Foster Update 7/1/10: Tobee is doing great!  I took him to Oviedo Mall Saturday and he did really well.  He just sat quietly and got pets all day (even from men!!)  He was constantly complimented on how beautiful he is, how cool his eyes are, and his sweet face.  I was so pleased at how well he handled that environment.

At home, he now voluntarily approaches my husband with his tail wagging ready for love!  So it doesn't take long to build trust with him with patience, gentleness, and kindness.  Tobee is very low maintenance- he is just a laid back, easy going hound dog that is also happy to do as much exercise as you would like him to.  He is a perfect companion!!

7/10 foster update: Tobee would make a great companion for a single person or a family who is at home for most of the day as he has rarely been left alone.  As far as the activities go, Tobee is not that great at the dog park mostly because there are usually men there which makes him very nervous and he usually just wants to leave.  He also is pretty indifferent with other dogs and doesn't really care to play with them.  He also does not care about playing ball; the thing he really enjoys most is going for walks.  I have been walking him approximately 3 times a day and he loves it! 

 

According to www.dogbreedinfo.com, the Treeing Walker is a descendant of the English Foxhound, which Thomas Walker imported to Virginia in 1742. Sometime in the 1800's, a dog known as "Tennessee Lead," a stolen dog of unknown origin, was crossed into the Walker Hound. He was a powerful dog, excelling in game sense, drive and speed, and having a clear, short-chop mouth. The Treeing Walker was not recognized as its own breed until 1946. This direct lineage brings us this efficient hunter. This coonhound has retained the looks of its ancestors, the English Foxhound. An underlying sense of game coupled with untiring speed and manly drive makes this coonhound unstoppable. The coonhound lineage doesn't really stop at the Walker, for American hunters also employ other varieties as well. One such coonhound is known as the Running Walker. The Treeing Walker Coonhound is an efficient and reliable hunter of raccoons, squirrels, and possums. The Treeing Walker "trees" its prey, and can then sometimes virtually climb the tree to get at it. With a little training, however, it will merely bay its distinctive howl, telling the hunter that the prey has been cornered. The Treeing Coonhound is good with children and gets along with other dogs. Training is accomplished with little trouble, as these dogs are able to learn from example. They are primarily working and hunting dogs but will also make a great companion dog. Working, to the Treeing Walker Coonhound, is not work but a sport and diversion. They thrive on consistent and ample attention. High-strung but loving and eager to please, the Treeing Walker is intelligent, skilled and confident. Some say they are the best breed for coonhound field trials because of their speed, ability to locate quickly and good treeing ability. They are swift with a very good sense of smell and a distinctive howl. Socialize at a young age. They have a life expectancy of 12-13 years.