English Bull-Walker
Hybrid Breed Description
The English Bull-Walker is a cross between the Bulldog and the Treeing Walker Coonhound. Because each hybrid inherits a unique combination of traits from both parents, we recommend thoroughly researching both breeds before choosing an English Bull-Walker. Pay special attention to temperament, health issues, and care requirements, as your dog may express characteristics from either parent breed.
Bulldog
The English Bulldog presents a distinctive and instantly recognizable appearance characterized by its compact, muscular build and powerful stance. These medium-sized dogs typically stand between twelve and fifteen inches at the shoulder, with males weighing approximately fifty-four pounds and females around fifty pounds. Despite their relatively short stature, they possess a substantial, heavy-boned frame that projects considerable strength and stability. The breed's body is broad and thick, with massive shoulders, a deep chest, and a slightly arched back that creates their characteristic low-slung profile. Their legs are short and stocky with great muscle definition, featuring a splayed stance that contributes to their famous rolling, crablike gait. The head of the English Bulldog is perhaps its most striking feature, being large and spherical with an extremely short muzzle that gives the face a distinctly flattened appearance. The skull is broad and features heavy wrinkles and thick folds that extend from the forehead down to the jowls. Their dark eyes are set low and wide on the face, while the black nose is slightly upturned. The massive, broad jaws exhibit an undershot bite where the lower jaw protrudes beyond the upper, creating the breed's comical grin. The ears are small, thin, and fold forward in a rose shape, framing the forehead. Their short, thick neck supports the large head, and a prominent dewlap hangs from the throat. The English Bulldog's coat is short, fine, and smooth with a glossy appearance that lies close to the body. The loose, pendulous skin creates numerous wrinkles across the face and body. Common color patterns include brindle, piebald, solid white, red, fawn, and fallow, often appearing in various combinations. The stubby tail can be either straight or screwed into a corkscrew shape. The overall impression is one of a stocky, powerful dog with a distinctive pushed-in face and wrinkled features that give them their unique charm and appeal.
Key Characteristics
The English Bulldog possesses a gentle, sweet disposition that belies its muscular, intimidating appearance. These dogs are dependable, predictable, and calm family companions known for their even temperament and dignified demeanor. They actively solicit human attention and form strong bonds with family members, displaying unwavering loyalty and devotion to their people. Despite their peaceful nature, they retain the courage originally bred into them for bull-baiting, making them effective watchdogs who will protect their families when necessary. Their temperament is characterized by patience and tolerance, particularly with children, earning them a reputation as excellent family pets. English Bulldogs are highly people-oriented and thrive on companionship and regular interaction with their owners. They tend to be affectionate and loving, often described as having a clownish personality that brings joy and entertainment to their households. While generally sociable with familiar faces, they can be somewhat reserved with strangers and may display assertiveness with unfamiliar dogs without proper socialization. Their temperament requires firm but gentle leadership, as they need clear boundaries and consistent training from an early age. This breed is not highly energetic and prefers a relaxed lifestyle, often content to lounge indoors with their family. They are low-endurance dogs requiring only moderate exercise, making them suitable for apartment living. However, they are sensitive to temperature extremes, readily overheating in hot weather due to breathing difficulties and chilling easily in cold temperatures. English Bulldogs are typically moderate shedders and tend to snore, wheeze, and drool due to their brachycephalic facial structure. With proper training and socialization, they make devoted, gentle companions who want nothing more than to be near their beloved family members.
