Treeing Walker Coonhound facts for kids
A male Treeing Walker Coonhound
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| Other names | TWC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Common nicknames | Walker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Origin | United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Treeing Walker Coonhound is a type of hound dog. It comes from the English and American Foxhound breeds. This dog breed started in the United States. It became official when a dog named "Tennessee Lead" was bred with the Walker Hound in the 1800s. The United Kennel Club officially recognized the Treeing Walker Coonhound in 1945. Later, the American Kennel Club recognized it in 2012.
Treeing Walker Coonhounds were first bred to hunt raccoons. But they can also hunt other animals like deer, bears, and bobcats. These dogs are known for their loud, special bark. This bark helps their owners find them from far away. When they find an animal in a tree, their bark changes to a steady "chop." Treeing Walker Coonhounds are kind, calm, and friendly dogs. They can make great family pets.
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History of the Treeing Walker Coonhound
The Treeing Walker Coonhound was first developed a long time ago. It came from English Foxhounds during the Colonial era in America. Two breeders from Kentucky, John W. Walker and George Washington Maupin, helped create this breed. The dogs they bred were called Walker Hounds. People used these dogs to hunt raccoons.
In the 1800s, a special black and tan dog named Tennessee Lead was added to the Walker Hound family. No one knew where Tennessee Lead came from, but he made a big difference to the Walker breed. The United Kennel Club (UKC) first recognized the Walker Coonhound, Treeing, in 1905. It was part of the English Coonhound breed then. Later, its name was changed to Treeing Walker Coonhound. It became its own separate breed in 1945. The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized it in January 2012. It was the AKC's 174th recognized breed.
What Makes a Treeing Walker Coonhound Special?
The Treeing Walker Coonhound looks like a strong working dog. According to the UKC, adult dogs are usually 20 to 27 inches tall. Their weight fits their height. Most weigh between 50 and 70 pounds. Male dogs are usually bigger than females.
These dogs have a wide head with a long nose. Their ears are long and hang down. Their eyes are dark and look gentle. All four legs should be straight. Their feet are compact, like a cat's. In dog shows, dogs that are blind or deaf cannot compete.
Their fur is smooth, thin, and shiny. It comes in two main patterns: tricolor and bi-color. Tricolor dogs are white with black and tan spots. This is the most common and preferred color. Bi-color dogs can be black and white or tan and white. These colors are also allowed.
A Treeing Walker Coonhound has a clear bark when it's tracking an animal. This bark should change to a distinct "chop" sound when the animal is in a tree. These dogs are kind but brave and fearless when they hunt.
The Treeing Walker Coonhound is mostly bred for its voice, looks, and hunting skills. It is a hunting dog first. However, it can also be a good pet. They are loving and good with children. But they have a lot of energy. They need training and ways to use their energy. Treeing Walker Coonhounds usually live for 12 to 13 years.
Treeing Walker Coonhound Temperament
Treeing Walker Coonhounds are loving, smart, and confident dogs. They enjoy being around people. They make good pets for owners who understand their hunting instincts. When they are tracking a scent, they are tireless, alert, and focused. At home, they are calm and enjoy being comfortable.
These dogs usually get along well with other dogs and children. Like most hounds, they are calm and not easily made angry. They are not likely to be aggressive towards people or other dogs. With training, they can even live with small animals like cats. This is true even though they are natural small-game hunters.
Hunting Skills
The Treeing Walker Coonhound has very strong tracking skills. This makes it a popular hunting dog, especially for raccoons. They can hunt alone or in groups of two or more. They are used to track and "tree" raccoons, bobcats, cougars, and bears. Some dogs are also good at catching small animals like squirrels, black rats, opossums, and skunks.
Because they are fast, Treeing Walker Coonhounds can be used for deer hunting. This is allowed in states where hunting deer with dogs is legal.
The Treeing Walker is known as a coonhound. However, it is not as good at following old, cold tracks as some other coonhounds. It is the most popular hound for competition coon hunts. This is because it will leave an old track for a fresher one. This helps hunters catch more raccoons in less time.
See also
In Spanish: Treeing walker coonhound para niños
