Chinooks: A Northern New England Breed
by Bob Cottrell
Did you know that a rare and famous dog
breed was established right here in northern New England? Who are these
dogs and why are they famous? They are called Chinooks after the original
Great Chinook, the first of his breed. While they were originally developed as
sled dogs, they make great pets and are wonderful around children.
Chinooks are one of only a few breeds created in America. They were
established in the early 20th century and their blood line can be traced to a
single individual. There are only about 500 Chinooks living today.
The Chinook breed was developed by a rough and ready adventurer named
Arthur Walden. After spending time as a “dog puncher” in the Alaskan Yukon
during the Gold Rush days, Walden returned to Wonalancet, a small village in
Tamworth, New Hampshire. His goal was to create a new sled dog breed with
power, endurance, speed and a friendly nature.
Walden started with a mastiff-type dog named Kim. Kim was bred to Ningo, a
direct descendant of Admiral Peary's famous Greenland Husky lead dog
Polaris. Three pups were born on January 17, 1917 and named Rikki, Tikki, and
Tavi (after Rudyard Kipling’s characters in The Jungle Books.)
Rikki in particular demonstrated the traits Walden desired and was later
renamed Chinook in honor of a favorite lead dog Walden had owned in
Alaska. Chinook means “warm west wind.”
Chinook, the Original: Sled Dog, Good with Kids
Chinook was a "sport," a phenomenon of nature, not resembling either of his
parents. He was known not only as a wonderful sled dog, but also for his
gentle disposition toward children. Walden was an excellent showman and
promoter. Chinook became a favorite character of the media at races, winter
carnivals and exhibitions around New England in the early 1920’s.
Chinook was also an athlete. He lead the winning team in the First International
Dog Derby in Berlin, New Hampshire in 1922 and over the next few years set
records for distance covered, loads carried and running time. Walden founded
the New England Sled Dog Club in 1924, which is still operating today. In 1926,
Chinook and Walden led the first dog sled team to the summit of Mount
Washington.
Chinook sired many pups who inherited his coloring, size and general
characteristics. The Chinook breed has been maintained through the years by a
small number of dedicated fanciers.
Byrd Antarctic Expedition
By 1927, both Chinook and Walden were not going to let age keep them from
perhaps their greatest adventure. Walden applied for the Byrd Antarctic
Expedition even though at age 56, he was over the maximum age. He was
given the duties of lead driver and trainer of all the dogs to be used on the
expedition.
During the winter months of late 1927 and early 1928, dogs and drivers were
assembled at Walden's Wonalancet Farm, and training began. Winter survival
gear was also evaluated there, in the harsh conditions of New Hampshire's
White Mountains. Together the drivers worked for a full year training dogs
and testing tents and supplies. Of the 100 dogs trained for the expedition, half
of them were sired by Chinook.
The Great Chinook is Lost
During the expedition in Antarctica, Chinook disappeared on his 12th birthday,
January 17, 1929. Some say that he recognized he was losing his command over
the other dogs and went off to die. Others speculated that he had an accident
and was lost in the snow. Walden had wanted to bury his friend in his harness,
but Chinook’s body was never found. Chinook’s death was written up in
newspapers around the world.
Upon Walden’s return home, the people of the area wanted to rename the road
that connected the town of Tamworth with Wonalancet to “Waldens” Road in
his honor. He asked that instead they honor Chinook, and today it still bears
the name Chinook Trail.
Chinooks at the 2006 Winter Carnival and Ice Harvesting
The Remick Museum in Tamworth, NH features an extensive display of
Chinook history and memorabilia at its annual Winter Carnival courtesy of the
Tamworth Historical Society and Perry Greene Kennel Historic Collection of
Waldoboro Maine.
You can see these wonderful dogs as they return to Tamworth, New
Hampshire for their annual visit to the Remick Museum and Farm’s Winter
Carnival and Ice Harvesting. Click here for more information.
Weather permitting, and if you are a child, they will give you a sled ride across
the snow. Dog sled rides will be offered to children from 10AM – 1PM, weather
permitting.
Special guest, “Tug,” (Mountain Laurel Tamworth Tugger, a Chinook puppy
who is directly descended from the original Chinook and a new Tamworth
resident) will make his sled-pulling debut during the event. Tug was born
August 2, 2005 and enjoys frequent visits to the Remick Museum and Farm
where his owners work.
For more information about Chinook dogs see:
Chinook Dog Club of America
Chinook Dog Education Center
Chinook Owners Association
Mushing
Nerak Kennels
New England Sled Dog Club
Sled Dog Central
Pet Insurance for Chinooks
Information on pet health
Common Pet Health Issues
About the author
Bob Cottrell is the Executive Director of the Remick Country Doctor Museum
and Farm in Tamworth, New Hampshire. He was born and raised in St.
Petersburg, Florida and has worked in the museum field since 1982. He has
worked at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American Art in
Washington D.C., The Crowley Museum and Nature Center in Sarasota,
Florida, the St. Petersburg Historical Museum also in Florida, the Conner
Prairie Museum in Indiana and at Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey. He is
married with two young children and a Chinook dog named Tug.
