General Considerations:
The Chinook dog is a working sleddog breed, deriving its name and much of its lineage from a single male breed progenitor, Arthur Treadwell Walden’s famous lead dog Chinook, born in 1917. Walden’s first dogs were of Greenland and Canadian Eskimo stock crossed to mastiff types, bred to a performance standard. His objective was to produce a multi-purpose working sled dog hardy enough to thrive in New Hampshire winters, strong enough to perform hard work such as skidding line poles through the mountains during the construction of the Waldens’ hydroelectric works, fast enough for personal winter transportation before the advent of mechanized snow moving equipment, friendly enough for winter excursions for guests at the Waldens’ modest resort, and with stamina to cover miles of logging trails hauling supplies to lumber camps.
With the advent of dogsled racing in New England, Walden bred Chinook to bitches of a variety of breeds to lighten the frame of his progeny slightly, thus improving their competitive racing ability while maintaining other valued traits. Breedings of Chinook to "police dog" bitches (Belgian and German Shepherds) met those standards; three offspring from these breedings became the foundation from which Wonalancet-Hubbard Kennels would produce their first "purebred" Chinooks in the 1930s.
Performance in Harness:
Chinooks were bred for versatility in harness. The performance traits of Walden’s original stock are well documented. Direct ancestors of today’s Chinooks had an average sprint speed of 12.5 miles per hour. When freighting in Antarctica, Chinooks regularly hauled 150 pounds per team dog when loaded. These standards were proven for large freighting dogs in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and are still met today by Chinooks that are regularly worked and well conditioned.
Size:
While old Chinook himself weighed just over 100 pounds in fit condition, his shepherd cross offspring appear in photographs to have been somewhat lighter, slightly taller, and with a lighter frame. Mature Chinooks should average 25 to 26 inches at the withers and weigh between 55 and 80 pounds, females slightly smaller on average than males.
Physical Proportions and Body:
The Chinook should be longer in the back than he is tall when viewed from the side, and should be quite solid and powerful in appearance. His chest is deep and not overly wide, although it should not be "pinched"; his ribs should be well sprung but slightly flattened on the sides, without being "slab sided". Due to the Chinook’s mixed breed heritage, there is a wide range of body types; selection has traditionally been for balance of proportion, size, and performance rather than for a standard or uniform type.
Legs and Feet:
The shoulders should have good angulation; the forelegs straight, with substantial bone and strong pasterns. Front feet should toe out slightly. Front dewclaws are generally small and tight to the leg; removal is at the breeder’s option.
Hindquarters should be powerful, moderately spaced and parallel, with well muscled thighs. Rear dewclaws are injury prone and when present should be removed at birth.
Feet should be oval, not too compact, the toes well arched. Pads should be tough, well cushioned, and darkly pigmented.
Head, Eyes, Ears and Neck:
The Chinook head is typically large and blocky, demonstrating his mastiff heritage. The nose is typically black, although it may appear gray in dogs with a silver fawn coat color.
Teeth typically meet in an even bite; lips are loosely fitted.
Eyes are large and expressive, slightly almond shaped, typically dark brown, although amber colored eyes appear frequently.
Earset is not regular in the Chinook. While the dropped ears of old Chinook are desirable, earset has not been selected for to the exclusion of working type, so several variations of earset are common. In the modern Chinook ears are often erect or semi-erect.
The neck is strong and of medium length.
Coat and Tail:
The Chinook has a medium length double coat. The undercoat is thick, soft, and water repellant. Guard hairs are coarse but not wiry and lie flat. The tail is well furred but not brushlike; it is carried in a gentle sickle curve when at attention. It should be fairly long, set at or slightly below the topline.
Color and Markings:
While the Chinook has never been a uniform breed, color and markings have always been his most identifiable trait. The Chinook is a tawny dog, in a range from palomino to dark fawn, with reddish-gold being traditionally desirable. White markings are not typical, although Chinooks often have buff markings on the face, throat and chest, breeches, and underside. Eye rims are dark, with a dark, apostrophe-shaped, mark at the inner corner of the eye. The dark muzzle and eartips of old Chinook are desired, although they have not been selected for to the exclusion of working type. Inasmuch as "off-color" and white coats, as well as white markings, have continued to appear (particularly in outcrossed lines), and as breeders have been largely unwilling to cull on a color basis, it may be wise to allow some flexibility with respect to color and markings. Walden himself, always a man with an eye for a good dog, kept off-colors on his team as evidenced by historic photographs.
Gait:
As a multipurpose sleddog, the Chinook should have a smooth and efficient lope that is not clumsy. The trot should be smooth and powerful; at a trot, under moderate load and with good trail conditions, the dog should move forward at a good working speed. He will pace on longer trails to rest tired muscles. At all gaits, movement should be straight without crabbing or winging.
Temperament and Mentality:
The Chinook has a highly companionable nature, with a strong sense of loyalty and attachment that often translates into reserved behavior with strangers. While he may not possess the innate sledding ability of the more ancient sledding breeds, he is highly intelligent and easily trained, although subject to stress if training is hurried. His preference to be with his family makes him an exceptional companion, although his relaxed behavior in the home belies his power and enthusiasm in harness when well trained and conditioned.
Summary and Epilogue:
The Chinook originated less than 100 years ago and has been through its share of trying times. Each time, the breed survived with the help of people who knew Chinooks and had been touched by that loyal, intelligent, intuitive companion in the big, rough, tawny body. Those traits still serve the breed well, giving it a renewed purpose as more families find enjoyment living with Chinooks and dogsledding for winter recreation.
With relatively recent outcross efforts to help with breed recovery after its decline in the 1970s, the Chinook still shows wide variation in type. This diversity can be looked at as an opportunity, however. By knowing the tasks for which the breed was created and the traits that have identified it over the years, by resisting the temptation to select for superficial traits and modified purposes, future generations of outdoor enthusiasts will be able to enjoy dogsledding experiences like those of the guests at Kate Walden’s Wonalancet Farm and Inn of the early 20th century.
