The Chinook: New Hampshire’s Resilient Sled Dog

Another incredibly rare American breed, the Chinook, was developed in the early 1900s by polar explorer Arthur Treadwell Walden in Wonalancet, New Hampshire,. Walden set out to create the ultimate sled dog, combining the immense pulling power of heavy freighting breeds with the speed and stamina of lighter racing dogs. The result was a tawny-colored, highly intelligent, and gentle dog that proved itself on grueling Antarctic expeditions,.

The breed’s population crashed drastically after Walden’s era. By 1981, only 11 dogs suitable for breeding remained in the entire world,. Through intense, highly coordinated conservation efforts by dedicated fanciers, the Chinook was pulled back from the absolute brink of extinction. Though they are now the state dog of New Hampshire, their global population remains precariously low, with around 100 puppies born annually,.