View source for Treeing Walker Coonhound

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{{Infobox dog breed
| name= Treeing Walker Coonhound
| image= Treeing-walker-coonhound-standing.jpg
|image_caption = A male Treeing Walker Coonhound 
|altname= TWC
| nickname =Walker
|country= United States 
<!-----Traits----->
|maleweight= {{convert|50|-|70|lb|kg|abbr=on}}
|femaleweight= {{convert|50|-|70|lb|kg|abbr=on}}
|maleheight= 22 - 27 inches
|femaleheight= 20 - 25 inches
|coat= Short and dense
|color= Tricolor, bicolor 
|litter_size= 
<!-----Kennel club standards----->
| kc_name        = [[United Kennel Club]]
| kc_std         = http://www.ukcdogs.com/Web.nsf/Breeds/Scenthound/TreeingWalkerCoonhound01012016}}
<!-- End Infobox Dogbreed info. Article Begins Here -->

The '''Treeing Walker Coonhound''' is a [[dog breed|breed]] of [[hound]] descended from the [[English Foxhound|English]] and [[American Foxhound]]s. The breed originated in the United States when a stolen dog known as "Tennessee Lead" was crossed into the Walker Hound in the 19th century.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.appalachianhistory.net/2018/11/maupins-walkers-and-tennessee-lead.html | title=The Maupins, the Walkers, and Tennessee Lead | date=20 November 2018 }}</ref> The Treeing Walker Coonhound was recognized officially as a breed by the [[United Kennel Club]] in 1945 and by the [[American Kennel Club]] in 2012.

The Treeing Walker Coonhound was bred primarily to [[coon hunting|hunt raccoons]], but it is also used on other game such as deer, bears, bobcats or cougars. The breed is vocal with a distinctive bay that allows its owner to identify their hound from great distances. It has a clear, ringing voice that changes to a steady chop at the tree. Treeing Walker Coonhounds tend to do best in working homes.
==History==

The Treeing Walker Coonhound was developed in the Colonial era from crosses of English Foxhounds. John W. Walker and George Washington Maupin, two breeders from Kentucky, which was then part of Virginia, are given credit for the breed's initial development.<ref name=Hunt/> The dogs they bred were referred to as Walker Hounds and were used to hunt raccoons.
In the 1800s, a stolen black and tan dog named Tennessee Lead was crossed into the Walker Hound. Tennessee Lead was of unknown origin, but he greatly influenced the Walker.<ref name=Hunt>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lWi4CgAAQBAJ&q=treeing+raccoon&pg=PT83|title=The Ultimate Hunting Dog Reference Book|author=Vickie Lamb|date=22 September 2015|publisher=Skyhorse |isbn=9781634504621|access-date=18 March 2016}}</ref> The Walker Coonhound, Treeing, was first recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC) in 1905 as a part of the [[English Coonhound]] breed,<ref name=Hunt/> at the request of breeders. The name was later changed to Treeing Walker Coonhound, and it was fully recognized as a separate breed in 1945.<ref name=UKC>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukcdogs.com/Web.nsf/Breeds/Scenthound/TreeingWalkerCoonhound01012016|title=Standard for the Treeing Walker Coonhound|work=United Kennel Club Standard|access-date=17 March 2016|archive-date=30 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160730104122/http://www.ukcdogs.com/Web.nsf/Breeds/Scenthound/TreeingWalkerCoonhound01012016|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in January 2012, making it the AKC's 174th recognized breed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/treeing-walker-coonhound/|title=Treeing Walker Coonhound Dog Breed Information|author=American Kennel Club|access-date=20 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://newsfeed.time.com/2012/01/25/welcome-to-the-club-treeing-walker-coonhound-is-newest-akc-breed/|title=New Dog Breeds: Treeing Walker Coonhound Is Newest AKC Member - TIME.com|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=25 January 2012 |access-date=20 March 2016|last1=Skarda |first1=Erin }}</ref>

==Characteristics==
[[Image:Treeing walker coonhound.jpg|thumb|Treeing Walker Coonhound on leash]]
The Treeing Walker Coonhound may give an impression of a working dog. According to the UKC standard, it may stand 20 to 27 inches high at maturity, with weight in proportion.<ref name=UKC/> The common weight range is 50 to 70 pounds, with males being larger than females.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ckcusa.com/breeds/treeing-walker-coonhound/|title=Treeing Walker Coonhound Dog Breed Information - Continental Kennel Club|website=ckcusa.com|access-date=2017-02-06}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=World Atlas of Dog Breeds, 6th ed.|year=2009|isbn=978-0-7938-0656-0|pages=866|last1=Vito|first1=Dominique De|last2=Russell-Revesz|first2=Heather|last3=Fornino|first3=Stephanie}}</ref>

The skull should be broad, with a long muzzle and long, hanging ears. Eyes are dark and have a soft expression. All four legs should be straight when viewed from the front or back, with cat-like, compact feet. In conformation shows, blindness or deafness is a disqualification.<ref name=UKC/> 
The smooth coat is fine and glossy and comes in a tricolor and a bi-color [[tricolor (dog)|pattern]]. Tricolor, white with black and tan markings, is preferred, although bi-color dogs, black and white or tan and white, are acceptable.<ref name=UKC/>

