History

The Treeing Walker Coonhound is an American breed that descends from the English Foxhounds brought to Virginia by Thomas Walker in 1742. The precise crosses that contributed to the modern breed are not well documented. However, today’s Walker Coonhound, while it resembles the English Foxhound in appearance, differs in hunting technique in that it is much more persistent in keeping quarry treed and barking noisily to attract its master.

These are confident, stable, sensible dogs. They can run at great speeds and as a result have competed quite successfully in field trials, including night runs. They have a “hot nose”, a bugling voice and superb endurance. Treeing Walker Coonhounds make gentle family pets, as long as they get regular exercise and a chance to hunt. The breed was accepted into the American Kennel Club’s Foundation Stock Service in 1995.

Health

The average life span of the Treeing Walker Coonhound is 11 to 13 years. Breed health concerns may include polyradiculoneuritis.