10 Things You Didn’t Know about the Walker Hound
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There used to be a breed called the Walker Hound. However, the term tends to be used in the present to refer to a breed that came from the Walker Hound, which is called the Treeing Walker Coonhound. The name of the breed reveals much about its characteristics, thus making it an effective and efficient example of naming. Here are 10 things that you may or may not have known about the Walker Hound:
1. Walker Hounds Started Up in Kentucky
The Walker Hound came into existence in the state of Kentucky because of the efforts of a pair of breeders named John W. Walker and George Washington Maupin. Their dogs were called Walker Hounds, presumably because their dogs were used to hunt raccoons.
2. Bred from Tennessee Lead
Treeing Walker Coonhounds came into existence because of a black and tan dog named Tennessee Lead. No one knows Tennessee Lead’s exact background, not least because the people who used him came upon him by pure chance. However, Tennessee Lead went on to have a huge impact on the dogs that would be collected under the name of Treeing Walker Coonhounds.
3. Took Some Time to Secure Full Recognition
It took some time for the Treeing Walker Coonhounds to secure full recognition. For example, the United Kennel Club recognized it as a kind of English Coonhound in 1905, but it wasn’t recognized as a separate breed in its own right until 1945. Meanwhile, the American Kennel Club didn’t recognize it until January of 2012.
4. Used for Treeing
Unsurprisingly, the Treeing Walker Coonhound is good at treeing, which means chasing animals into the trees so that their owners can get a clear shoot. Primarily, the breed is used for hunting raccoons, but it isn’t unknown for them to see use in hunting bobcats, cougars, and even bears.
5. Used in Other Hunting Strategies
With that said, Treeing Walker Coonhounds aren’t limited to treeing animals. There are some examples that see use in hunting deer because they are fast enough to give chase. Likewise, there are other members of the breed that are used to hunt small rodents, though their exact capabilities in this regard can see significant variation from dog to dog.
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6. Less Cold-Nosed than Other Coonhounds
Treeing Walker Coonhounds are far from being the sole breed of Coonhound that can be found out there. However, they are pretty popular because they are supposed to be less cold-nosed than a lot of their counterparts. Essentially, this means that Walker Coonhounds will ignore colder trails in preference for going after fresher trails, thus making them more efficient at their intended task.
7. Good Companion Dogs
Generally speaking, Treeing Walker Coonhounds are said to make for good companion animals. After all, they aren’t just loyal and loving, they are also smart and confident animals that enjoy interacting with humans. As a result, so long as people are willing to handle their hunting instincts, the breed can make for great pets.
8. Need an Outlet
Naturally, Treeing Walker Coonhounds need some kind of outlet for their considerable energy. This doesn’t necessarily have to be hunting, but whatever it turns out to be, it should provide them with plenty of physical stimulation as well as plenty of mental stimulation.
9. Gets Along with Children
As such, it is no wonder that Treeing Walker Coonhounds are said to get along well with children, thus making them good family dogs as well. With that said, interested individuals should still make sure that their dogs receive proper socialization while also making sure that their children understand how to interact with dogs because that will always be beneficial for such cases.
10. Gets Along with Other Dogs
Speaking of which, Treeing Walker Coonhounds can get along pretty well with other dogs, thus making them suitable for multi-dog households. Their record with other pet animals is less consistent, but there are claims that they can get along fine with cats and other smaller pet animals so long as they have been trained right to tolerate said animals’ presence. Otherwise, their hunting instincts can cause potential complications.