The Treeing Walker Coonhound has a clear bay on the trail, which should change to a distinct "chop" when treed. Its temperament should be kind but fearless and courageous on the hunt.<ref name=UKC/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://rarebreed.com/breeds/treeing/twcoon_ukc_std.html|title=Rare Breed Network: Treeing Walker Coonhound Standard|access-date=20 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304040129/http://rarebreed.com/breeds/treeing/twcoon_ukc_std.html|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
The Treeing Walker Coonhound is bred primarily for the mouth, looks, and ability. It is first and foremost a hunting dog,<ref>{{cite web|last=Ahring|first=Curt|title=Treed.tv|url=http://www.treed.tv/|work=314-315-6650|access-date=2011-06-27|archive-date=2019-01-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101192201/http://treed.tv/|url-status=dead}}</ref> although it may be kept as a pet. It is described as affectionate and good with children, but its energy requires an outlet and it must be trained.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bestinshowdaily.com/the-consummate-hunting-dog-the-treeing-walker-coonhound/|title=Best In Show Daily|access-date=20 March 2016|archive-date=25 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325070217/http://www.bestinshowdaily.com/the-consummate-hunting-dog-the-treeing-walker-coonhound/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The Treeing Walker Coonhound lives an average of 12 to 13 years. <ref name=":0" />

===Temperament===

Treeing Walker Coonhounds are loving, intelligent, confident, and enjoy interacting with humans. They make good companion dogs for an owner who understands the characteristics of the breed and is willing to work with their in-bred nature as a hunting dog. On the scent, they are tireless, alert, and intense. At home, they are mellow, sensitive lovers of comfort. 

Treeing Walker Coonhounds get along well with other dogs and with children. Like most hounds, they are even-tempered and difficult to annoy or drive into aggression towards people or fellow dogs. With training, they will coexist with small animals such as cats, despite their nature as a small-game hunter. {{cn|date=December 2016}}

[[Image:BlackjackTreeing.jpg|thumb|upright|A Treeing Walker Coonhound exhibiting "treeing" behavior (the dog pictured is outfitted for a walk, not hunting)]]

==Hunting==
[[Image:Treeingwalkercoonhound honeyb 2.png|thumb|Treeing Walker Coonhound, post-track]]
The Treeing Walker Coonhound's strong tracking instincts make it popular as a hunting dog, primarily for bear, cougar, and bobcats.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/breedinformation/hound/treeingwalker.html|title=The Westminster Kennel Club - Breed Information: Treeing Walker Coonhound|access-date=20 March 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326111916/http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/breedinformation/hound/treeingwalker.html|archive-date=26 March 2016}}</ref> Hunting solo or in packs of two or more, they are used to track and tree [[raccoon]]s, [[bobcat]]s,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5aKOmPvA9PYC&q=Walker+Hound&pg=PA69|title=Field & Stream|date=1 November 1971|via=Google Books}}</ref> [[cougar]]s, and [[bear]]s. Individual hounds may be adept at catching small animals such as [[squirrel]]s, [[black rat]]s, [[opossum]]s, and [[skunk]]s.

Because of their speed, Treeing Walker Coonhounds may be used as [[deer]]-hunting dogs in states where hunting of antlered animals with dogs is legal.<ref name=Hunt/>

Although the Treeing Walker is best known as a coonhound, it is one of the most cold nosed dogs around{{efn|In hunting terminology, a fresh track is "hot" and an older track is "cold".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zLWpBAAAQBAJ&q=Treeing+Walker&pg=PA67|title=Yellow Dogs, Hushpuppies, and Bluetick Hounds|date=2 July 2014|publisher=Univ of North Carolina Press |isbn=9780807868188|access-date=20 March 2016}}</ref>}} and is the most popular hound for competition [[coon hunting|coon hunts]].<ref name=Hunt/><ref>{{cite web|date=14 April 2021|title=Hunting Deer with Dogs [Adopt, Train and Hunt]|url=https://ibc7.org/hunting-deer-with-dogs/|access-date=14 April 2021|work=IBC7 Outdoors}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ib1YAAAAYAAJ&q=Treeing+Walker|title=Successful Dog Breeding|year=1994|publisher=American Kennel Club |isbn=9780876057407|access-date=20 March 2016}}</ref> The treeing walker hound is one of the most popular because it is best known for speed, its cold nose and intelligence, and also for not being an aggressive like the Plott. Their cold nose and intelligence makes them much better for bobcat and cougar hunting, since these animals are normally harder to track than a bear or raccoon.

==See also==
* [[Portal:Dogs|Dogs portal]]
* [[List of dog breeds]]
* [[Coonhound]]
* [[Grand Anglo-Français Tricolore]]
* [[Anglo-Français de Petite Vénerie]]

==Notes==
{{Notes}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Hounds}}
{{American dogs}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070925142522/http://www.rarebreed.com/breeds/treeing/twcoon_ukc_std.html Treeing Walker Coonhound Rarebreeds Article on Treeing Walker Coonhound]
* [http://www.treed.tv Video and more information on Treeing Walker Coonhounds] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101192201/http://treed.tv/ |date=2019-01-01 }}
* [https://ckcusa.com/breeds/treeing-walker-coonhound/ Continental Kennel Club - Treeing Walker Coonhound Standard]
* [http://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/treeing-walker-coonhound/ AKC - Treeing Walker Coonhound Standard]

[[Category:Hounds]]
[[Category:Scent hounds]]
[[Category:Hunting dogs]]
[[Category:Dog breeds originating in the United States]]
[[Category:Rare dog breeds]]