A little look at life together.
Getting to know the Chinook
The Chinook developed in New Hampshire as a working sled dog and is associated with a patient, people-oriented manner. Make room for shared activity and regular care of the plush double coat.
An everyday routine
Plan a daily mix of walks, play, and rest. The amount that works for a particular dog depends on age, fitness, experience, and temperament.
Coat care to plan for
Set aside time each week for coat care, checking through the hair rather than only brushing the surface. Shedding periods or longer furnishings may need extra attention.
Before deciding, meet the individual dog and ask about their history, handling preferences, and current routine. Breed tendencies are a starting point, not a promise about personality.
Chinook questions
Do Chinooks shed?
Yes. The Chinook has a thick double coat that sheds a moderate amount. Weekly brushing covers most of the year, and longer daily sessions are needed during the heavier seasonal sheds, which usually come twice a year.
How big does a full-grown Chinook get?
Males usually stand 24 to 26 inches tall and weigh 55 to 90 pounds, and females stand 22 to 24 inches and weigh 50 to 65 pounds. The Chinook is also slow to mature.
How long do Chinooks live, and what health questions come up?
Chinooks typically live 12 to 15 years, a breed-wide figure and not a prediction for one dog. Hip dysplasia, eye issues, the MDR1 mutation and chondrodysplasia are disorders identified in the breed, and testing for them is recommended. Ask a breeder for those results and talk with your vet about anything specific to your dog.
Are Chinooks good with children?
The breed has a strong reputation for it. The Chinook is a dignified, affectionate family dog known for its love of children and very good with young ones. Young Chinooks tend to jump up to greet people, so early training helps.
How much exercise does a Chinook need?
More than their calm manner at home suggests. Chinooks have a great deal of energy and thrive on exercise and play, and they enjoy hiking, jogging, biking, skijoring, sledding and swimming. A Chinook usually does best with a regular job or outing shared with its people.
Are Chinooks easy to train?
Generally, yes. They are easy to train with positive reinforcement. Unlike most sledding breeds, a Chinook can be reliable off leash, and their friendly nature means training will not turn one into a guard dog.
Are Chinooks a rare breed?
Yes. The Chinook was the rarest dog in the world in 1965 with only 125 alive, and by 1981 just 28 remained, 11 of them able to be bred. Numbers have grown since, with 813 registered when the breed was fully recognized in the United States in January 2013. It is still one of the scarcest breeds.
What were Chinooks bred for?
Pulling sleds. Arthur Walden of Wonalancet, New Hampshire, developed the breed to combine the power of freighting dogs with the speed of racing sled dogs. Every Chinook traces to a tawny pup born in 1917 that Walden named Chinook. Walden and his dogs hauled supplies on Admiral Byrd's first Antarctic expedition, and in 2009 the Chinook became the state dog of New Hampshire.
