16/07/2025
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Official Standard of the Treeing Walker Coonhound
General Appearance: Characteristics - Called 'the people's choice' among all coonhound
breeds, the energetic Treeing Walker is perfectly suited for the task for which it was bred -
tracking and treeing wild raccoons in their natural haunts. The breed's competitive spirit makes it
an ideal choice for competitive coonhound events where the breed excels. The Treeing Walker
Coonhound is alert, intelligent, active, courteous, and courageous with extreme endurance and
the desire to perform.
Size, Weight, Proportion, Substance: Height - Slightly more at shoulders than at hips.
Shoulders should measure: Males, 22 to 27 inches, Females, 20 to 25 inches. Balance is key with
all of the parts coming together in proper balance to form the whole. Weight - Should be in
proportion to dog's height. Working dogs are not to be penalized when shown, if slightly under
weight.
Head: Skull - Should be medium length with the occipital bone prominent; cranium is to be
broad and full. Fault-very flat narrow skull; having excess of bone; not in proportion to the body.
Ears - Should be set moderately low and of medium length, reaching or nearly reaching to the tip
of the nose; oval or round at the tip, hanging gracefully towards the muzzle. Fault - short ears set
high on the head. Eyes - large, set well apart with soft hound-like expression, pleading and
gentle; dark in color, brown or black. Fault - yellow or light eyes, protruding or small. Muzzle -
Medium length and rather square; medium stop, neither Roman-nosed nor dish faced. Nostrils -
large and black. Fault - any other color than black.
Neck, Topline, Body: Neck and Throat - clean with no excess of skin, neck of medium length,
rising from the shoulders cleanly; strong but not loaded, smooth. Fault - short, thick neck carried
in line with the shoulders; throatiness. Shoulder-blade sloping forward and downward at a 45
degree angle to the ground; presenting a laid back appearance, neither loaded nor heavy,
providing freedom of movement and strength. Length of shoulder blade and upper arm to be
equal. Chest and Ribs - Depth of chest is more important than width; descending to the
approximate point of elbow. Ribs well sprung, never flat or slab-sided. Back and Loins - Strong,
muscular back of moderate length; topline nearly level or sloping slightly from shoulder to rear.
Faults - higher in the rear (hips) than at the withers, roached or sway-back. Tail - set moderately
high, coming right off the topline, carried well up and saber-like. Curved gracefully up, tapered
and moderately long without flag or excessive brush. Fault - having an excess of curve in tail; rat
tail; excessive brush.
Forequarters: Forelegs - Straight and parallel to each other, from elbow to pastern. Pastern,
from the joint to the top of the foot is strong and distinct, slightly slanting but standing almost
perpendicular to the ground. Faults - out at the elbow, crooked forelegs, weak pasterns,
knuckling over. Feet - thick pads, well arched toes giving a 'cat foot' appearance, tight. No rear
dewclaws. Front dewclaws may be removed. Fault-flat, splayed feet.
Hindquarters: Hind Legs - Muscular and powerful with great propelling leverage. Well
muscled thighs of considerable length. Stifles well bent. Clean hocks. Legs viewed from the rear
are parallel. Defined angulation denotes endurance and power.
Coat: Smooth hair that is glossy and short, yet dense enough for protection while being a close
and hard hound coat. Fault - too short or thin or too soft.
Color: Tri-colored is preferred, white, black and tan. White may be the predominant color with
black marking and tan trim; or black may be the predominant color with white marking and tan
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trim, such as a saddle back or blanket back. White with tan spots or white with black spots may
be accepted. Fault-any other color combination will be penalized when shown.
Gait: Gait is smooth and effortless, free and balanced, showing good reach in the front with
powerful drive in the rear quarters, producing efficient movement, covering ground effortlessly.
Note - Working dogs will not be penalized for scars or blemishes due to hunting injuries.
Approved July 8, 2008
Effective January 1, 2009
