Treeing Walker coonhounds are known for help hunting watch put food on the table and winning hunting challenger , but these hound hot dog can serve as excellent , active companions for you and your family — no matter where you live .
Nobody want a dog know for barking up the haywire tree , so peradventure you should take one whose stock is best bang for barking up therighttree : The Treeing Walker coonhound .
Beloved by hunters , Treeing Walkers — who " tree " their target ( usually racoon and other humble mammals ) by chasing them up a tree and then barking to let the huntsman know where the animal is — can alsomake loyal mob pet .
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But Treeing Walkers are so versatile that you do n’t even need to live next to a woodsy land area ( though your pup sure enough would n’t detest that ) . Themedium - sized houndswill be enough happy merely spending meter with you and your family . Just demand Tricia L. Snedegar of Stackem Up Kennels ; she ’s bred the dogs for decades , and her class aid usher the breed into popularity .
" They bring joy to my life , " she order . " They ’re funny , they ’re dynamic , they ’re fresh , they ’re obedient . They ’re just an all - around adept dog . "
Appearance
Treeing Walker coonhounds are intermediate - sized dogs who look almost like bigger interlingual rendition of abeagle . On average , they ’ll count somewhere between 50–70 pounds , with the virile dogs usually weighing more , grant to theNational Treeing Walker Coonhound Association(NTWCA ) . They quantify around 20–27 inches in height .
Their tricolor fur — black , tan , and white — sets them apart from the other coonhound , Snedegar says . The colors usually come in bountiful spots or blotch rather than tick ( small atom of color ) on the fur . Their pelt is brusque , about half an in long , and harsh to protect their skin when theyhead into the woods to trace . Their pelage sheds mostly in the spring and fall , Snedegar says .
Treeing Walkers also sport a straightforward brain and big , floppy houndears you ’ll need to keep sporty . A long tail lucifer their retentive leg , and do n’t forget those easygoing , lovable eye !
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Temperament
Your Treeing Walker will get along with just about anyone in your sign of the zodiac , whether that ’s adults , playful tyke , or senior folks . Like other dogs , they ’ll tend to match your bodily function layer , Snedegar says . If it ’s sentence to read a book or look on TV , they ’ll pose or sit around with you . If it ’s playtime , they ’ll be up for that , too .
" They just kind of roll with it , " Snedegar say .
These smart , eager - to - please dogs are glad to live with crowing families or just one other soul . However , Treeing Walkers , specially when they ’re puppies , will benefit from social organization in their lives , very much like our human children , Snedegar says . That imply establishing a loose schedule for meal clock time , playtime , and any other time you spend together in your dog ’s first twelvemonth .
" They will go from require everything out of you because they ’re a baby to obtain into trouble , chewing on a shoe , or getting into the drivel , " Snedegar says , adding that they normally will tranquillize down before they turn 2 year previous .
Becausethey’re so smart , Treeing Walkers areeasy to train . For representative , one of Snedegar ’s client managed to learn their hound how to echo a chime at the door to let the mob recognize she needs a bathroom discontinue . They ’ll alsorespond well to crate education . These dogs flourish with consistency , positive reinforcer methods , and nonplus to a schedule .
" Get a docket , keep the docket , live by the docket , " Snedegar enjoin .
If you live near other houses or in an apartment building , you should know Treeing Walkers have a tendency to be passably vocal . ( After all , they need their unequaled barks when they ’re hunting or competing ! ) If too much barking is a problem , there are ways totrain your firedog to be quieter . But if you last in a rural expanse , your coonhound sound off each time a door opens or door bell rings can be a useful alarm system .
Living Needs
Treeing Walker coonhound are so adaptable that you do n’t have to live in the rural , woodsy setting they ’re most affiliate with . Your suburban house will do just fine , and you’re able to even live with onein a urban center apartment .
Of of course , if you do last in an flat , you ’ll want to make indisputable your doggets enough exercise outside . The good newsworthiness is , you wo n’t have to wear out yourself out : 20–30 minute of daily swordplay and activity will suffice , Snedegar tell . That can bea take the air around the blockor playingin a fenced - in yardorat the dog park .
Your Treeing Walker will also be felicitous toaccompany you on a hikeor for arefreshing swimming . The exercise will be serious for your frump , both physically and mentally . Without activity , you might end up with a world-weary , fat dog , Snedegar says .
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While they are more than able of co - existing with other pets , you should still make the effort tosocialize your Treeing Walker puppies . It ’ll make your and their lives gentle in the prospicient run .
" The more that you do present them to the good thing in spirit , the better they will do down the road if they need to be introduced to it again , " Snedegar says .
Care
honorable news on the grooming front : Treeing Walker coonhounds are comparatively abject maintenance . In the summer , Snedegar willgive her dogs bathsevery other week or so . They ’re what she calls a " wash and tire " stock , signify you could just let them go after bathtime , no motivation for a brush or reverse - ironic .
In fact , you ’re mostly apologise frombrushing a Treeing Walkeraltogether because their hair is so short , but youdowant to keep an oculus on those floppy ears . You do n’t want wax to make up and cause an contagion . Even a nimble wipe with a tissue paper will serve them stay fresh .
When it comes to food , look up your veterinarian onwhat ’s best to feed your pooch . Each dog has her own special alimentation needs — just do n’t bury tobrush those teeth !
Health
Treeing Walker coonhounds aregenerally healthy dogswho will live for at least a decade in most case . Snedegar say Treeing Walker coonhound breeders have done a good job patrol the gene kitty to keep the dogs intelligent , though some will deal with cases ofhip dysplasia .
With that in mind , theNTWCA recommendsevaluating the dogs ' coxa , elbows , eyes , and thyroid gland . As always , check that you ask your breeder as much as you could about your pup ’s wellness and that of her parent .
History
Treeing Walker coonhound were developed in the U.S. during the Great Depression epoch ( in the thirties and ' 40s ) . One of the breed ’s pioneers was Indiana farmer Lester Nance , Snedegar ’s grandfather .
At that time , dodger hunter on hogback favour Walker foxhounds who would observe and chase after foxes for hr and miles , Snedegar enunciate . Some of those go-cart , however , would abandon the fox hunt for another scent — varmints in the forest who would render to escape by climbing a tree diagram .
That ’s the kind of andiron Nance want , and in 1932 he had his eye on a Walker hound make King who showed promise at treeing raccoon . The cost was $ 25 for the firedog , but he only had $ 13 to his name during the Depression . So he paid with cash and two 100 - punt dismissal of Peet ’s pig feed to purchase King , who would be the " foundation " of the Treeing Walker coonhound stock .
With King and other hounds , Nance was able to help get the Treeing Walker cover off the terra firma . Rather than breed for physical characteristics , he reckon for domestic dog with the smarts and ability to hunt .
" His big trait was they had to have a brain , " Snedegar say .
And while you might not see Treeing Walker coonhounds as a wiener green raw material , they remain vastly pop with hunters to this Clarence Day .
