Chinook
About the Chinook
Temperament
Physical Characteristics
| Size Category | Large (50-100 lbs) |
|---|---|
| Height | 22-26" |
| Weight | 50-90 lbs |
| Coat Type | Double |
| Coat Length | Medium |
| Colors | |
| Hypoallergenic | No |
Care Requirements
Exercise Needs
High (60-90 min/day)
60 minutes per day recommended
Grooming
Moderate - Weekly
Mental Stimulation
★★★★★Needs plenty of mental challenges
Drooling
★★★★★Living Conditions
Cost of Ownership
| Purchase Price | $1,000-$2,500 |
|---|---|
| Annual Cost | $1,400/year |
Costs vary based on location, breeder, and individual needs. Annual costs include food, veterinary care, grooming, and supplies.
Health Considerations
Like all breeds, Chinooks may be prone to certain health conditions:
Regular veterinary check-ups and proper care can help prevent or manage many health issues.
Best For
- Families with Children
- First-Time Owners
- Active Owners
May Not Be Ideal For
- Apartment Living
- Long Work Hours Away
- Sedentary Lifestyles
Guides for your Chinook
The story behind the Chinook
The Chinook traces to a single founding sire of the same name, born in the early twentieth century at the New Hampshire kennel of polar explorer and sled-dog driver Arthur Walden. Blending mastiff-type farm stock with northern sled dogs, Walden sought powerful freighting dogs with steady temperaments, and Chinook's descendants hauled loads on expeditions, including Antarctic service. After Walden's era the breed passed through a handful of caretakers, and by the 1980s numbers had fallen so low that it was cited among the world's rarest breeds. Dedicated enthusiasts rebuilt the population from the remaining dogs. The Chinook was named New Hampshire's state dog and received American Kennel Club recognition in 2013, remaining a rare recreational sledding and family companion.
Originally bred for: Sled pulling, Drafting, Companion. You can trace how working roles shaped today’s breeds across our dog guides.
Feeding a Chinook
Bred for hauling, these dogs use energy efficiently and gain weight when idle, so match a solid large-breed maintenance food to actual workload. Puppies want controlled-growth nutrition that protects developing hips and shoulders during the long adolescence.
Watch for: No prominent breed-specific food intolerance has been documented in this small American population. Ordinary deep-chest caution applies: unhurried meals and calm downtime afterward. A veterinarian should guide elimination trials or any dietary revision.
Not sure what to put in the bowl? See our picks for the best dog food for large breeds.
Mealtime extras: training treats worth keeping in your pocket, and a slow feeder bowl if your dog inhales dinner. Everything else lives in our dog nutrition and feeding hub.
Living with a Chinook
Day to day, the basics matter most: how much exercise your dog needs, how often to get out for a walk, and how much sleep is normal.
For play and enrichment, browse chew toys built for strong jaws and interactive toys for rainy days.
Gear that fits the breed makes life easier: a well-sized dog bed, a properly sized crate.
Raising a puppy? Work through crate training and the teething timeline — or see how old your dog is in human years with our dog age calculator.