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The Chinook is a rare sleddog type or variety developed in the New England region of the USA in the early 20th century.
Appearance: Standing 21 to 27 inches (53-69 cm) in
height at the withers and weighing 55 to 90 pounds (25-41 kg),
the Chinook is balanced and muscular. The UKC standard states
that "The ideal coloration runs from light honey color to
reddish-gold. Black markings on the inside corners of the eyes
are preferred. Dark tawny to black markings on the ears and
muzzle are preferred.
Guard hairs on the tail may be black. No white markings are
allowed. Buff markings on the cheeks, muzzle, throat, chest,
breeches, toes and underside are acceptable." The UKC
standard faults any color other than tawny and disqualifies
Albinism. Other proposed standards state that the
medium-length double coat is “tawny” in colour, with
darker shadings on muzzle and ears; white dogs are not
allowed, nor are other colours.
Eyes are brown to amber in colour. Ear carriage is
variable, but dropped is preferred and the head more strongly
rectangular than other sleddog breeds. The tail is a
well-furred saber and not the usual brush or plume of Arctic
breeds. Overall, the Chinook seems to owe more to mastiff than
to spitz ancestry.
Temperament: The breed is described as calm,
nonaggressive and friendly, though sometimes reserved with
strangers. They are inherently gentle with children.
Health: Health issues in Chinooks are epilepsy,
canine hip dysplasia, and eye defects.
History: The Chinook owes its existence to one man,
Arthur Treadwell Walden of Wonalancet, New Hampshire. The
breed derives principally from one male ancestor born in 1917,
named “Chinook,” who was Walden’s lead dog and stud.
Chinook derived from a crossbreeding of husky stock from the
Peary North Pole expedition with a large, tawny Mastiff-like
male. Photos of “Chinook” show a drop-eared dog with a
broad Mastiff head and muzzle.
Walden’s leader was bred to Belgian Sheepdogs, German
Shepherd Dogs, Canadian Eskimo Dogs and perhaps other breeds;
the progeny were bred back to him to set the desired type and
was apparently a strong reproducer of his own traits. Arthur
Walden was an experienced dog driver with years of experience
in the Yukon; he was lead driver and trainer on the 1929 Byrd
antarctic expedition. He is credited with bringing sleddog
sport to New England and with founding the New England Sled
Dog Club in 1924. The 12-year old “Chinook” was lost on
the Byrd expedition.
Control of the core breeding stock passed from Walden to
Mrs. Julia Lombard and from her to Perry Greene in the late
1930s. Greene, a noted outdoorsman, bred Chinooks in
Waldoboro, Maine, for many years until his death in 1963. Rare
and closely-held by Greene who was for many years the only
breeder of Chinooks, the population dwindled rapidly after his
death. By 1981 only eleven breedable Chinooks survived.
Breeders in Maine, Ohio and California divided the
remaining stock and managed to save the type from extinction.
The Chinook obtained registered status with the United Kennel
Club in 1991; current numbers of registered animals are around
400. The registry has a cross-breeding programme under which
Chinooks are bred to individuals of other breeds thought to
have contributed to Chinook development; fourth-generation
backcross descendants of such crosses may be accepted as
registered Chinooks.
Working Life: Although still used for recreational
dogsledding by some owners, Chinooks today appear to be used
largely as family pets. Individuals are also used for
dog-packing, search and rescue, skijoring, and obedience and
dog agility trials.Chinooks are slowly gaining
recognition by major kennel clubs.
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