Treeing Walker Coonhounds

These are my parents’ new coondog pups. Something that has been a lifelong love for my dad is now the love of my mom’s life. They have been raising and training Walker coondogs for the last few years. They have had as many as 19 dogs at one time. Some of the dogs are show dogs, some are hunters and some are just cute companions. Nevertheless, they are an expensive group of dogs.
The name “Vallen Nelson” is nationally known in the coondog circles. He has raised at least one national champion and has helped to train several others. He knows how every muscle, every spot, every wrinkle on the dog is supposed to look. He not only takes dogs to compete in shows, he also judges several competitions each year.
My mom helps a lot with keeping the dogs healthy, fed, and in shape. With the number of dogs they have, it can be a full-time job. When it’s warm outside, the dogs exercise by swimming in the creek. When it’s cold outside, they run on treadmills that are set up for them in the basement.
When they go out to hunt, it has to be at night when it’s dark. From what I hear, it’s a thrill. And, yes, my mom even goes sometimes.