The Chinook is a rare American dog breed, very appropriate for sled-pulling. In addition to this, chinooks are also used for other activities, such as flyball and carting and for detective work.
Origins
This dog breed was developed in United States, in the New England region to be precise, at the beginning of the 20th century. Thanks to many breeders efforts, nowadays, this dog breed is recognized as the official State Dog of the state of New Hampshire.
Physical Features
Chinooks are medium-sized dogs, with a double coat of hair. Their teeth meet in a scissors bite and their body is balanced and muscular. Regarding the color now, this varies from honey color to reddish gold, their lips being black, no matter the coloration of their hair. The color of their eyes is dark brown. Ear carriage is dropped, the head being rectangular. Their tail is well-furred. When a dog like this stands, it measures between 21 and 27 inches. Its weight varies between 50 to 90 pounds.
Temperament
This dog breed is used for activities that involve people, and mostly children, so it is natural for it to be calm and non-aggressive. Related to its behavior when other dogs are around, it can be said that Chinooks are good with all dogs most of the time, being also kind with strangers and children.
Training
Sled-pulling dogs are always easy to train. Even those Chinooks that are not used for recreational dog sledding can be trained easily, when their owners want to benefit from them as family pets. Special training is required if their owner wants to use them for search and rescue activities or for skijoring; in this case, a Chinook has to pass many dog agility trials.
Health
Contrarily to what some people believe, Chinooks are not hyper dogs, although they are used for many activities that involve exercises. They require exercises, indeed, but moderate; and just like in case of any other dog, they should be walked daily. Their most dreadful enemies are represented by hip dysplasia, epilepsy and atopy, but these are hereditary problems, and a person interested in buying a dog like this could easily avoid them, by asking what where its predecessors health problems.
Life Expectancy
Chinooks are expected to live about 15 years, if they are not overwhelmed by their daily activities. Their owners should verify their physical and mental status every day, to be certain that they are in a perfect shape. For example, a dog that will rest once an exercise is over needs more rest in general, while a dog that entertains itself needs the presence of another dog or of a human being. Any owner that pays attention to these things will benefit of many years of enjoyment.
Conclusion
Chinooks can be kept in large houses, but also small apartments, because they do not bark very often. However, they should not be separated from humans, because their emotional sensitivity is high and depends very much on human presence. This is why, if you plan to buy a Chinook dog, do not forget that it needs your attention, just like any other family member.
