Chinook (dog) facts for kids
A male Chinook
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| Origin | United States |
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| Notes | State dog of New Hampshire |
| Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) | |
The Chinook is a special type of dog known as a sled dog. It was first developed in the state of New Hampshire in the United States during the early 1900s. Today, the Chinook is even New Hampshire's official state dog!
Contents
About the Chinook Dog
What Chinooks Look Like
Chinooks are strong and balanced dogs. They usually stand about 53 to 69 centimeters (21 to 27 inches) tall at their shoulders, which are called the withers. They weigh between 20 and 41 kilograms (45 to 90 pounds).
Their fur color can range from a light honey color to a reddish-gold. It's common for them to have darker markings around their eyes, on their ears, and on their muzzle. Sometimes, the long hairs on their tail can be black. White markings are not allowed on a Chinook. Their eyes are usually brown or amber. They have a medium-length double coat, which means they have two layers of fur to keep them warm.
Chinook Personality
Chinooks are very loving and playful dogs. They make great family pets and are especially good with children. They love to work and are always eager to please their owners and learn new things. Chinooks are easy to train and can do many different activities.
They usually get along well with other dogs and can work together in teams. Chinooks are calm and dignified dogs. Some might be a bit shy around strangers at first, but they should never be aggressive.
Chinook Health
Like all dog breeds, Chinooks can have some health issues that run in their families. These can include conditions like epilepsy (which affects their brain), hip dysplasia (a problem with their hip joints), and atopy (skin allergies). Another common issue, especially in male Chinooks, is called cryptorchidism. This is when one or both of a male dog's testicles don't drop down properly.
The History of the Chinook Breed
The Chinook breed exists thanks to one person: Arthur Treadwell Walden. He lived in Wonalancet, New Hampshire. The breed started with a single male dog born in 1917, also named "Chinook." This dog was Walden's main sled dog and was used for breeding.
Walden wanted to create the perfect sled dog. He had learned a lot about sled dogs from a Native American guide and his dog, also named Chinook, during a trip to the Yukon. To create his own Chinook, Walden bred a female Greenland Dog (which came from a famous dog on the Peary North Pole expedition) with a large, tawny male dog that was a mix of a Mastiff and a St. Bernard.
This pair had three puppies. Walden's wife, Katherine Sleeper Walden, named them Rikki, Tikki, and Tavi. As one of the puppies, Rikki, grew up, he showed all the qualities Walden was looking for. So, Rikki was renamed Chinook, just like the Native American guide's dog. This "Chinook" dog was then bred with other dogs like Belgian Sheepdogs, German Shepherd Dogs, and Canadian Eskimo Dogs. His puppies were then bred back to him to make sure the desired traits became strong in the breed.
Arthur Walden was a very experienced dog driver. He led and trained dogs for Byrd's 1929 Antarctic expedition to Antarctica. He also helped bring sled dog sports to New England and started the New England Sled Dog Club in 1924. Sadly, the original "Chinook" dog went missing during the Byrd expedition when he was 12 years old and was thought to have died.
After Walden, the main group of breeding Chinooks was passed to Julia Lombard, and then to Perry Greene in the late 1940s. Greene was an outdoorsman who bred Chinooks in Waldoboro, Maine, for many years. Because Greene was the only breeder for a long time, the number of Chinooks dropped quickly after he passed away in 1963. By 1981, there were only eleven Chinooks left that could be bred! Luckily, breeders in Maine, Ohio, and California worked together to save the breed from disappearing completely.
The Chinook breed was officially recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC) in 1991. Today, there are about 800 registered Chinooks, and only about 100 puppies are born each year around the world. The UKC even has a special program where Chinooks can be bred with other breeds that might have helped create the Chinook in the past. This helps keep the breed healthy and strong.
In 2001, Chinooks joined the American Kennel Club (AKC) Foundation Stock Service. They were later added to the AKC's Miscellaneous Class in 2010. Finally, in January 2013, the Chinook became the AKC's 176th recognized breed and joined the working group of dogs.
What Chinooks Do Today
While some owners still use Chinooks for fun dog sledding, most Chinooks today are loved family pets. Some Chinooks also help with activities like dog-packing (carrying gear), search and rescue missions, skijoring (where a dog pulls a person on skis), and in dog sports like obedience and dog agility trials.
See also
- Dogs portal
- List of dog breeds
Images for kids
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Arthur T. Walden and Chinook, 1922
