The Treeing Walker Coonhound, A Fast, Hot Nosed, Sensible Hunter Joins AKC Family

**spectr17** · 01-27-2012, 09:11 PM

Good to see the breed recognized. Who's hunted behind one?

http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=4560

**Jules** · 01-29-2012, 08:29 PM

I'm not thrilled about it. The AKC is known for taking perfectly good breeds and breeding them only for looks, ruining their native ability. I predict we'll end up with working lines and show lines, just like all of the other working dog breeds they've mangled.

**Frank X. Morris** · 01-30-2012, 06:56 AM

Howdy Jules,
AKC has nothing to do with how a breed developes, that is up to the breed club that has submitted the breed standard. What happens when a breed is recognized by AKC it becomes more popular and things can get carried away. It is up to breeders to keep the breed true to its working history.

**Jules** · 01-31-2012, 06:52 AM

Right. They are already a breed, but AKC recognized breeds tend to get picked up by people who only want them for looks, and who therefore only breed for looks, not performance. There will be other breeders keeping it true, but eventually the lines will diverge like Border Collie, Jack Russells, and Beagles all have.

**Frank X. Morris** · 01-31-2012, 07:09 AM

Howdy Jules,
Right you are. What has happened to a lot of the breeds that have changed is the people that are breeding for performance get frustrated and stop showing and the "show people" take over.

**inchr48** · 01-31-2012, 11:53 AM

The great thing about breeding performance dogs, is if the conformation isn't there, they can't perform in the field. Lot's of the show Labrador Retrievers today would not make it a day out in the field.

Our Whippets had better be able to get around a lure course with respectable performance. If they can, they should do well in conformation also.

The Walker's interest me, as do the English Fox Hounds. I've spent some time around both, but have not hunted behind them.

**RIFLEMAN** · 02-07-2012, 08:24 PM

I've hunted with nothing but Walkers for nearly 20 years. I, too, bemoan this development (the same way I reacted to a Walker being featured in the movie, Tombstone) because there is nothing to be gained from a working breed becoming popular with the show and pet industries. Labs, beagles, Irish Setters...the list of breeds corrupted by these groups goes on and on.