Treeing Walker Coonhound vs Istrian Sheepdog - Breed Comparison

Known also as the Karst Sheepdog, the beautiful, medium sized Istrian Sheepdog hails from Slovenia, Yugoslavia in the 1600s, being used to guard sheep. In fact, the Karst Shepherd was recognized as the Illyrian Shepherd in 1939.

The dog is fairly scarce in his own country, but interest in the dog started developing in the late 1970s. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale recognizes the breed and it has also been exported to the United States, being recognized by the United Kennel Club.

It is also recognized by a number of smaller kennel clubs. The dogs numbers have declined at certain periods in its history but fortunately breeding programs boosted its numbers.

The Treeing Walker Coonhound originated in the United States and comes from English and American Foxhounds.

The fact that the dog has the word ‘Treeing’ in its names means that it is a hound dog that runs after its prey, sending it running up a tree to escape until the hunter reaches the tree and can shoot the prey.

The dog was originally classified as an English Coonhound.

This is a medium sized, muscled, strong dog with an iron-grey coat that has shades of deeper grey. His beautiful coat is long, thick and fairly harsh to the touch, with the undercoat protecting the dog against cold weather.

Around the neck area the hair is longer, forming an eye-catching-like mane. The stomach area has longer hair too. He has a noble look about him with kind, brown eyes and a round skull. The muzzle of the dog is dark, the limbs long and muscular and the tail is long and covered in thick fur.

The dog is slightly longer than its height, and both males and females stand at 54 to 63cm in height and weigh between 26 and 40kg. The long tail reaches right down to the hocks. The ears of the dog are fairly short and are floppy.

Temperament:

This dog has always made an excellent guard dog, being alert and also being distrustful of strangers. He will need to be trained and socialized if you want him to be obedient to you and more amicable around children in the home as well as visitors to the home.

If he is trained and well socialized, he is able to make a good pet. However, he is an energetic dog, used to working and he isn't recommended for life in the city if there is only a tiny garden. He needs space and will require a large garden.

He will also need to be exercised and not just left to his own devices in the backyard. Because he is essentially a working dog he doesn’t easily fit into the role of pet and companion. He is a working dog and will need to be kept busy.

The Treeing Walker Coonhound looks very similar to a Beagle, just with much longer legs.

He stands at between 51 and 69cm in height both male and female and it weighs between 23 and 32kg.

The coat is short and glossy being either bi- or tri-colored – white, tan and black. The body and legs are strong and muscular. He has fairly long, floppy ears. The eyes are brown, intelligent and alert while having quite a gentle expression.

The muzzle is long and narrow. He has large, floppy pendant ears. The eyes are large, brown and have a soft and gentle expression. The tail is set high and is long.

Temperament:

This breed may be an excellent sport dog but he loves spending time quietly with his human family too, making a great family pet.

He is gentle and makes a great playmate for disciplined children. He is intelligent and it will do both owner and dog the world of good to have him trained and socialized.

They’re stubborn dogs, so it simply makes him well behaved, balanced and a pleasure to have around. He will learn commands easily and readily. If you want a good family pet, the Treeing Walker Coonhound is even-tempered and non-aggressive.

Your Istrian Sheepdog is a unique, strong-willed dog that is used to guarding, and working and he wants to be kept involved and busy.

He is wary of strangers and makes an excellent guard dog for any family home. Remember that it is never good to invest in a dog purely for guard dog purposes. A dog such as the Istrian Sheepdog is a social creature and he also wants- and needs to be part of a human family that provides him with plenty of interaction with them.

The Istrian Sheepdog is a loyal, loving dog who is capable of forming strong bonds with his human family. With proper training and socialization he makes a good friend of children and the elderly too.

Include him in all your family activities just like any human family member and he will make you a splendid, courageous pet.

These dogs are loving, loyal confident, social and intelligent, making good companion dogs.

Whether they're outdoors being full of energy and on a hunt, they always give of their best. When they're at home with their human family, they put work behind them and become gentle, mellow pets, loving to just take it easy with their human family.

As with many other dog breeds, the Istrian Sheepdog is a healthy dog that, because of history of hard work, is robust and able to stand up well to common dog illnesses.

