Chinook- breed developed by one man in New Hampshire during the 1920s

While watching the Winter Olympics in Milan, you may be wondering if there are winter sports, besides dog sledding, your dog would enjoy. Skijoring is a twist on dog sledding, and Chinooks are an American breed developed by one man that excel in this sport.

THE CHINOOK was developed by polar explorer Arthur T. Walden at his New Hampshire farm in the 1920s after breeding a female Greenland Dog, supposed to be descended from Admiral Peary’s lead sled dog, to a tawny St. Bernard/Mastiff. One puppy named “Chinook” stood out from the rest and became the foundation of his namesake breed.

In 1925, Arthur Walden’s Chinook sled team was the first dog team to summit Mount Washington, and in 1927 Walden, along with 16 of his male Chinooks, went with Admiral Richard E. Byrd’s first expedition to Antarctica, where the Chinook dogs were used to haul the freighting sleds.

During the Depression, Walden sold his Chinook kennels, which in 1947 were again sold to Perry Greene, who became the sole breeder of Chinooks until his death in 1963. Over the next decades the breed was saved from extinction by people dedicated to this unique dog. Presently, Chinooks number about 1,500 and are still considered one of the rarest breeds. In 2009, the Chinook was chosen as the state dog of New Hampshire.

Chinooks are large, affectionate family dogs, dependent on their owner, with a special bond to children. They are intelligent and easy to train, with a gentle and affectionate disposition and a calm and willing work ethic. As a working breed, the Chinook thrives on regular exercise, training and competing, along with activities such as backpacking, hiking, jogging, agility and skijoring that will keep a Chinook happy and fit.

Chinooks are not a protection breed and do not make good guard dogs. They usually are tan, double-coated with black muzzles, bent ears, a busy tail and a soft look in their eyes.

In 2014, the American Kennel Club recognized Chinooks. That year I invited the new AKC breeds and their owners to the Westminster Kennel Club pre-show press conferences at Madison Square Garden. I became enamored with Chinook temperaments and versatility and first learned about the dog sport skijoring.

SKIJORING, which translates from Norwegian to “ski driving,” combines cross country skiing and dog sledding. The dog wears a sledding harness, which is attached by rope or towline to a skijoring harness worn by the human. While the person directs using skis and poles, the dog also pulls the person. This activity can be done with one dog or a team of dogs.

Equipping your dog with a proper harness and bungee towline is crucial for their well-being. Gradual training with positive reinforcement ensures they learn essential commands and build confidence on the trails. Basic commands include: • “Whoa” or “Stop” mean wait. • “Easy” means go slowly. • “Hike up” means go faster. • “Over Gee” means go to the right; “Over Haw” means go to the left. • “On By” means to go straight down the trail and pass distractions like other dogs. • “Line Out” means the dog should hold the line tight and straight out in front of you, important with more than one dog to avoid line tangles.

Source: Massapequa Post