Are you looking for a trustworthy and loving friend to join your family? Then, Chinook can be an excellent choice for you.
This uncommon and highly sought-after breed is an excellent option for people and families looking for a loyal companion due to its happy and caring temperament. But what precisely distinguishes the Chinook from other breeds, and what should you learn before bringing one home?
The Chinook is a large dog breed known for its intelligence, trainability, and high level of energy. Despite being bred originally for sledding and pulling carts, most people now keep them as house pets. The Chinook is a wonderful choice for households with children and other pets because of its amiable and affectionate attitude.
In this post, we will delve more into the Chinook breed and cover details about its history, size, temperament, health, and care. Read on to find out more about the Chinook, whether you’re thinking about getting one or you’re just curious about this unusual breed.
[wpdatatable id=78]History of Chinook
In the early 1900s, a New Hampshire citizen named Arthur Walden founded the Chinook, which is now known as the state dog of that state. Adventurer Walden visited Alaska during the Gold Rush and developed a love for driving sled dogs.
He decided to start his line of powerful sled-pulling dogs by breeding a mastiff-like dog with a Husky when he returned to New Hampshire, bringing his passion for sled dogs with him. He gave the breed the name Chinook after the top dog on his sled team. These early dogs are the ancestors of the Chinook canines.
However, after Walden’s passing in 1947, the Chinook breed experienced difficulty, and its number fell to the point of almost extinction. Twenty years later, Guinness World Records recognized it as the rarest dog breed. Fortunately, Chinook enthusiasts from all around the world took on the task of preserving the breed. In 2013, the American Kennel Club formally acknowledged it as a member of the Working Group.
Chinook Breed Characteristics
Chinooks are highly intelligent dogs that enjoy the opportunity to be trained and learn new skills. However, they are active and like taking long walks or treks. They also enjoy relaxing and cuddling with their owners. They are a wonderful choice for families with young children because of their active and friendly nature, but because they are a huge breed, it is crucial to watch how they interact with others.
Due to their pack nature and need for human interaction, Chinooks do not do well in homes where they are frequently left alone. They get along well with kids, other animals, and even strangers due to their relaxed and laid-back personalities. They thrive in social households with lots of love and care from their owners.
More About Chinook
This breed was produced on Arthur Walden’s farm in New Hampshire, where a farm dog and a Husky were crossed, resulting in the Chinook breed. A litter of puppies, including a male with large bones, floppy ears, and a calm temperament, was born on January 17, 1917. It was named Chinook and had children who shared many of his characteristics.
Despite difficulties over the years, the Chinook breed has repeatedly been on the point of extinction but has always been saved by enthusiasts. This is hardly unexpected given the breed’s wealth of admirable traits, which include power, intelligence, gentleness, and warmth of character.
Due to its heritage as a sled dog, the Chinook breed is well-built and strong. It has a balanced body, a deep chest, and muscles that are both strong and flexible. With a slight stop and a furrow that runs vertically from the stop to the back of the skull, the skin on the head is tight and smooth. The teeth are long-lasting, and the muzzle is sturdy.
The Chinook was initially bred for its endurance and pulling power. It is now regarded as the ideal companion since it is devoted, active, and adaptable. It functions well for outdoor activities like jogging and hiking but less so for retrieval or water-related tasks.
This breed is not aggressive, and its size may be enough to scare off potential threats. However, the Chinook might not be ideal if you’re seeking a guard or watchdog.
Size
Female Chinooks are smaller than male Chinooks, standing 21 to 25 inches tall and weighing an average of 55 pounds. Male Chinooks measure between 23 to 25 inches tall at the shoulder.
Personality
Chinooks tend to have calm, friendly personalities that are ready to please. However, they might also exhibit dignity and reserve while interacting with strangers. Compared to their male counterparts, female Chinooks could show a little bit more independence.
Chinook should be socialized as early as possible by being exposed to many people, circumstances, and experiences. This can be achieved by enrolling in puppy classes, inviting guests over, taking them to crowded parks or pet-friendly places, and going for walks around the neighborhood.
Temperament
Chinooks are outgoing, kind, intelligent, and patient. They adore social settings and develop strong connections with their owners. To give this social breed enough attention, someone needs to be at home for the majority of the day. Beyond the puppy stage, Chinooks are not usually aggressive or prone to biting, so early training and socialization can help prevent biting and nipping from developing into troublesome habits.
Although chinooks are sociable and make wonderful family pets, it’s vital to watch them closely around small kids because, due to their size, they could accidentally knock them down. Additionally, because of their kind temperament, they are unsuccessful as guard dogs and will instead kindly welcome guests inside.
Health
Chinooks are typically healthy, although, like all breeds, they are prone to some health issues. Not every Chinook will get one or more of these illnesses, but if you’re thinking about getting one, you should be aware of them.
