Chinook

At a glance you know Chinooks weren’t built for lying on the sofa watching General Hospital with Grandma. These tawny-coated, no-frills workers are muscular and substantial, with males standing as high as 26 inches at the shoulder. Females, with their distinctly feminine look, are a bit smaller. Chinooks were conceived as dual-purpose haulers, with the power of freighting dogs and the speed of sled racers. They’re the picture of stouthearted dignity, with a kindly twinkle in their dark almond eyes.

It’s amazing that dogs this smart and lovable were once on the verge of extinction. Happily, the Chinook was brought back from near oblivion by devotees who cherished the breed’s many virtues. They’re calm, people-oriented dogs with a special feel for children. Chinooks are trainable, eager workers who aim to please. Sledding, carting, obedience, agility, search-and-rescue work, and herding are a few pursuits they’ve mastered. Still a pretty rare breed, Chinooks aren’t easy to come by. But their fans say they’re worth the search.

The Chinook Breed was developed by Polar Explorer Arthur Treadwell Walden during the early 1900's on his farm in Wanalancet New Hampshire. Walden's farm was located along the same quiet country road, "The Chinook Trail", where Milton and Eva Seeley helped develop the AKC Siberian and Malamute breeds. By blending a Mastiff type dog with Greenland Husky, German and Belgian Shepherds, Walden succeeded in creating an American breed of sled dog with power, endurance and trainability, with a friendly, gentle nature, and with a distinctive tawny color.