Chinook

The Chinook is a sledding dog breed that was developed in New Hampshire early in the 20th century. It is used as a family pet, sled dog, carting dog and for search and rescue. This breed is mellow, affectionate, friendly and is very rarely aggressive. It is not a good watch dog or guard dog. However, it's size alone may deter an intruder.The Chinook stands from 21 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder. It is compact but not stocky, muscular, and of medium bone. It has little of the typical Spitz look of a sled dog. While well-muscled, this dog is never heavy or slow; it is agile of movement, giving the overall impression of power and readiness to perform. Its coat is double, consisting of a short, soft dense undercoat and a coarser, medium-length top coat of guard hairs. The top coat serves to repel ice and snow, the undercoat insulates the dog from cold weather and also shields the skin from strong sunlight. The upper chest and neck are covered by a medium ruff. The coat is always a fawn color which may be from sandy to reddish gold The toes are slightly webbed, and well-furred. The dewclaws may be removed. The head is strong and held high. The ears are large and triangular; the position of the ears varies, although they are usually dropped. The tail is heavily furred and held down when relaxed, and curved up sickle-like when the dog is active. It is not curled over the back like the tails of other sled dog breeds. The tail of the Chinook is never docked.The Chinook breed began with explorer Arthur Treadwell Walden. He was an experienced sled dog handler, and familiar with the demands made upon successful sled dogs. He wanted a dog that was capable of the swift movement and incredible endurance of which the Siberian Huskies were capable, but that was also an excellent pack dog, stronger and bigger than the other sled dogs. He had obtained one of the famed dogs from the Peary expedition to the North Pole, and in 1917 he crossed her with a mixed breed of Mastiff-like type. The offspring were a large, strong dog capable of freight work, and it would pull a sled too. One of the litter, a male called "Chinook"�, became Walden's lead sled dog and foundation stud. Walden continued to improve the breed by crossing Chinook with shepherds, sled dogs, and other breeds that he thought would add desired qualities in his hybrid. After a few generations the progeny were bred back to Chinook in order to emphasize the best traits of this first exceptional dog. The end result was a breed dubbed the "Chinook"� in honor of the foundation sire that repeatedly set records in the sledding world, not only for time of run, but also for weight carried: a swift sled dog that was also an outstanding freighter. Walden's originally star, "Chinook"�, accompanied Admiral Byrd's expedition to the South Pole in 1927; he was 12 years old by then, and his full life ended there. But the new breed had been established, and through the years, despite several periods of near-extinction, the Chinook has attracted a number of fanciers who have worked to keep the integrity of Walden's original vision, and have helped the breed to survive. But at one point during the 1980's there were only 12 breeding dogs left in the world. These twelve were used successfully to rebuild the population, but the superior sled-dog ability has largely been lost. Still, the pulling instinct is there, the packing instinct is strong, and this dog is a wonderful family companion. The Chinook has been accepted in Foundation Stock Service for the American Kennel Club since 2003, and is expected to receive full breed recognition in January of 2010 as part of the Miscellaneous Class.The Chinook, unlike other northern breeds, is ill-suited to continuous life outside. It is very family-oriented and craves human interaction. When denied this, it can develop emotional and behavioral problems leading to physical illness. It should be kept as a family pet, where it can form strong bonds with family members. This dog needs daily exercise in the form of a long walk. With proper and adequate physical activity, it does well in any home environment, including an apartment. The Chinook is not normally a barker, and is calm in the house. The coat of the Chinook needs little care. This dog is a moderate shedder, with seasonal heavier shedding of the undercoat. In perpetually warm conditions, the undercoat can become very sparse over time. A good brushing once a week minimizes shedding and keeps the coat attractive and the skin healthy. Baths are recommended infrequently as needed. Ears should be checked regularly for signs of infection and cleaned occasionally. Health problems in the Chinook are few. Those that have appeared from time to time include genetic disorders such as hip dysplasia, eye disorders, epilepsy and spondylosis. The average lifespan of this dog is 10 to 15 years, with some individuals living to see 16 or 17. The Chinook is an exceptionally calm, friendly dog, even with strangers. This dog loves children and will treat them with patience and gentleness. It is a safe breed to have with cats and other small household companions, and is generally very accepting of other canines in the household. The Chinook is naturally obedient and willing to please, and is usually easy and pleasurable to train. Basic obedience training should begin when the dog is very young, so that the owner establishes leadership and control before the animals becomes large and more difficult to handle. Owners of the Chinook enjoy sledding, cart-pulling competition, pack dog exercises, and obedience trails their dogs. Because of its ability to move quickly and gracefully, the breed excels at agility. This breed's inherent physical strength and stamina make it ideal for long hiking and camping excursions.

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