Very interesting. I spent most of life hunting with running walkers and julys. We used them on coyotes. We did catch an occasional raccoon and a few bobcats with them, but they were always on ground. I never had one look up and tree that I remember, yet we were never purposely pursuing game that would. Have you ever hunted any dogs from the Croghan line of breeding? They are mostly running walker with some july in the pedigree. 

@Jared Harrelson I have not hunted the Crogans or at least not that I know of.  Most of the running walkers that I hunted were just considered “south Texas cat dog” breeding.  No papers and most have some some trigg or July in them way back somewhere.  We didn’t buy a lot of purebred walkers from competition coyote guys and switch them to cats.

@Jared Harrelson the dogs I currently hunt have some croghan blood in them on one side of their pedigree.  Is that what your hunting?  

@Shorty Gorham yes. They handled well, easy to deer break, and were not afraid to fight. I had some real good ones over the years. 👍 I appreciate seeing your posts. 

I’ve had a lot of questions lately about running dogs treeing.  While my experience with Trigg and July hounds is somewhat limited.  I do have more extensive experience with the Running Walker breed.  That said one of the best dogs I have owned (Curley) was a July and I own one now (Sandy).  Both July hounds treed.  

I have hunted with some triggs and trigg running walker crosses but I did not own them.  They are owned by another S. Texas cat hunter who I will not name.  This man in my opinion is the best current S. Texas cat hunter.  Said dogs did not have a problem treeing and do catch a pile of cats.

I have hunted many different blood lines of running walker hounds,  most of which all treed.  Now would I call them tree dogs?  No.  Not when compared to coonhound or other treeing breeds.  They do however locate (we will talk more later about the difference)  and stay treed enough to keep the game in the tree until I get there.  You may notice by the picture that accompanies this post that the are mostly stand back and eye **** the game type tree dogs.  I prefer this!  I feel it is because of this that cats don’t jump out of trees on them as often as many  people have happen to their “feet on the tree”  type hounds.  When an animal looks for a place to jump and there is a dog on their landing pad looking them dead in the eyes,  it changes their mind.  I feel like some people put to much emphasis on how hard a dog trees or barks treed and not enough on what that dog does to keep the game in the tree.  Understand that I do know the difference and this does not apply to competition Coon or squirrel hounds due to point deductions.  However I do find that it is true in fast varmint and big game hunting.  

I am not trying to stir controversy by making this post.  I am only sharing my perspective on running dogs and treeing.  I hope this helps to understand or at least make you think about different aspects of keeping game that wants to jump in the tree.

Running Walker Hounds: Locating and Staying Treed for Successful Hunting

Shorty G

Are you sure?

Jared H

Shorty G

Shorty G

Jared H