The name of the breed and the entire existence come from one dog called Chinook, Arthur Walden’s sled dog. Chinook had a mixed parentage, believed to come from a Greenland Husky and ‌St. Bernard/ Mastiff parents, and had a tawny coat color with a black mask. The Chinook achieved record-breaking feats in the early 1900s for how far it went, how much it hauled, and how fast it moved. But as the years went by and the world changed, few people bred Chinooks, and by the 1980s, there were only 11 breedable Chinook dogs left in the world. Fortunately, Neil & Marra Wollpert in Ohio, Kathy Adams in Maine, and Peter Abrahams in California received these eleven dogs. From then on, other breeders joined, and today, there are over 400 Chinooks registered within the U.K.C. The Chinook Owners Association and more than 1200 around the world.

Size

Chinooks are large dogs. The males are larger than the females.

• Male weight: 55 to 90 pounds (25 to 40 kg)
• Male height: 24 to 26 inches (60 to 66 cm)
• Female weight: 50 to 65 pounds (22 to 30 kg)
• Female height: 22 to 24 inches (55 to 60 cm)

Chinooks are strong and muscular dogs developed for sled pulling. They have lots of stamina, they are proportionately large dogs with “…excellent forward reach and rear extension in a seemingly tireless gait”. (AKC Official Standard of the Chinook)

Color

There are six official coat color variations of the Chinook dog:

1. Tawny
2. Red gold
3. Fawn
4. Silver fawn
5. Palomino
6. Gray red

However, there are other non-standard coat colors, such as black, white, buff, black and tan, gray and tan. 

Social Traits

The main social Chinook trait is their calm nature and friendliness. These dogs get along well with other dogs and are also a great addition to families with children of any age. Of course, we need to make sure that dogs are well socialized, but also that the children know how to behave around dogs!

Despite being friendly and affectionate with the family, they can be reserved toward strangers. This reservedness has to be followed up and honed from their puppyhood to make sure they are not aggressive or too reserved.

Chinooks also get along well with other animals, not just dogs. These dogs are generally versatile and content in both rural and urban environments, provided they receive sufficient exercise and mental engagement.

While they do not bark a lot, Chinooks can be good watchdogs because of their reserved nature toward strangers. They will alert you if they see or hear a stranger on your property.

Trainability

Chinook is a trainable dog who can quickly learn the basic obedience training. Yes, even recall! That’s the main Chinook trait that sets them apart from most other sled dogs – they can be trusted off-leash. Of course, there are always exceptions, and you might have a Chinook that has a bad recall.

Chinooks are friendly dogs who respond well to positive reinforcement and enjoy rewards such as playtime with their favorite person. Use their love for you as a reward for when they do something good.

Like with other dogs, obedience training is something we have to do, no matter if a dog is a small or large breed. They have to know from the start (when they are just small pups) that jumping on people is off limits, peeing everywhere is off limits, and anything else you think is off limits. Start early!

Activity Needs

Think about this, people bred Chinooks to be sled dogs. What does that mean? They had to haul sleds and people across the snow in harsh terrain and climate for hours on end. That tells us Chinooks are not for those who can’t give these dogs enough daily activity.

Because of their original purpose, Chinooks excel at dog sports, especially sledding, skijoring, bikejoring, and so on.

If you don’t want to do any dog sports with your Chinook, you can simply go on long hikes, runs, jogs, or give them some other ways to stretch their legs and get really tired. When you do that, Chinooks will be quite mellow at home.

Feeding

How much food a dog needs depends on various external and internal factors, such as health, age, outside weather, type of food, and so on. Generally speaking, an adult Chinook needs from 3 to 4 cups of kibble a day.

It is best to divide the amount into two meals: one meal in the morning and the other one in the evening.

Finally, we can consult a vet, breeder, or a friend who has a Chinook dog too. We can also follow the BCS and change the amount accordingly. However, don’t change your dog’s entire diet plan until you consult a professional.

Grooming

Chinooks are not hard to groom. They require daily brushing during shedding seasons, which happen twice a year, and weekly brushing at other times. They have a double coat, which means you will need a combination of a pin and slicker brush to keep the coat clean and healthy.

You can also use the deshedder tool during shedding seasons, but a good pin brush is a must. Just make sure they have a protected tip, so that you don’t accidentally hurt the dog. 

Like other dogs, they need an occasional bath – if they get dirty. And nail trimming, if their nails don’t wear out on their own. 

Possible Health Issues

The Chinook’s gene pool is not very big. Most of the Chinook dogs are in North America, and the breeders are responsible for keeping the breed healthy. That means that there are no big health issues in the breed. Of course, they are living beings and can get sick. 

One genetic disease that cannot be prevented or tested beforehand is called ‌Chinook seizures. This condition is not ‌real epilepsy, but rather a movement disorder characterized by involuntary ‘jerking’ movements that are painless. Dogs recover completely, and the “episode” can last from a few minutes to an hour (in more severe cases).  

The dog does not lose consciousness during these episodes, and there is no need to intervene. Of course, we should limit the dog’s area of movement during the episode to keep them safe. Excitement is often connected to these episodes.

Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years

Summary 

Chinook is a lovely, robust dog from the northern part of North America. The first dog, from which all of it started, has a loving story that I aim to write in future articles. Even though Chinook lived a long time ago, the same traits live in his descendants: brave, loyal, friendly, and strong. The Chinook can be a great family dog, but don’t forget they were bred to run! That means you need to give them enough mental and physical daily stimulation to keep them healthy and happy.

Cover photo by Chinook Club of America Inc