Chinook

Breed Rating

Breed Details

General

The Chinook is a rare dog breed of sled dog. Pronounced as 'Shin-OOK', the dog is developed in the New England region of the United States. They are also sometimes called the New Hampshire State Dog. The dog was bred to be a new sled dog breed who is fast and with great stamina while friendly with a gentle nature yet robust.

The dog is capable of pulling light to heavy loads. They are willing to work, calm, friendly and not aggressive although they can be shy with strangers and unfamiliar surroundings. The dog works in packs which means they can get along with other dogs. These dogs are loyal, easy to train and very intelligent. It is a rare breed with estimated 300-500 purebred dogs in existence today. Many breeders make every effort to maintain the dog's working ability while the breed is seen to be working in a variety of areas including agility, dog sledding, dog packing, skijoring, sheep herding, search and rescue and obedience, etc.

Color

These dogs' Tawny coat ranges from Light Honey to Reddish-Gold. The outer hairs on their tail can sometimes be Black. Some of these dogs tend to have Black markings on the inside corners of the eyes and Dark Tawny to Black markings on their muzzle and ears. Buff markings on some dogs are also present on the muzzle, cheeks, throat, chest, belly, breeches and toes.

Coat

The dog's double-coated hair is medium in length with thick soft undercoat and coarse outer coat. Their coat can cope with any given weather as Chinooks who live in warm climates tend to have less dense coats than those Chinooks who live in cooler climates.

Personality

The Chinooks are calm, friendly and willing to please. They are aloof with strangers while females are more likely to become independent thinkers compared to their male counterparts. Early socialization is crucial like exposure to many people, experiences, sights and sounds. Puppy kindergarten should also help in the proper socialization. These dogs would keep a happy and balanced self when provided with proper leadership and a calm assertive behavior from the humans around them.

Care

These dogs are fairly easy to groom as their coat can take care of itself and requires little to no grooming. Their double coat hair consists of a coarse overcoat and downy undercoat. Some have been known to shed twice a year for about one week while in other times, they shed very little. Other dogs of the same breed are known to shed heavily all year round. Everyday brushing keeps these dogs clean while keeping their shedding under control. Be sure to brush all the way down to the skin. These dogs rarely need more than a bath or two a year. Weekly trimming of their thick, fast-growing nails and brushing the teeth 2-3 times a week. The dog is a generally healthy dog breed but like any other breed, they can be prone to other health issues. Health problems known to the breed includes cataracts, skin and coat problems, hip dysplasia, seizures and gastrointestinal issues. Not all Chinooks will get any or all of these diseases but it should be known to the owner when considering the breed.

Training

The Chinooks are highly trainable, versatile and adaptable in his abilities. Positive reinforcement techniques should be used during training, as any other dog, they do not respond well to harsh negative training tactics. Proper socialization and obedience training should be all that is required for the dog to learn. Consistency and a calm assertive behavior should be applied for positive results. Housebreaking should be fairly easy for this dog as long as the owner makes it a positive experience. A regular potty schedule and lots of chances to go outside should also help. Crate training should also help with housebreaking as well as to keep the puppy from destroying furniture or shoes in he house.

Activity

These dogs require a fair amount of exercise and are moderately energetic. They require to be taken for a daily walk. They were bred to be working sled dogs and are capable to pull heavy loads. He'd make a great pet for owners who are active as they are very suitable as jogging and hiking companion; but not compatible for owners who are looking for a retriever or water dog.