The Treeing Walker Coonhound is a crossbreed of the Tennessee Lead, a dog with an unknown origin, and the Walker Hound. It was not officially recognized as an independent dog breed until the mid 1940s. The breed directly descended from English Foxhounds which were first brought by Thomas Walker in Virginia in the year 1742.

The importation of foxhounds to Virginia was Thomas Walkers attempt to introduce the New World to the English foxhunting tradition. But the tradition did not become a popular practice until a couple of years later. Treeing Walker Coonhounds are natural born hunters.

They are especially known for their ability to "tree" any prey. They are natural hunters and if they are trained well, they will learn to let out a distinctive howl to let the hunter know that the prey has been cornered and that the chase is about to come to an end. They may not be the best urban or suburban pets but they sure are the best in doing what they are seemingly designed to do " hunting.

Coonhounds are naturally affectionate and are completely efficient aside from being unstoppable and untiring. They are natural athletes and are a lover of warm climates and they love to run around and swim. Agility is one of their most remarkable traits so you would rarely see them lying around to sunbathe or take naps.

Average people would often mistake Walker Coonhounds for oversized beagles. Their shoulders are sturdy, legs lean and straight; their coats are of two or three colors and are typically short and smooth. Body width is usually at 20-28 inches and weight is at around 50-70 pounds and their ears are larger than their heads.

Coonhounds become restless when they lack physical and mental exercise. Owners thus have to make time taking them to walks or to a dog park where they can play and run around. Because they are lovers of the outdoor and outdoor activities, they are not very suitable for life in apartments.

Training Walker Coonhounds are good companions aside from being excellent working and hunting dogs. Although they are fast learners and can catch tricks and routines through examples, they can ignore their trainers to follow their noses at times. As scent hounds, they have an excellent sense of smell and they have distinctive howls so they can be easily identified by their owners.

The average life span of Treeing Walker Coonhounds is at 12 to 13 years. Although they are not prone to major health issues, their ears should be regularly checked and cleaned to prevent infection. They also have to be bathed occasionally and the need for grooming is minimal for this particular dog breed.

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