Where the Chinook came from
The Chinook comes from New Hampshire in the United States. One man created the breed: Arthur Treadwell Walden of Wonalancet. He wanted the ideal sled dog. The breed comes mostly from a male dog named Chinook, born in 1917, who was Walden's lead dog. Chinook's parents are said to be a Greenland sled dog and a large tawny mastiff and St. Bernard mix.
Walden took Chinook and his team on Admiral Richard Byrd's 1929 Antarctic expedition. Chinook, then 12 years old, went missing while hauling supplies and was presumed dead. Walden also helped found the New England Sled Dog Club in 1924.
The breed became very rare. By 1981, only eleven breedable Chinooks were left. Breeders in Maine, Ohio and California saved them. The United Kennel Club registered the breed in 1991. The AKC recognized the Chinook in January 2013. Today they are friendly, calm sled dogs and family pets.
- 1917 The first Chinook, the foundation sire of the breed, is born in New Hampshire
- 1929 Arthur Walden drives dogs on Byrd's Antarctic expedition, where Chinook goes missing
- 1981 Only eleven breedable Chinooks survive
- 1991 The United Kennel Club registers the breed
- 2013 AKC recognizes the Chinook
The job a Chinook was bred for
Chinooks were made to pull a sled with a steady pace. They carried freight over long distances in cold weather and worked as part of a team. At home that shows up as a dog with strong stamina who loves people and other dogs, likes to pull on leash and needs daily exercise.
What you may see at home
Friendly, pulls on leash, loves people and other dogs, calm inside.
Give them: Sledding, skijoring, canicross, hiking, and recall practice on a long line.
Sports that fit a Chinook
- Sledding. The job the breed was made for
- Skijoring. Pulling a skier is a natural fit
- Canicross. Running with you uses their stamina
- Carting. A strong puller who enjoys a task
- Agility. A friendly, trainable dog who enjoys working with their person
Training tips for a Chinook
- Teach loose leash walking early with a front clip harness. This is a pulling breed.
- Use short, fun sessions with food. They are gentle and sensitive.
- Build a strong recall on a long line before any off leash trust.
- Give daily exercise and a job like pulling or hiking, and add brain games for rainy days.
Body and health
A thick double coat means they overheat in warm weather, so exercise in the cool hours. Because the breed has a very small gene pool, ask breeders about health testing. Keep growing puppies lean and avoid hard running on hard ground.
Fun fact. By 1981, only eleven breedable Chinooks were left, and breeders worked to bring the breed back.
Breed is where we start
A study of more than 18,000 dogs found breed explains only about 9 percent of the differences in behavior between dogs (Morrill and others, Science, 2022). So your Chinook is a starting guess, not a label. We find the drive your dog actually runs on, give it a job, and teach you to read them.
Free tools for your dog
- Breed drive calculatorMixed breed? Add the other breeds and see the drives your dog was bred with.
- Dog breed quizTen photos, four names each. The same quiz our trainers take.
- Dog drive testAnswer everyday moments and find the job your dog runs on.
Looking for a different breed? See what 137 breeds were bred to do, and download any of their guides.