| Basic Info The Chinook is a rare sleddog
type or variety developed in the New England region of
the USA in the early 20th century. Standing 21 to 27
inches (53-69 cm) in height at the withers and weighing
55 to 90 pounds (25-41 kg), they are 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.
Health
Health issues are epilepsy, canine hip dysplasia, and
eye defects.
Behavior
The breed is described as calm, nonaggressive and
friendly, though sometimes reserved with strangers. They
are inherently gentle with children.
Origin
United States
History
This breed 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.
They 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 them 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 breed obtained
registered status with the United Kennel Club in 1991;
current numbers of registered animals are around 400.
The registry has a cross-breeding program under which
they 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 breed.
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