Treeing Walker Coonhounds stop growing in height by around 12 to 14 months of age. However, they will continue to fill out and gain muscle mass, reaching their full weight by about 18 to 24 months. 

Since they mature slower than smaller breeds, it’s best to switch them to adult dog food once they’ve reached their full height at around 12 to 14 months. This transition ensures they receive the appropriate nutrients for their growth stage, avoiding excessive calories that could lead to obesity as they continue to develop at a slower pace. Make sure to gradually transition them to adult food over the course of a week to avoid gastrointestinal upset.

Treeing Walker Coonhounds typically live between 12 and 13 years. This lifespan is similar to other coonhound breeds like the Bluetick Coonhound and Redbone Coonhound, which live around 11 to 12 years. In comparison, smaller hound breeds like Beagles tend to have slightly longer lifespans, often reaching 12 to 15 years. 

The longevity of Treeing Walker Coonhounds, like all breeds, can be influenced by factors such as genetics, diet, exercise, and regular veterinary care. Keeping them at a healthy weight, ensuring they have a balanced diet, and providing a safe living environment with plenty of exercise, love, and enrichment can all contribute to a longer, healthier life.

Treeing Walker Coonhounds come in a variety of colors and coat patterns, with the most common and preferred being a combination of white with black and tan. The classic tri-colored pattern often features a predominantly white coat with black patches and tan markings on the legs, face, and underside. This breed may also feature a predominantly black coat with white and tan markings. This distinctive tri-color pattern is highly sought after and showcases the ‘traditional look.

Less common but still accepted are white with tan spots or white with black spots.

Treeing Walker Coonhounds are medium to large-sized dogs. Males typically weigh between 60 to 70 pounds and stand about 22 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder. Females are a bit smaller, weighing between 50 and 65 pounds and standing around 20 to 25 inches tall. 

Their final size can be influenced by factors such as genetics, diet, and overall health. Proper nutrition and maintaining a healthy weight during their growth stages can help them reach their optimal size, while genetics from their parents play a significant role in determining their eventual size.

Yes, Treeing Walker Coonhounds shed moderately. They have a short, dense coat that is smooth and glossy. This coat type is relatively low-maintenance and doesn’t require extensive grooming. To keep their coat healthy and shiny, it’s sufficient to brush them once a week with a rubber grooming mitt or a bristle brush, which helps to remove loose hair and distribute natural oils.

In addition to brushing, it’s important to check their ears weekly since their floppy ears can be prone to infections. Wiping their ears with a damp cloth or using an ear-cleaning solution recommended by a veterinarian can help prevent ear problems. Like all dogs, Treeing Walker Coonhounds also benefit from nail trims every two to four weeks and weekly dental care to maintain overall health and hygiene.

Yes, Treeing Walker Coonhounds are often good with kids and are well-loved for being both playful and gentle with their human family. Still, these big and energetic pups may accidentally knock over a small child, so it’s important to teach them how to regulate their energy levels and movements around kids and to provide them with outlets for burning off their energy prior to sharing space with small children. 

Additionally, it’s best to teach children how to interact respectfully and gently with dogs to ensure the safety of the kids and pups alike and to facilitate a positive relationship. As with any breed, it is recommended that your child is always supervised when interacting with your dog to keep both the child and dog safe.

Yes, Treeing Walker Coonhounds can be good with other dogs thanks to their social and friendly nature. Historically, this breed has hunted both solo and in packs, which means they can often adapt well to being around other dogs.

To support their socialization, it’s important to expose them to various dog interactions from a young age, using positive reinforcement to encourage friendly behavior and ensuring your pup feels safe during meetings. Regular playdates, visits to dog parks, and carefully supervised introductions with new dogs can help them build confidence and develop good social skills. 

Ensuring they have structured and positive experiences with other dogs from a young age will help them maintain their friendly demeanor and ease in various social situations.

No, Treeing Walker Coonhounds don’t tend to be good with cats unless socialized alongside kitties from an early age and trained with positive reinforcement to not chase them. Since they were bred to chase small animals, it’s possible this instinct will apply to your family cat, especially if they meet outdoors. 

Introducing Treeing Walker Coonhounds to cats should begin with scent-based introductions, where you allow each animal to become familiar with the other’s scent without any direct contact. Start by swapping their bedding or using a cloth to gently rub one and then the other, letting them sniff and explore the new scents at their own pace. Once both the dog and cat seem comfortable with the scent exchange, you can progress to visual introductions, keeping the pup on a leash and allowing the cat to observe from a safe distance.

Gradually, under controlled and calm conditions, let them spend more time together, always rewarding and encouraging calm and friendly behavior and monitoring closely for signs of stress or aggression. With patience, positive reinforcement, and slow introductions, your Treeing Walker Coonhound may learn to coexist peacefully with cats.

Treeing Walker Coonhounds are from the United States. They were developed in the 19th century, primarily in Virginia, by crossing English Foxhounds with other coonhounds to create a breed specifically designed for hunting raccoons and other small game. The breed is named after Thomas Walker, who played a significant role in their development and their unique ability to “tree” prey, meaning they chase animals up trees and then alert their hunting partners to the location.

