Chinook
The Chinook is America's rarest dog breed — the official state dog of New Hampshire and one of only a handful of breeds developed in the USA for sled racing.
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Origin
United States
Lifespan
12–15 years
Weight
25–41 kg (55–90 lbs)
Height
51–69 cm (20–27 in)
Exercise
40 to 60 min/day
Diet
Omnivore — high-quality large breed food appropriate for an active working dog.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Canidae
Genus
Canis
The Story
The Chinook is America's rarest dog breed — the official state dog of New Hampshire and one of only a handful of breeds developed in the USA for sled racing. Created in the early 20th century by Arthur Treadwell Walden by crossing a mixed-breed sled dog (himself the son of a husky-type and a St. Bernard-type) with working Greenland Huskies, the Chinook was designed as the ideal sled dog: strong enough to pull heavy loads, fast enough to compete, and with the gentle temperament of a family dog. By 1981 only 11 Chinooks remained alive worldwide — an extraordinary conservation effort has brought the breed back from the brink.
Also Known As
Quick Facts
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Physical Profile
Source: wikimedia
The Chinook is a large, well-muscled, athletic dog of moderate proportions — neither the extreme bulk of the St. Bernard nor the slender speed of the Greyhound. The coat is a double coat in tawny gold, always with darker coloring on the muzzle, dark almond-shaped eyes, and ears that can be upright or dropped. The overall impression is of a capable, balanced working dog.
Grooming
Moderate
Shedding
High
Brushing
2-3x-Weekly
Bathing
Every-6-8-Weeks
Coat Colors
Recognized By
Source: wikimedia
Temperament & Personality
Friendly, calm, patient, and devoted — the Chinook is one of the gentlest large breeds. Excellent with children and other dogs. They are not guard dogs — too friendly. Intelligent and willing to please. Calm indoors despite high outdoor activity needs.
Personality Scores
Adaptability
3/5Attention Need
4/5Friendliness
5/5Playfulness
4/5Protectiveness
2/5Living Profile
Ideal Space
House-Large-Garden
Daily Exercise
40 to 60 min/day
Ideal Weather
-15°C to 22°C
Cognitive Benchmarks
Adaptability
30%
Attention
40%
Playfulness
40%
Communication Style
Stress Signals
separation anxiety, whining, pacing, clinginess, drooling
Care & Wellness
Professional Care Protocol
- •1–2 hours of vigorous exercise daily. The tawny double coat sheds heavily twice yearly — brushing 2–3 times weekly. Early socialisation. Thrives in cold climates; monitor in heat.
Nutrition Notes
Seizures common in the breed. Cryptorchidism higher than average. Hip dysplasia. Generally robust working sled dog. Joint supplements.
Vaccination Schedule
Vaccination Schedule
Senior Care
Seizures/epilepsy. Cryptorchidism. Hip dysplasia. Allergies. Gastrointestinal issues. New Hampshire state dog. Created by Arthur Walden (1917) for Antarctic expedition sled work. Was Guinness Book's rarest breed (1981: only 11 dogs). Extremely gentle temperament for a sled dog. 12-15 years.
Wellbeing Activities
Nutrition & Sustenance
Daily Calories (Adult)
1400 kcal
Daily Calories (Young)
1000 kcal
Recommended Foods
Foods to Avoid
Health Overview
Hip dysplasia. Epilepsy is elevated in the breed. Cryptorchidism (undescended testicles) occurs at elevated rates. Seizure disorders. Generally a healthy breed that has benefited from the careful conservation breeding programme.
Common Conditions
Price Estimates
Pricing Guide
Average estimates as of 2025
Was world's rarest breed (11 dogs in 1981). New Hampshire state dog. India: not suited to climate.
Purchase Price
$1,500 to $3,500
Adoption Fee
$100 to $500
Data from 2025
Fun Facts
By 1981 only 11 Chinooks remained alive in the entire world — making it the rarest dog breed on Earth at that time. An international conservation breeding programme involving all 11 remaining dogs rebuilt the breed.
The Chinook is the official state dog of New Hampshire — the only US state with a dog breed as its state animal that was actually developed in that state.
The breed is named after the lead sled dog of the founding pack — "Chinook" was Arthur Walden's prize lead dog who became famous for his extraordinary pulling ability and was the direct ancestor of the breed.
