The Treeing Walker Coonhound came out of Virginia and Kentucky foxhound lines in the 1700s and 1800s, shaped to trail a raccoon fast and hold it up a tree. The AKC recognized the breed in 2012. Walkers are lean, usually 50 to 70 pounds, with a glossy tricolor coat, long ears and soft, pleading eyes.
In Kent, those traits show up in everyday ways. The short coat handles wet winters with a quick towel-down, but the long ears hold moisture and need weekly checks. Walkers are friendly and sociable, yet a scent can override good manners, so a leash matters on the Green River Trail and the Lake Fenwick loop. Each Walker is different, and some are calmer and quieter than others.