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AKC: Treeing Walker Coonhound breed overview

Hound group · United States

Treeing Walker Coonhound

Also called Treeing Walker, Walker Coonhound

An American night-hunting hound with huge stamina, a voice that carries for miles and a friendly nature.

The Treeing Walker was bred in the American South to track raccoons at speed through forest and then hold them in a tree with a loud, steady bark. The result is a tireless athlete with a big voice and an easygoing, sociable temperament that suits active, rural households.

Original AI-generated breed illustration

Weight

22 to 32 kg

48 to 70 lb

Height

51 to 69 cm

at the shoulder

Life expectancy

12 to 13 yrs

Activity estimate

120 to 150 min

editorial daily planning range

Adult-size estimate

18 months

approximate model input

Life with a Treeing Walker Coonhound

A Treeing Walker's ideal day starts with a run and ends with another. These hounds were bred to follow raccoons for hours through dark woodland, and they come with the stamina and lean frame of an endurance athlete. A walk around the block barely counts as a warm-up.

Walker foxhounds were developed in Kentucky in the 19th century by John W. Walker and George Washington Maupin, starting from English Foxhounds and a fast dog of unknown origin called Tennessee Lead, reputedly stolen from a deer chase. Hunters who preferred treeing raccoons to running foxes split off their own line, which the United Kennel Club recognized as the Treeing Walker Coonhound in 1945.

Off the trail, Walkers are relaxed and friendly, usually good with children and other dogs, and happy to share a sofa. The two big challenges are the voice and the nose. An excited or bored Walker announces itself to the whole neighborhood, and an interesting scent can carry it over the horizon. This is not a dog for a flat or for a household that values quiet evenings.

What stands out

Exercise

Plan for 90 minutes or more of vigorous exercise a day. Running, hiking, canicross, scent trailing and, of course, hunting or organized coonhound events all suit the breed. Walkers love following a trail, so drag trails and tracking games are excellent ways to tire the brain as well as the legs.

Read the full exercise guide

Activity planning estimate

120 to 150 min

editorial estimate, not a prescription

Energy

5 / 5

Playfulness 4 / 5

A great match for

very active owners, runners and hikers
rural homes with space
hunters
families wanting a friendly, sociable dog
multi-dog households

Think twice if

very loud, far-carrying bark
strong scent drive overrides recall
needs lots of daily exercise
may escape and roam
unsuited to flats or close neighbors

Personality and needs at a glance

Living together

Good with children

Good with other dogs

Open with strangers

Apartment friendly

Copes with alone time

Energy and character

Energy level

Playfulness

Easy to train

Barking

5 means very vocal

Care and climate

Grooming needs

Shedding

Drooling

Handles cold

Handles heat

How much a Treeing Walker Coonhound eats

Illustrative calculations for neutered adults at midpoint breed weights, with food at 370 kcal per 100 g and 100 g per cup. These are not measured breed requirements. Use actual weight, the food label and veterinary body-condition advice.

Dog	Weight	Calories	Dry food
Female, relaxed lifestyle	26 kg	1110 kcal	300 g (3 cups)
Female, typical pet	26 kg	1270 kcal	345 g (3.5 cups)
Male, typical pet	29 kg	1380 kcal	375 g (3.8 cups)
Male, very active	29 kg	1730 kcal	465 g (4.8 cups)

Full Treeing Walker Coonhound feeding guide Calculate for my dog

Care guides for the Treeing Walker Coonhound

Feeding25 cups; hunting dogs in season may need considerably more. Appetite varies widely between individuals, and some Walkers stay lean despite eating well.Read more Puppy growthWalker puppies grow fast and reach adult height around 12 months, but muscle, stamina and coordination keep developing until 18 to 24 months. Adolescents tend to be lanky, clumsy and full of energy.Read more GroomingGrooming is minimal. A weekly rub with a rubber mitt or hound glove removes loose hair and spreads natural oils through the coat.Read more TrainingWalkers are intelligent and generally willing, but they were bred to follow a trail on their own initiative, so they can seem deaf when a scent is calling. Short, upbeat, food-based sessions work best.Read more HealthCoonhounds are hardy dogs on the whole, and the Treeing Walker is no exception. Known issues include hip dysplasia, ear infections and coonhound paralysis, a nerve condition that in some cases follows contact with raccoon saliva.Read more

Things owners are often surprised by

1The breed traces to Walker foxhounds and a dog called Tennessee Lead, said to have been taken from a deer chase in the 1850s.
2The United Kennel Club recognized the Treeing Walker as a separate breed in 1945; the AKC followed in 2012.
3On a trail it gives a long 'bawl'; once the quarry is treed it switches to a rapid 'chop' bark.
4Walkers are known as some of the fastest hounds in competitive coonhound events.
5Adults usually weigh 23 to 32 kg (50 to 70 lb) and stay lean and athletic.

Treeing Walker Coonhound questions

How loud is a Treeing Walker Coonhound?

Very loud. Their bawl and chop can carry a long way, which is exactly what hunters needed to find their dogs in the woods at night. Neighbors in a terraced street or apartment block will hear every note. Training can reduce barking at home, but a Walker will always have a big voice, so the breed is happiest in rural or semi-rural homes.

Are Treeing Walker Coonhounds good family dogs?

Yes, for active families. They are friendly, gentle with children and sociable with other dogs, and most welcome visitors happily. Their energy and voice mean they need an outdoorsy household with space to run. A well-exercised Walker is a relaxed, affectionate companion; an under-exercised one can be a noisy, escape-prone handful.

Can a Treeing Walker be trained to come back off lead?

It is possible but takes long-term work, and many owners never fully trust it around fresh scent. Use a long line, reward recalls with food your dog loves, and practice in steadily more distracting places. Many hunters use GPS tracking collars for exactly this reason. Keep your dog on lead near roads at all times.

Do Treeing Walker Coonhounds get along with cats?

Many do, especially if raised alongside them. Their prey drive is aimed mostly at wildlife such as raccoons and squirrels. Even so, a cat running across the garden may trigger a chase. Introduce slowly, give the cat high places to escape to, and supervise until you are confident the dog treats the cat as part of the household.

Why does my coonhound howl at night?

Walkers were bred to hunt after dark and to use their voice to report what they find, so evening restlessness and howling are part of the package. Wildlife moving outside, sirens and boredom are common triggers. A long walk or scent session in the evening, a comfortable indoor sleeping spot away from windows, and rewarding quiet usually reduce it.

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