Plate 090 · The Americas
Chinook
奇努克犬
“A New England sled dog from a single famous lead dog.”
- Origin
- United States
- Wonalancet, New Hampshire
- Region of origin
- Developed by Arthur Walden at Wonalancet; the marker is New Hampshire's reference point.
- The point marks the region the breed comes from, not an exact birthplace.
- Era
- Early 20th century (founding sire born 1917)
- Today
- Companion · Sled dog
Under editorial review — sources listed below.
History
01 · Origin
Wonalancet, New Hampshire
A sled dog bred in New Hampshire, all descended from one lead dog named Chinook.
02 · Historical role
What it was bred for
Hauling sleds and freight, including on Richard Byrd's first Antarctic expedition.
03 · Breed development
How it changed
Arthur Walden crossed a Greenland Dog descended from Peary's expedition dogs with a large mastiff-type dog; the pup Chinook (born 1917) became the foundation sire. After the main breeder died in 1963 numbers fell; Wikipedia reports only eleven breedable dogs by 1981, before breeders in several states rebuilt it.
04 · Today
Companion · Sled dog
A friendly family dog, also used for sledding, skijoring and hiking.
Personality
- Devoted
- Smart
- Patient
- Friendly
General breed tendencies, not guarantees — individual dogs vary with genetics, training and environment. Ratings: the AKC’s trait scores as its breed page gives them (the AKC’s 1–5 guidance for owners, not a measurement). Other profiles here use editorial ratings, a different source, so compare across them with care.
- Exercise
- Calm indoors but energetic outside: long walks, hikes and pulling sports suit it.
- Grooming
- A weekly brush, daily during the twice-yearly shedding season.
- Training
- Easy to train with positive methods; unlike many sled breeds, often reliable off lead.
Living with one
- Size
- Large
- Lifespan
- 12–15 years
- Coat
- Plush double coat in shades of tawny, from honey to reddish gold
Field note
Chinook is New Hampshire's official state dog.
Recognition & today
- AKC
- Working Group
- Also recognized by
- United Kennel Club
- Popular in
- No reliable data
AKC: Working Group, recognized 2013.
Among the scarcest AKC breeds. AKC registrations: ranked 198 among breeds in 2025.
Sources2 references
- Chinook — breed information — American Kennel Club
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/chinook/
Registry · accessed 2026-10-14 · Registry status, group, size, life expectancy and registration rank; history as the AKC tells it. Ratings: the AKC's own 1–5 owner-guidance trait scores as the page gives them (energy level, trainability, barking level, openness to strangers, good with other dogs), not measurements.
- Chinook (dog breed) — Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinook_(dog_breed)
Encyclopedia · accessed 2026-10-14 · Arthur Walden, the 1917 founding sire, Byrd expedition, population collapse to eleven breeding dogs in 1981, state dog.
Text is written by World Breeds from the references above; it does not reproduce registry descriptions. Location note: Developed by Arthur Walden at Wonalancet; the marker is New Hampshire's reference point.