However there is one dog illness that strikes many dogs and at any age, and it is hip dysplasia. This is a malformation of the hip joints.

You'll notice that your once active dog is lethargic, doesn't want to play so much anymore and battles to get up after lying down. The disease is painful for your dog and it can lead to mobility issues. The disease is diagnosed with x-rays and your vet will recommend treatment options to make life more comfortable and less painful for your beloved pet.

The Treeing Walker Coonhound is looked upon as a healthy dog breed that can be 10 – 13 years of age. Even so, there are diseases that can plague him, and hip dysplasia and ear infections are two that you need to be aware of.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is when the ball and socket joint isn't formed properly so that there is a grinding action of the joint instead of it sliding smoothly. This common skeletal disease is found in young and old dogs, and it seems more prevalent in larger dog breeds.

Your dog will have pain in the hip joints and even loss of muscle mass in the thigh area. You’ll notice that he becomes less active. Your dog will need to get to the vet so that the vet can suggest treatment for pain and to make him more comfortable.

Ear Infection:

As a floppy-eared dog, the Treeing Walker Coonhound will scratch at his ears and shake his head if he has an ear infection. With an ear infection inflammation affects the ear canal and can result in deafness. With his floppy ears moisture within the ear can attract bacteria and yeast.

Your pet will need to get to the vet because an ear infection is a painful condition.

Exercise:

This is a dog that is used to guarding his flock and he will need to be in a home that has a fair sized garden. He can adapt to life in the city or to the countryside, but wherever he is, he will need sufficient exercise. Take him with you on your walks or hikes and give him some rope- and ball games.

General Care:

Wherever you live in the world, when the Winter winds howl and blow in icy rain or snow, a dog is at an increased risk of illness. You decided to have a dog in your home and it is your responsibility to care for him. Winter weather is downright unpleasant and dangerous for most pets.

Bring your pet in during such weather and provide him with a warm, dry sleeping space. During hot weather, make sure your pet has a cool, shady spot to lie down in, out of the boiling sun. Whatever weather you're experiencing, your pet should never ever be without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Provide him with excellent food that is full of vitamins and minerals to keep him healthy. Learn to know what human foods can be toxic for him and cause him digestive problems.

Grooming:

Your double coated Istrian Sheepdog will need a thorough brushing at least twice a week because of his dense, double coat. He does shed and isn't a hypoallergenic dog. His thick coat can tangle easily if it isn't properly brushed and maintained.

Clip his nails when and if they grow long. Other grooming aspects for this attractive dog require checking his ears for infection and also checking his teeth as dental disease can lead to a host of serious illnesses in your dog.

● A healthy diet with vitamins and minerals as well as essential fatty acids is imperative. To get this in a commercially manufactured dog food, you will need to buy the best, high-quality ones. Some of the inferior brands have all kinds of bad stuff in them such as colorants preservatives and fillers.

Try and give him some homemade food such as boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables. Dogs want simplicity in their foods. They can't stomach highly spiced, salted and exotic foods. Plain, wholesome foods keep him healthy and happy.

● It is recommended that you have your dog spayed or neutered. Not only will you prevent an unwanted litter, having them spayed or neutered prevents serious diseases later on. Also, have

your Treeing Walker Coonhound immunized to prevent some of the deadly canine diseases there are.

●These dogs are active, sporty dogs known for their stamina. To keep them lean, athletic and fit, they will require lots of exercise. They love a walk but will require more than a regular walk. Hikes are more what they have in mind. They never tire of hectic ball games, hide and seek and swimming. Because they are active, alert and intelligent dogs, they will need mental stimulation too.

● Your Treeing Walker Coonhound isn't a high maintenance dog because their short coat is easy to keep groomed just by giving him a good brush once or twice a week.

Make the grooming session a time to check him over for ticks and fleas and any unusual lumps on his body. It's a time to look at his eyes to make sure they're clear and bright without any discharge. Check inside his ears for redness and infection.

Trim his nails too. Remember he can't tell you about his teeth, so try and look inside his mouth to see that all is well. A good sign of bad teeth is bad breath. There are professional groomers who are willing to do all these grooming chores for you.