If you are buying a puppy, look for a reputable breeder who will give you the health certificates for both of the puppy’s parents. Health certificates prove that a dog has undergone examinations and received a clear health report.
In Chinooks, you should anticipate seeing medical clearances from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) or PennHIP for the hips, as well as confirmation that the eyes are healthy from the Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF).
Health clearances aren’t given to dogs less than two years old since some health issues don’t manifest themselves until a dog achieves full maturity. Hip dysplasia, seizures, cataracts, skin and coat disorders, and digestive problems are among the health conditions this breed is prone to.
Care
The Chinooks are best kept indoors since they develop close relationships with their owners and are not well suited for outdoor living. Due to their high activity level, they require frequent exercise in the form of walks or games in a safe, spacious area. The installation of electronic fencing is not advised since Chinooks are determined to achieve their objective and might disregard any shocks.
Use techniques that reward good behavior for training the intelligent and sensitive Chinook. If you remain consistent in your demands, it will learn effectively. It would be even more useful to work with a trainer to learn how to modify bad behaviors and reward good ones.
Feeding
As per your veterinarian’s instructions, feed the Chinook a meal of high-quality dog food twice daily. Your dog will probably need more food to stay healthy if it exercises frequently.
Most importantly, you should consult your veterinarian to find out the healthiest nutrition and dosage plan for your particular dog, depending on its weight, age, size, and activity level. Some owners choose to give these dogs smaller amounts multiple times per day to help prevent bloat. Additionally, there should always be access to fresh water.
Coat Color And Grooming
The medium-length hair of the double-coat Chinook has a dense, silky undercoat and a harsh outer coat. Chinooks that reside in warm climates typically seem to have less dense coats than those that do in cooler climates.
The golden coat of the Chinook varies in color from light caramel to reddish-gold. The canines may have dark brownish to black marks on the ears and snout, as well as on the inner corners of their eyes. Sometimes the tail’s outer hairs are black. On the cheeks, head, neck, breeches, chest, toes, and belly of some Chinooks are buff markings.
The Chinook’s cleanliness and shedding are maintained by daily brushing. Make sure to brush down to the skin regularly. Rarely does the Chinook require more than one or two baths every year.
At least twice a week, brush your dog’s teeth and trim thick, quickly-growing nails. Brushing daily twice a day is preferable if you want to avoid periodontal disease and bad breath.
When you groom your dog, you have a wonderful chance to build a relationship with him and assess his general health. Check for sores or other indications of irritation, like redness on the skin, feet, mouth, or ears, when you brush your coat or teeth. Any discharge or redness in the eyes should be avoided.
Make grooming enjoyable, rewarding, and full of praise, and you’ll create the basis for simple veterinary examinations and other procedures when he’s a grownup.
Children And Other Pets
If they met together, the Chinook, which is renowned for its kind and gentle nature, can make a wonderful companion for kids. But if the Chinook has never met children before, it’s crucial to introduce them gradually and cautiously so the dog may become used to the kid in its own time. Teach kids to behave with dogs and watch over them at all times to prevent any biting or tail-pulling from either party.
Teach your child not to disturb a dog when it is eating or sleeping or to try to grab the dog’s food. No matter how friendly the dog may seem, never leave a kid alone with a dog.
Although the Chinook typically gets along with other animals, including cats, it’s still crucial to socialize them with other animals from a young age. Male Chinooks who have not been neutered, especially unneutered males, may become aggressive.
Conclusion
The Chinook is a rare and coveted breed renowned for its affable and affectionate nature. Families and individuals looking for a devoted and affectionate pet may consider this breed. They are excellent for obedience and agility training because they are extremely trainable and intelligent. The Chinook can be the ideal breed for you if you’re seeking a big, pleasant, and low-maintenance dog.
FAQs
Due to their high level of activity, Chinooks require regular activity and mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy. They normally need to exercise for at least an hour each day.
Yes, Chinooks are highly trainable canines who are smart and eager to please. They learn new things quickly, and positive reinforcement training techniques work best for them.
No, Chinooks aren’t known for barking excessively at someone unless they’re bored or overly active. However, if you keep them occupied, active, and fully worn out, they’ll probably continue to be the quiet dogs they’re known to be.
Yes, as long as they get enough exercise, Chinooks may live in apartments, but they prefer houses with yards or access to the outdoors.
Yes, Chinooks shed a lot, particularly during the shedding season. Their coat can be kept healthy, and the shedding can be controlled with routine brushing.
Hi, I’m Walter,
I live in Oklahoma City, USA, and have extensive dog caring and grooming expertise. In addition, I provide dog training tips and tricks through my blogs in Canine Weekly. I have a Dog Behavior and Training diploma and have previously worked as a Dog Trainer at ROC Animal Training and Behavior and Tip Top K9 of OKC Dog Training.
Apart from writing on Canine Weekly, I share my views on Twitter and Linkedin.