Chinook (dog breed)
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The Chinook is a breed of sled dog developed in New Hampshire in the early 20th century. It is recognized as the official state dog of New Hampshire.
Quick Facts
- Country
- United States
Facts from the source article.
History
The Chinook breed originated with Arthur Treadwell Walden of Wonalancet, New Hampshire, and derives principally from one male ancestor born in 1917 named Chinook. Walden bred a Greenland Dog descended from the lead of the Peary North Pole expedition, named Ningo, with a large, tawny male Mastiff/St. Bernard mix named Kim. The pair produced three pups, one of which, originally named Rikki, showed the traits Walden sought and was renamed Chinook. This dog was bred to Belgian Sheepdogs, German Shepherd Dogs, Canadian Eskimo Dogs, and possibly other breeds, with progeny bred back to him to set type.
Walden was lead driver and trainer on Byrd's 1929 Antarctic expedition, where the 12-year-old Chinook went missing while hauling supplies and was presumed dead. Control of the core breeding stock passed from Walden to Julia Lombard and then to Perry Greene in the late 1940s.
Greene bred Chinooks in Waldoboro, Maine, until his death in 1963. After his death the population dwindled; by 1981 only eleven breedable Chinooks survived. Breeders in Maine, Ohio, and California divided the remaining stock and saved the type from extinction.
Description
The Chinook stands 21 to 27 inches at the withers and weighs 45 to 90 pounds, with a balanced, muscular build. The UKC breed standard describes the ideal coloration as ranging from light honey to reddish-gold, with black markings preferred on the inside corners of the eyes and dark tawny to black markings on the ears and muzzle; guard hairs on the tail may be black, and 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. The medium-length double coat is tawny with darker shadings on muzzle and ears; white dogs are not allowed. Eyes are brown to amber, ear carriage is variable but dropped is preferred, and the head is more rectangular than in other sleddog breeds. The tail is a well-furred saber.
The Chinook is affectionate and playful, especially devoted to children, eager to please, and trainable. It works well with other dogs and may be reserved with strangers but not shy or aggressive.
More in Dog Breeds Originating in the United States
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Chinook (dog breed) (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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