English Bulldogs face numerous health challenges primarily stemming from their distinctive physical conformation. The breed's brachycephalic syndrome, resulting from their extremely short muzzle and flattened face, causes significant respiratory difficulties. This condition involves narrowed nostrils, elongated soft palate, and a hypoplastic trachea, creating obstructed airways that make breathing laborious, especially during exercise or in hot weather. These respiratory issues frequently lead to overheating, as Bulldogs cannot effectively cool themselves through panting. Many also suffer from stenotic nares and may develop life-threatening pneumonia if they aspirate vomit or regurgitation. The characteristic snorting, snoring, and wheezing sounds are symptoms of these chronic breathing problems. Orthopedic issues are prevalent in English Bulldogs due to their compact build and heavy weight relative to their size. Hip dysplasia affects approximately fifteen to twenty-six percent of the breed, occurring when the hip joint develops abnormally and causes painful arthritis over time. Elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation, and intervertebral disc disease are also common due to the breed's chondrodysplasia. Their elevated hip position above the shoulders creates abnormal biomechanics that strain the joints. Eye problems frequently occur, including cherry eye, entropion, dry eye, and corneal ulcers, often requiring surgical intervention. Skin fold dermatitis is endemic to the breed, with moisture and bacteria accumulating in the deep facial wrinkles, tail pocket, and body folds, leading to painful infections. The typical lifespan of an English Bulldog is only eight to ten years, significantly shorter than many breeds of similar size. Heart disease, cancer, and neurological disorders are leading causes of death. Over eighty percent of litters require caesarean sections due to the puppies' large heads and the mothers' narrow birth canals. The breed suffers from hypothyroidism, allergies, bloat, and various genetic conditions including cysteine urolithiasis and hiatal hernias. Their extreme conformation has resulted in severely compromised quality of life for many individuals, with some countries considering breeding bans due to welfare concerns. Prospective owners must be prepared for potentially extensive veterinary care and associated costs throughout the dog's life. Regular health screenings, weight management, and avoiding temperature extremes are essential for maintaining whatever health these dogs can achieve given their inherent structural challenges.
Treeing Walker Coonhound
The Treeing Walker Coonhound is a medium to large-sized hound breed built for endurance, speed, and athletic performance. These dogs typically stand twenty to twenty-seven inches tall at the shoulder and weigh fifty to seventy pounds, with males being larger than females. Their body exhibits excellent balance between muscle and bone, creating a streamlined, agile frame designed for the rigorous demands of hunting. The chest is moderately deep, reaching down to the elbows, with well-sprung ribs that provide ample lung capacity for sustained physical activity. Their back is straight and strong, and the overall body length is slightly greater than their height, giving them a rectangular profile that emphasizes their working capabilities. The breed's head is medium in length with a broad, full skull and a square-shaped muzzle of medium length. Large, dark brown eyes convey a soft, pleading expression that is characteristic of hound breeds. The nose is large and black with prominent nostrils, essential for their exceptional scenting abilities. The ears are perhaps one of their most distinctive features, set moderately low on the skull and hanging down to nearly reach the nose when extended forward. These long, floppy ears are oval or rounded at the tips and fold gracefully against the head. The neck is medium in length and muscular, blending smoothly into well-laid-back shoulders. The legs are straight, long, and powerfully muscled, particularly the hindquarters, which provide the explosive power needed for their athletic pursuits. The Treeing Walker Coonhound's coat is short, smooth, hard, and glossy, providing protection while remaining low-maintenance. The most common coloration is tricolor, featuring combinations of white, black, and tan. Dogs may be predominantly white with black markings and tan trim, or black may be the dominant color with white markings and tan trim. Some individuals display bicolor patterns as well. The tail is carried high in a saber-like manner, adding to their alert and confident bearing. Their feet are compact with well-arched toes and thick pads, often described as cat-like in appearance. The overall impression is of a swift, powerful, and graceful athlete designed for endurance and speed, with an elegant yet utilitarian conformation that reflects their heritage as premier hunting dogs.
