The Treeing Walker Coonhound grew out of Virginia and Kentucky foxhound lines in the 1700s and 1800s, developed by hunters who wanted a fast dog that would trail a raccoon and hold it up a tree. The United Kennel Club recognized it as its own breed in 1945, and the AKC followed in 2012. Walkers stand about 20 to 27 inches tall, weigh 50 to 70 pounds and wear a short, glossy tricolor coat with long ears and soft, pleading eyes.
In Tyler, the city's leashed trails give a Walker's nose a daily job, but that nose also leads. Many Walkers are sweet and sociable at home, yet a fresh scent can override even a well-trained dog's recall, so leashes and solid fencing matter. Their ringing bay carries, and dogs vary in how much they use it. Adopters who enjoy an athletic, vocal companion often find Walkers rewarding.