Chinook

Overview

If you want a dog who will happily pull sleds and transport goods all day, you need a Chinook! These pups were created by adventurer and polar explorer Arthur Treadwell Walden, in New Hampshire to have the power of freighting canines but with the speed of sled racers. In 1896, during the Goldrush, Walden worked his way across Alaska as a jack of all trades, and, most importantly, as a sled-dog driver. He once famously transported 3,500 pounds of supplies from ship to base over 32 miles with a single pack of 13 Chinooks. They are believed to be a cross between a Mastiff-like dog and Greenland huskies. Chinooks were admired for their all-around sledding ability and affectionate personality. The breed was named after Chinook, the lead dog of Walden's sled team. Chinook is an Inuit word meaning "warm wind.” and comes in shades ranging from red to silver or fawn. They excel at almost any dog sport and would also be a solid choice for search and rescue missions or any job in the great outdoors. In the 1960s, Guinness World Records listed the Chinook as the rarest dog breed, with fewer than 200 dogs registered. That number dipped even lower before being brought back from near extinction and in 2013, this rare breed was recognized by the AKC as a working breed. The Chinook is the official state dog of New Hampshire.