Key Characteristics
The Treeing Walker Coonhound is a loving, intelligent, and confident breed with a temperament that reflects both its working heritage and its capacity for companionship. These dogs are friendly and enjoy interacting with humans, forming strong bonds with their families and displaying affectionate, devoted behavior toward their people. When their exercise needs are met, they transform into mellow, sensitive house dogs who appreciate comfort and companionship. They get along well with children and other dogs, displaying an even-tempered nature that makes them difficult to annoy or provoke into aggression. Their sociable disposition extends to strangers as well, though they may initially be somewhat reserved until properly introduced. The breed possesses an intense hunting drive and strong tracking instincts that dominate their behavior when they catch a scent. On the trail, Treeing Walker Coonhounds become tireless, alert, and focused, displaying remarkable determination and stamina. They are highly vocal dogs with a distinctive bay that can be heard from great distances, changing to a steady chop when they have treed their quarry. This vocalization is an integral part of their working style but can become problematic in residential settings if not properly managed. Without adequate physical and mental stimulation, these energetic hounds may become high-strung, restless, or destructive, potentially developing excessive barking or digging behaviors. Treeing Walker Coonhounds are intelligent and generally trainable, though they can display stubborn and independent tendencies typical of hound breeds. Their strong prey drive means they will pursue small animals with single-minded determination, making off-leash exercise risky unless in securely enclosed areas. They have no road sense and will follow a scent trail without awareness of danger. Early socialization is important to ensure they develop into well-adjusted companions. While they make devoted family pets for active households, they are not ideally suited for apartment living or sedentary lifestyles. With proper exercise, training, and outlets for their natural instincts, Treeing Walker Coonhounds are loyal, eager-to-please companions who bring enthusiasm and joy to active families who appreciate their unique blend of hunting prowess and loving companionship.
The Treeing Walker Coonhound is generally considered a healthy and robust breed with relatively few serious genetic health concerns compared to many purebred dogs. Their average lifespan ranges from twelve to thirteen years, which is typical for dogs of their size. However, like all breeds, they are susceptible to certain health conditions that prospective owners should understand. Hip dysplasia is the most common orthopedic concern in the breed, occurring when the hip socket develops abnormally and results in an unstable joint that leads to arthritis, pain, and mobility problems over time. While this condition is hereditary, environmental factors such as rapid growth, obesity, and excessive exercise during puppyhood can exacerbate its development and severity. Ear infections represent a significant health consideration for Treeing Walker Coonhounds due to their long, drooping ears that create a warm, moist environment ideal for bacterial and yeast growth. The ear flaps restrict air circulation to the ear canal, making the breed particularly prone to otitis externa and other ear conditions. Regular ear cleaning and inspection are essential preventive measures, and owners should keep the hair around the ears trimmed short to improve air circulation and facilitate early detection of problems. The breed's active lifestyle and exposure to outdoor environments increase their risk of ear issues, making diligent ear care a crucial aspect of their health maintenance. Other health concerns include progressive retinal atrophy, an inherited eye condition that causes gradual degeneration of the retina and eventual vision loss, though affected dogs typically adapt well to blindness. Some individuals may develop thyroid disorders, particularly hypothyroidism, which causes metabolic issues but can be managed with daily medication. Heart conditions, while not extremely common, do occur in some lines and warrant monitoring through regular veterinary cardiac examinations. The breed's athletic nature and deep chest create some risk for gastric dilatation and volvulus, particularly if they exercise vigorously immediately after eating. Maintaining lean body condition through proper diet and regular exercise is essential, as coonhounds not actively hunting may be prone to weight gain as they age. Overall, Treeing Walker Coonhounds are a relatively healthy breed when obtained from responsible breeders who conduct appropriate health screenings and when provided with proper nutrition, exercise, and preventive veterinary care throughout their lives.
Important to Remember
Each hybrid dog is unique and may inherit any combination of traits from either parent breed. The information above represents the characteristics of the purebred parent breeds. Your English Bull-Walker may favor one parent over the other or display a blend of both. We strongly encourage you to read the complete breed profiles for both the Bulldog and Treeing Walker Coonhound to fully understand the range of possible temperaments, health concerns, and care requirements.