Treeing Walker Coonhound vs Phung San - Breed Comparison

The Phung San, Pungsan or ‘Poongsan dog’ is native to Korea. Outside of Korea, this dog is virtually unheard of.

The origin of the dog goes back to the 16th century, but there aren’t many records of where the breed descended from. Some dog experts believe the breed descends from Siberian Laika dogs while others say they are a mix of Mastiff and Herding breeds. It is believed that the Pungsan has been used for hunting large predators.

It was during the Japanese occupation of North Korea that the breed was declared a national treasure.

The Phung San isn't recognized by any major kennel clubs.

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 Spitz-type dog and it is considered to be medium to large size. He is an athletic, muscular dog with a deep chest standing at 57 to 60cm in height and weighing roughly between 25 and 30kg.

The legs are nice and straight, the ears erect and the bushy tails curls up over the back.The head is fairly triangular in shape, the nose is black and the eyes are brown, bright and alert.

The coat is thick and comes in different shades of white and cream.

Temperament:

These dogs are such loyal, devoted pets. They’re independent dogs and will benefit from being trained and socialized. With this kind of training they can get on well with children in the home. They can be quite snooty with strangers but they’re good watchdogs.

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 Phung San dog is a strong-willed dominant type of dog, and training and socialization will do him the world of good in terms of making him obedient and well mannered. He is loyal, faithful and loving and protects and guards those he loves.

Some people say these dogs aren’t a good choice for novice dog owners, but dogs essentially turn out the way their owners are. The right upbringing will ensure your Pungsan Dog is a good pet for new owners and for families with children.

Do research and you’ll see that these beautiful dogs make splendid pets and companions.

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.

Able to get to 13 or 14 years of age, the Pungsan dog enjoys good health, but there are some dog diseases that it is good to be aware of -

Hip Dysplasia:

Hip Dysplasia can mean no more games for your pet. It’s a disease that can have a large impact on your pet’s quality of life. It’s not reserved for old dogs either but it affects medium to large breed dogs.

Diet, weight of dog, genetics and environmental factors can all cause hip dysplasia, and while the symptoms are often subtle at first, you’ll see a limp starting and your dog holding his leg up off the ground. The severity of symptoms can change from day to day but the pain can be severe and you will need to get your pet to the vet.

Entropion:

This is an eye problem where the eyelids roll too far inwards and then scrape on the surface of the eye, possibly leading to corneal scarring and painful eye infections.

Bloat:

This is a life threatening illness where the stomach bloats up with gas and the stomach can actually twist. Your pet will be restless, panting and acting out of character and absolutely no time should be wasted getting your pet to the vet.

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 an active, energetic dog that will require some vigorous physical activity each day. While a walk is an excellent form of exercise, he will need something more hectic. You can take him to the park and allow him to run free off his leash, take him with you on your hikes and play ball- or frisbee games with him.

Grooming:

Your Pungsan sheds quite a bit because the fur is thick and you will need to have him brushed at least twice a week. Turn this brushing session into a proper grooming session. There are several things to check during these brushing sessions which your pet will love -

Run your hands over him and check for any unusual lumps.

Look inside his mouth and check his teeth. Your pet can’t tell you that there is a rotting tooth causing tremendous pain and illness.

Check the inside of his ears and make sure they aren’t red and clogged with excess wax and debris. There are ways to clean them and if you don’t know how or you don’t want to, allow a professional groomer to check his teeth, inside his ears and also trim his nails.

Make sure he has an excellent diet. There are some really good commercially manufactured dog foods that have the right balance of vitamins and minerals in them. Give him some home-made food too. Nothing exotic and spicy – just wholesome, simple food that won’t upset his stomach – boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some sweet potato, carrots and spinach. Mix these into his kibble from time to time. Once in a while you can also give him some raw meat. Make sure he has easy access to fresh, cool water.

● 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.