One of America’s few native breeds, the Chinook, which means “warm winter winds” in Inuit, was once listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s rarest breed of dog. Thanks to the labor of love and dedication of Chinook fanciers the breed no longer holds this dubious honor and there are hundreds of Chinooks registered with the AKC. The Chinook was developed by Polar explorer Arthur C. Treadwell Walden in the early 1900’s in an effort to create a sled dog with endurance, trainability, and a gentle, easy to handle nature. A Mastiff type dog, a Greenland Husky, and German and Belgian Shepherds provided the foundation for the breed. Perry and Honey Greene purchased the Chinooks in 1940 and were the sole promoters and producers of the breed for many years. The Chinook combines the power of freighting breeds with the speed of lighter racing sled dogs and is an athletic, muscular dog. They are a playful, trainable dog that is eager to please and loves children. They are a dog of action that loves to participate in activities with their owners and will need daily exercise. Their double coats require regular brushing and bathing.
Each AKC approved purebred breed has its own national club. The mission of these “parent breed clubs” is to improve and preserve a particular breed by advancing knowledge about its history, its health and care requirements and by assuring that the breed’s form and function remain true to its historical physical type and character: A Dalmatian, for instance, should be athletic and have a natural affinity for working with horses. A Fox Terrier should have the right body size and shape, and a drive to go after vermin.
Pet owners, breeders, trainers, veterinarians, and others with a special love for a breed, join the parent breed club to meet like-minded enthusiasts and to support the club’s mission.
The national parent breed club is the first place for the public to go to learn about a breed or find a knowledgeable, experienced breeder.
Discover Animals is a web-based educational resource offered by the NAIA
