Developed as a sled dog in New Hampshire, the rare Chinook is now the state's official dog and an excellent family companion. The Chinook originated in the state of New Hampshire in 1917, developed by Arthur Walden. Walden named his first puppy Chinook, and the appellation became the same for the breed. In 1927, Walden's dog was one of 16 Chinooks that Admiral Richard Byrd took along as the sled team on a premiere expedition to Antarctica. The breed was so obscure that, in 1965, the Chinook was declared as the most rare dog breed in the world, and the Chinook was nearly extinct by 1981. Efforts have since been made to revive the breed's population. United Kennel Club recognized the Chinook in 1991, and the breed was dubbed New Hampshire's official state dog in 2009. The Chinook is slowly making a comeback, but those who desire a Chinook puppy will still have a considerable wait.
The Chinook is a rare medium-sized dog that was bred in New England, with a very muscular and athletic body structure. They have deep chests, large muzzles and small ears. Their double coats are medium-length and dense, often coming in light honey or reddish-gold. Their coats require minimal attention, but are heavy shredders. They need to be brushed regularly. Developed for sled racing and for pulling sleds piled with freight, the large and muscular stature of a Chinook stands 22 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder and weighs 50 to 90 pounds. Chinooks are clad in dense double coats of medium-length hair. The undercoat is soft, and the outer coat is coarse. The coat is tawny in color, with hues ranging from light honey to reddish-gold, and black markings may be present on the on the ears, around the eyes and toward the end of the snout. The ears are pointed, and they may either stand erect or flip downward.
Personality
The Chinook is a gentle and friendly breed. They are very affectionate toward their human families and very patient with children. They are not overly active but need to be walked on a daily basis. Chinooks are calm and easygoing and are usually not aggressive towards other dogs or strangers. The Chinook is an athletic dog that thrives on outdoor activity, making for an ideal hiking or jogging companion. The Chinook needs heavy daily exercise. The breed is a devoted and affectionate family member that gets along with other pets and adores children. The Chinook is intelligent and easy to train, but the breed is not a good watchdog candidate.
Breed Characteristics
| Life Span: | 12 - 15 years |
| Nicknames: | No nicknames known |
Chinook Build Information
The Chinook is a rare medium-sized dog that was bred in New England, with a very muscular and athletic body structure. They have deep chests, large muzzles and small ears. Their double coats are medium-length and dense, often coming in light honey or reddish-gold. Their coats require minimal attention, but are heavy shredders. They need to be brushed regularly. Developed for sled racing and for pulling sleds piled with freight, the large and muscular stature of a Chinook stands 22 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder and weighs 50 to 90 pounds. Chinooks are clad in dense double coats of medium-length hair. The undercoat is soft, and the outer coat is coarse. The coat is tawny in color, with hues ranging from light honey to reddish-gold, and black markings may be present on the on the ears, around the eyes and toward the end of the snout. The ears are pointed, and they may either stand erect or flip downward.
| Size: | Medium |
Behaviour and Personality
The Chinook is a gentle and friendly breed. They are very affectionate toward their human families and very patient with children. They are not overly active but need to be walked on a daily basis. Chinooks are calm and easygoing and are usually not aggressive towards other dogs or strangers. The Chinook is an athletic dog that thrives on outdoor activity, making for an ideal hiking or jogging companion. The Chinook needs heavy daily exercise. The breed is a devoted and affectionate family member that gets along with other pets and adores children. The Chinook is intelligent and easy to train, but the breed is not a good watchdog candidate.
| Activity Level: | Very Active |
| Affection Level: | Very affectionate |
| Kid Friendliness: | Very Friendly |
Appearance
The Chinook requires little grooming. It is a light shedder, so a quick daily brushing will remove the dead hairs to minimize their accumulation around the home. This will become especially necessary during the heavy shedding periods, which occur twice a year. Brushing the teeth three times a week or more will help to prevent periodontal disease and maintain good overall health.
| Shedding: | Heavy |
| Grooming: | Medium Maintenance |
Chinook Common Health Conditions
The Chinook lives an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years. The Chinook is generally a hardy dog, but some health issues that have been seen in the breed include hip dysplasia, cataracts, skin problems and epilepsy.
Chinook Pet Insurance
When adding a dog or cat to your family you want to make sure your pet is happy, healthy and protected. During its lifetime your pet is exposed to many illnesses and diseases and some breeds are affected by a congenital disease which is a condition existing at birth. At these moments when your pet is ill or maybe needs surgery, you want to be protected for the unexpected and high veterinarian costs.
Get a Free Pet Insurance Quote
Breed Talents and Facts
The Chinook originated in the state of New Hampshire. The Chinook is a large and powerful dog that is intelligent and loving. The Chinook stands 22 to 26 inches tall and weighs 50 to 90 pounds. Chinooks have a high energy level. Chinooks require minimal grooming. The average lifespan for a Chinook is 12 to 15 years.
| Training: | Easy to train |