include food, veterinary care, grooming, and supplies.
Health Considerations
Like all breeds, Treeing Walker Coonhounds may be prone to certain health conditions:
Regular veterinary check-ups and proper care can help prevent or manage many health issues.
Best For
- Families with Children
- Active Owners
May Not Be Ideal For
- Apartment Living
- Long Work Hours Away
- Sedentary Lifestyles
Guides for your Treeing Walker Coonhound
The story behind the Treeing Walker Coonhound
The breed traces to the English Foxhound stock brought to the American colonies and to Virginia and Kentucky hunting families, with the Walker family of Kentucky central to its development in the nineteenth century. A stolen or acquired dog known as Tennessee Lead is traditionally credited with contributing important qualities of speed and drive to the Walker line. Originally the dogs were bred and registered as a strain of the American Foxhound, and hunters who preferred dogs that treed raccoon rather than running fox selected within that population. Treeing Walkers were recognised as a separate breed by the United Kennel Club in the middle of the twentieth century, with American Kennel Club recognition following much later. The breed is widely used for competitive coonhunting and night hunting across the United States and is bred overwhelmingly for working performance, with relatively few kept purely as pets.
Originally bred for: Raccoon hunter, treeing hound, night hunting competition dog. You can trace how working roles shaped today’s breeds across our dog guides.
Feeding a Treeing Walker Coonhound
Feed a performance-appropriate complete diet during hunting season for a hound that burns energy across long nights, and reduce portions in the off season to avoid weight gain. Divide daily food into two meals, with quiet rest either side given the deep chest.
Watch for: Nothing distinctive belongs to the breed. Hounds that scavenge on a night's hunting pick up upsets unrelated to what is in the bowl, and long ears trap damp. Recurring trouble needs a vet's opinion, not another food swap.
Not sure what to put in the bowl? See our picks for the best dog food for large breeds.
Mealtime extras: training treats worth keeping in your pocket, and a slow feeder bowl if your dog inhales dinner. Everything else lives in our dog nutrition and feeding hub.
Living with a Treeing Walker Coonhound
Day to day, the basics matter most: how much exercise your dog needs, how often to get out for a walk, and how much sleep is normal.
For play and enrichment, browse chew toys built for strong jaws and interactive toys for rainy days.
Gear that fits the breed makes life easier: a well-sized dog bed, a properly sized crate.
Raising a puppy? Work through crate training and the teething timeline — or see how old your dog is in human years with our dog age calculator.