There is just one official type of Treeing Walker Coonhound. However, within the breed, there can be variations in traits like size, color, and hunting style, but these differences don’t constitute separate types or categories. Treeing Walker Coonhounds are primarily bred for their hunting abilities, so there may be lines that are more focused on different aspects of hunting, such as trailing or treeing, but they all fall under the same breed standard recognized by organizations like the American Kennel Club (AKC) and United Kennel Club (UKC).

Yes, most Treeing Walker Coonhounds bark a lot, especially when they’re on the trail of a scent or trying to alert their pet parents to something. As a breed developed for hunting, they have a distinctive bay and chop. The “bay” is a deep, resonant howl that they use on a trail, while the “chop” is a shorter, more repetitive bark that can be heard when they’ve cornered or treed game.

To prevent excessive barking due to frustration, boredom, or anxiety, it’s essential to provide Treeing Walker Coonhounds with plenty of exercise, rest, and mental enrichment. Daily walks, runs, and active playtime help burn off their high energy levels and keep them happy. Mental enrichment, like puzzle toys, scent games, or training sessions, engages their minds and satisfies their innate desire to hunt and track scents.

Ensuring they have ample opportunities to rest and a comfortable, safe space to relax is equally important. Properly balancing exercise, rest, and mental stimulation can significantly reduce the likelihood of excessive barking from these intelligent and active dogs.

Yes, Treeing Walker Coonhounds are good family dogs. They are gregarious, social, and affectionate, and also have a lot of energy, so an active family that can provide the mental and physical enrichment they need is key.

Since these pups were bred to follow their nose, they do best in homes with large fenced-in yards where they can explore without wandering off. They also thrive with families who like to go on hikes and will provide their Treeing Walker Coonhound pal with plenty of opportunities to track scents.

Yes, Treeing Walker Coonhounds can be easy to train, especially with positive reinforcement and when incorporating play and scent games into their training sessions. Just keep in mind that even if a certain dog breed is known to be easy to train, training any dog requires a long-term commitment.

Incorporating scent games into training sessions with Treeing Walker Coonhounds is a great way to engage their natural tracking instincts. You can start by hiding treats or toys around your home or yard and encouraging your dog to find them using scent cues, gradually increasing the difficulty as they improve. This not only provides mental stimulation but also reinforces their training, as they learn to follow your cues while staying focused and using their powerful sense of smell.

Yes, Treeing Walker Coonhounds are often affectionate dogs and tend to be loving with their family and welcoming to strangers. These dogs love being around their family members and thrive on attention and companionship. Despite their high energy levels and hunting instincts, they are often gentle with their family and enjoy spending quiet time with their loved ones. These traits make them wonderful companions for those who appreciate an active and loving dog.

Yes, Treeing Walker Coonhounds often like to cuddle and enjoy lying next to or across their pet parents. Even though they’ve got a lot of energy and love to be on the move, they’re also big fans of curling up next to their people. They’re the kind of dogs who will happily snuggle on the couch or curl up on your bed for some cozy time. This affectionate behavior shows just how much they love being close to their family. If you’re looking for a dog who’s as much a cuddle buddy as they are an adventure partner, these pups can be a great choice.

Yes, many Treeing Walker Coonhounds like to swim, especially since they’re naturally energetic and adventurous dogs. To introduce them to water without being forceful, it’s important to start slow and make the experience positive. Begin by letting them explore shallow water at their own pace, like in a shallow stream or a kiddie pool, and use toys or treats to encourage them to step in. Always praise them and stay calm to help them feel safe and comfortable. As they gain confidence, you can gradually introduce them to deeper water, letting them decide when they’re ready to take the plunge.

Yes, Treeing Walker Coonhounds are quite intelligent, particularly in terms of their hunting and tracking skills. Their intelligence shines through in their ability to follow complex scent trails and perform tasks that require problem-solving, which is essential for their hunting background. 

They excel in dog sports that leverage these skills, such as scent work, tracking, and field trials.

Yes, most Treeing Walker Coonhounds are quite friendly and sociable dogs, cherished for their affectionate nature and love for being around people. They tend to get along well with family members and are often eager to make new friends. 

However, because they have strong hunting instincts, they should not be left unsupervised around small animals like pet rabbits. Their natural drive to chase and hunt can make them a potential threat to smaller pets, so it’s important to supervise any interactions and provide proper training to help them regulate their behaviors.

Yes, Treeing Walker Coonhounds can have health issues, but they are quite a healthy breed with very few genetic problems.

Although a hardy breed, Treeing Walker Coonhounds can be prone to a few health conditions, including:

• Hip dysplasia: This condition occurs when the hip joint doesn’t fit properly, causing pain, arthritis, and mobility issues. It’s common in medium to large breeds and can be influenced by genetics, diet, and activity levels.

• Elbow dysplasia: Similar to hip dysplasia, this affects the elbow joint, leading to discomfort and lameness, especially after exercise. It can also result in arthritis over time and is managed with medication, weight control, and sometimes surgery.

• Ear infections: Due to their floppy ears, Treeing Walker Coonhounds are prone to ear infections as moisture and debris can accumulate, fostering bacterial and yeast growth. Ear cleaning and monitoring are crucial to preventing infections.

• Hypothyroidism: This condition arises when the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough hormones, leading to symptoms like weight gain, lethargy, and coat issues. It’s typically managed with daily medication and regular vet check-ups to monitor hormone levels.

Routine vet visits, screenings, preventative care, and early treatment can help manage these health issues and keep your Treeing Walker Coonhound buddy healthy and happy.