Origin
A rare dog and was singularly developed by an American breeder, Arthur Walden, in New Hampshire, the USA in 1917. The Chinook is a crossbreed from the Greenland husky, German shepherd dogs, and Canadian Eskimo dogs.
Recognized for its intelligence and working abilities as a sled dog, these abilities were proven when Arthur Walden joined the Byrd Antarctic Expedition in 1929 and brought along his Chinook dog.
The name “Chinook” came from a road name, the Chinook trail, of the Walden’s farm fame.
These dogs were later purchased by Perry and Honey Greene of Maine in the 1940s in whom they were responsible for the continued breeding and increase of the Chinooks population.
In 1966 the Guinness Book of Records recognized Chinook as the rarest breed of dog, listing only 125 as existing in the world. In later years, the Chinook was known as the state dog of New Hampshire in 2009.
Traits and Behavior
Developed as a sled dog, they have become hard-working, intelligent, reliable and dedicated dogs. The Chinooks are good family companions because they appear to be happy, alert, and with good training, they can be considered safe dogs to children. Not only are they sled dogs, but they also are used in search and rescue activities.
They have a calm, non-aggressive and friendly character most especially to dog owners or trainers. There may be circumstances of them being reserved to strangers but as long as they are constantly accustomed to the human scent, they can be friendly and entertaining.
These dogs are also adaptive to the environment and people such that they can be used in group or team dog activities.
They prefer the comfort of their owners and can be emotionally sensitive, so leaving them may be a problem. They must have a feeling that they are a part of the family.
Pet Care and Diseases
Having thick double coats, the Chinooks typically shed a lot of hair and need to be brushed regularly. In planning to own this type, one must be aware of the amount of hair that is shed and scattered in and around the home.
Bathing is not necessary since their coat has a special covering that can easily leave off dirt and mud.
If taken for hunting or rainy activities, the dog must be completely dried out to prevent them from catching the chills and colds.
Their inner ears must be regularly checked for infection or mucous plugs. Regular time has to be provided for their exercise, like a recommended walk every two to three days would be enough.
The Chinooks doesn’t need a large open space since they usually like to rest and lie down and they follow only to where their owners go.
This breed has minimal health conditions but can be acquainted with diseases like cataract, hip dysplasia and gastrointestinal issues.
Appearance
This breed is a working dog with a unique ability to be adaptive to cold climates and can be an excellent sled-racer.
With an athletic built, muscular and large body structure, the Chinook has a thick, double coat of medium length which is naturally suitable for cold temperatures while their undercoat is thick and smooth in texture.
They stand about 53-69cm in height of withers and weighs about 25-41kg. Their muzzle is long and with dark shadings around the area. Its set of ears may be either dropped or pricked up depending on the variety. The nose is shade in black and protrudes slightly over the mouth. Ideally, their colors are light honey to reddish gold with black markings on eye rims.
General Information
Its life span is about 10-15 years. The average litter size is 4-10 puppies. In Inuit, Chinook means “warm winter winds”.
Breed Club
Visit these dog club websites dedicated to Chinook Dogs. Click this link:
http://www.chinook.org/ http://www.chinookclubofamerica.org/
http://www.chinookclubofamerica.org/
Featured Video
Watch this video: “Chinook Ride”