Breeder Spotlight
How long have you been involved in your breed?
Our first Chinook (WoodsRunner Katahdin) came to live with us in 1995. Once we went on our first dogsled run and helped with a litter of puppies, we were hooked. We bred our first litter in 1999 (producing GreatMountain X North Trav’ler in the photo with Penthea). We now live with 13 Chinooks, have bred 11 litters, and served on the board of the Chinook Owners Association.
List three words that you feel best describe your breed.
In your opinion what physical characteristic defines your breed the most?
A Chinook has a strong, athletic build that frames the warmth and intelligence in their deep brown eyes.
In your opinion which behavioral characteristic defines your breed the most?
The depth of Chinooks devotion to and focus on their owner / family is what you hear most from the people who live with them. There are moving stories about Chinooks ‘knowing’ how to respond to emotional or dire situations with children, adults and elders. At the same time they are not above having a silly or humorous streak.
What is the largest false impression your breed gives?
Chinooks are smart and eager to please. Warning - while they are easy to train, they need an owner that will keep up with training, engaging them in physical activity and pay attention to them. They are not so easy going that you can just leave them to their own devices.
What should breeders be most concerned about today?
There are only about 120 Chinooks born each year. We need to make sure that we are steadily (and healthily) increasing the breed. Most people admire the big, tawny dog with the dark muzzle that typifies the image of Chinook. Breeding for the structure beneath the type is a must for this freighting dog – particularly making sure that bone, fronts and rears are suitably strong for the function that the Chinook was intended to serve.
Is your breed standard sufficient? If you do not feel it is sufficient, briefly list changes you would like to see made.
The breed standard is sufficient to describe the Chinook. The one area that periodically becomes a point of lively discussion is coat color, perhaps needing either clarification in the standard or in our shared understanding of what the standard articulates.
What counsel would you like to give to newcomers?
We were fortunate to be mentored by wise and generous people. Ask a lot of questions of a lot of different people in the breed and commit to soaking up information for a long time. There are some amazing resources in the Chinook and dog fancy world – take the time to meet them all. We learned a lot from working, training, breeding and showing our Chinooks – each of these activities contributes to the other. Finally, find a good vet from whom you can learn.
What is the single most charming attribute of your breed?
Chinooks melt my heart. They are strong working dogs with the most tender of hearts. They are athletic and powerful. Then they look at you with those big brown eyes, collapse into your arms and give a little groan of delight because they are with their person.
Do you prefer your breed judged moving or standing?
Moving - since the Chinook is a working breed, judging their movement is important to assess their reach and drive, for a judge to see how their fronts and rears are assembled to evaluate their capacity to pull a sled.
What is the most common judging mistake in your breed?
Selecting type over conformation and movement.
What quality lends itself particularly well to the show ring?
Chinooks love moving – and they consider it a bonus to be in there with their owner.
Who would you like to see judge your National Specialty?
We’ve been so fortunate to have outstanding judges to choose from for our National Specialties. And these judges have really given us a good show and a great deal of perspective on our breed when the show was over. Recently, a couple of judges have conducted conformation evaluations for graduates from our crossbreeding program. It would be nice to see them judge a Specialty with a broad array of Chinooks.
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 Recent News At UKC
11/18/2009: Addendum to the Official UKC Conformation Rulebook-Altered Licensed Classes Addendum to the Official UKC Conformation Rulebook Altered Licensed Classes Effective January 1, 2010 Essentially the altered classes and point system is the same as the classes for intact dogs. The Altered classes are licensed conformation classes and may be offered at the option of the hosting club as... Read more here. 
News Archive. |
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Time is running out to nominate Performance Sires for 2010!
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The Rat Terrier is an American breed descended from the terriers brought over by English miners and other working class immigrants. These dogs were used as ratters, and gambling on their prowess in killing rats was a favorite hobby of their owners. Eventually, these tough little terriers evolved into today’s Rat Terrier. The breed was popularized by President Teddy Roosevelt, who frequently hunted with his Rat Terriers. The Rat Terrier was recognized by the United Kennel Club on January 1, 1999. |
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Read more about UKC's many dog breeds here. |
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