Click here for story about traveling on the Chinook Trail
by Bob Cottrell
Did you know that a rare and famous dog
breed was established right here in northern New England? Who are these
dogs and why are they famous? They are called Chinooks after the original
Great Chinook, the first of his breed. While they were originally developed as
sled dogs, they make great pets and are wonderful around children.
Chinooks are one of only a few breeds created in America. They were
established in the early 20th century and their blood line can be traced to a
single individual. There are only about 500 Chinooks living today.
The Chinook breed was developed by a rough and ready adventurer named
Arthur Walden. After spending time as a “dog puncher” in the Alaskan Yukon
during the Gold Rush days, Walden returned to Wonalancet, a small village in
Tamworth, New Hampshire. His goal was to create a new sled dog breed with
power, endurance, speed and a friendly nature.
Walden started with a mastiff-type dog named Kim. Kim was bred to Ningo, a
direct descendant of Admiral Peary's famous Greenland Husky lead dog
Polaris. Three pups were born on January 17, 1917 and named Rikki, Tikki, and
Tavi (after Rudyard Kipling’s characters in The Jungle Books.)
Rikki in particular demonstrated the traits Walden desired and was later
renamed Chinook in honor of a favorite lead dog Walden had owned in
Alaska. Chinook means “warm west wind.”
Chinook, the Original: Sled Dog, Good with Kids
Chinook was a "sport," a phenomenon of nature, not resembling either of his
parents. He was known not only as a wonderful sled dog, but also for his
gentle disposition toward children. Walden was an excellent showman and
promoter. Chinook became a favorite character of the media at races, winter
carnivals and exhibitions around New England in the early 1920’s.
Chinook was also an athlete. He lead the winning team in the First International
Dog Derby in Berlin, New Hampshire in 1922 and over the next few years set
records for distance covered, loads carried and running time. Walden founded
the New England Sled Dog Club in 1924, which is still operating today. In 1926,
Chinook and Walden led the first dog sled team to the summit of Mount
Washington.
Chinook sired many pups who inherited his coloring, size and general
characteristics. The Chinook breed has been maintained through the years by a
small number of dedicated fanciers.
Byrd Antarctic Expedition
By 1927, both Chinook and Walden were not going to let age keep them from
perhaps their greatest adventure. Walden applied for the Byrd Antarctic
Expedition even though at age 56, he was over the maximum age. He was
given the duties of lead driver and trainer of all the dogs to be used on the
expedition.
During the winter months of late 1927 and early 1928, dogs and drivers were
assembled at Walden's Wonalancet Farm, and training began. Winter survival
gear was also evaluated there, in the harsh conditions of New Hampshire's
White Mountains. Together the drivers worked for a full year training dogs
and testing tents and supplies. Of the 100 dogs trained for the expedition, half
of them were sired by Chinook.
The Great Chinook is Lost
During the expedition in Antarctica, Chinook disappeared on his 12th birthday,
January 17, 1929. Some say that he recognized he was losing his command over
the other dogs and went off to die. Others speculated that he had an accident
and was lost in the snow. Walden had wanted to bury his friend in his harness,
but Chinook’s body was never found. Chinook’s death was written up in
newspapers around the world.
Upon Walden’s return home, the people of the area wanted to rename the road
that connected the town of Tamworth with Wonalancet to “Waldens” Road in
his honor. He asked that instead they honor Chinook, and today it still bears
the name Chinook Trail.
Chinooks at the 2006 Winter Carnival and Ice Harvesting
The Remick Museum in Tamworth, NH features an extensive display of
Chinook history and memorabilia at its annual Winter Carnival courtesy of the
Tamworth Historical Society and Perry Greene Kennel Historic Collection of
Waldoboro Maine.
You can see these wonderful dogs as they return to Tamworth, New
Hampshire for their annual visit to the Remick Museum and Farm’s Winter
Carnival and Ice Harvesting. Click here for more information.
Weather permitting, and if you are a child, they will give you a sled ride across
the snow. Dog sled rides will be offered to children from 10AM – 1PM, weather
permitting.
Special guest, “Tug,” (Mountain Laurel Tamworth Tugger, a Chinook puppy
who is directly descended from the original Chinook and a new Tamworth
resident) will make his sled-pulling debut during the event. Tug was born
August 2, 2005 and enjoys frequent visits to the Remick Museum and Farm
where his owners work.
For more information about Chinook dogs see:
Chinook Dog Club of America
Chinook Dog Education Center
Chinook Owners Association
Mushing
Nerak Kennels
New England Sled Dog Club
Sled Dog Central
Pet Insurance for Chinooks
Information on pet health
Common Pet Health Issues
About the author
Bob Cottrell is the Executive Director of the Remick Country Doctor Museum
and Farm in Tamworth, New Hampshire. He was born and raised in St.
Petersburg, Florida and has worked in the museum field since 1982. He has
worked at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American Art in
Washington D.C., The Crowley Museum and Nature Center in Sarasota,
Florida, the St. Petersburg Historical Museum also in Florida, the Conner
Prairie Museum in Indiana and at Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey. He is
married with two young children and a Chinook dog named Tug.
Click here for story about traveling on the Chinook Trail
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