The spotlight shines on a rare breed that was developed in America – the Chinook. Junie represents this working breed in League this season, running on an Elementary team in Alaska where she puts her sled dog genes to good use, as well as running agility. The Chinook is the state dog of New Hampshire; that is where Arthur Walden set out to develop his own line of sled dogs after getting a taste of mushing during the Gold Rush in Alaska. Junie’s owner, Amy, tells us more about how she discovered this tall, athletic breed, which can stand from about 22 to 26 inches tall.
Call Name: Junie (B Jones, the Troublemaker!)
Breed: Chinook
Age: 20 months
Registered name: Ferncroft Landslide Nicks CGC STR TKI
League team and division: Shining North Stars, Limited Elementary
Owner: Amy Vagedes
City/state: Fairbanks, Alaska
How long have you owned Chinooks?
Junie is my first purebred Chinook. I have an intentional Chinook cross who is half Siberian Husky and half Chinook who is 5 years old, so we’ve been part of the Chinook family for about six years.
How did you discover the breed?
It was kind of by accident. We had an Alaskan Husky that we adopted from famed musher Susan Butcher’s Trailbreaker Kennel. I was looking for another sled dog, but one with a more predictable temperament and one we could allow to mature prior to considering altering to allow bone growth and development, given our goal was to have them do pulling sports. We found Chinooks through a friend of a friend, and they seemed to be a great fit. They are quite rare; there are few litters per year and so due to timing we ended up with our cross. She is an amazing little athlete and such a sweet dog, so we decided we’d like another one and ended up getting a purebred Chinook because we knew we wanted to do AKC sports.
Tell us a little about the breed’s history.
Chinooks are a more modern breed, purpose bred for working. They were founded by Arthur Walden, a gentleman from New England, who went off cross country to join the Gold Rush in Alaska. There he discovered sled dogs and began mushing. He worked his way back to New England some years later and set out to breed his own line of sled dogs. He incorporated Admiral Robert Peary’s mastiff-like huskies, and the progeny were notable for their affectionate nature and of course, their sledding abilities. He named the line Chinook after his stellar and sound lead dog, Chinook. Walden and his line of Chinooks went on Admiral Richard Byrd’s expedition to Antarctica in 1928 and helped move freight, impressing the Admiral with their abilities and temperament. Walden tragically passed away in 1947 while trying to save his wife from a house fire and, without his guidance and support, the breed began to sink in numbers. Reportedly, in the 1960’s, there were only 125 dogs left, and it was reported as the rarest breed by the Guinness Book of World Records. Thanks to many dedicated folks, however, this gem of a breed has slowly been resurrected from near extinction. In 2013, they joined the AKC Working Group. Today, while still rare, there is a thriving community of dedicated owners. Chinooks are the state dog of New Hampshire, where Walden hailed from. Also, they are still first and foremost sled dogs, made to be lighter and faster than malamutes but heavier and draftier than the Siberian Huskies. They continue to excel at multiple dog sports, in the show ring, on farms, and in the home, and tend to charm anyone they meet.
Is Junie your first agility dog? If so, what gave you the idea to pursue agility?
Junie is not my first agility dog though we both are still learning as I’ve only been playing the sport for the past few years. My Alaskan Husky, who is a retired guy from a competitive mushing kennel, started agility when he was 5, and my other husky mix has been playing for a couple years. Agility is a tough dog sport. So much of what your dog does is dependent on you as the handler. It requires a special level of connection between the handler and dog as well as the ability to maintain that connection while running around an obstacle course. It’s fun for me to play with sled dogs who are used to listening for cues from someone on a sled, bike, skis, etc., behind them and making their own decisions. It definitely has deepened my relationship with my dogs and trust in each other so strapping myself to skis behind them is less scary!
What is Junie like to train and compete with?
Junie is so fun to train. She’s always got her tongue out, tail wagging and is ready to go, willing to try anything. She’s a thinker and when given the time and guidance to figure something out, she really works through it and it sticks. She is also eager to please and tries hard. She sometimes picks the weirdest and most difficult way to complete a task, but the entertainment factor is definitely a perk of working with her. Despite being a northern breed, she navigates the courses and learns much differently than my other two huskies. She’s also still kind of a puppy so our training sessions are short to keep things fun and exciting; her brain gets tired easily! We have yet to compete in a trial but hope to someday.
What is her favorite reward?
Honestly, her favorite reward is a praise party and scritches. She LOVES being right and is so happy when I clap and get excited for her. She also, of course, loves cheese and smelly salmon treats but who doesn’t?
What do you enjoy most about League and how has it helped your training?
I really enjoy being on a team with other dogs and handlers who have different handling styles and different experience levels. It’s fun and helpful to train with a group; they are great about helping me as a newer handler realize ways we can improve, and it’s great to watch people navigate the course with dogs who think differently than mine. It’s super fun; it’s created a supportive community; and it’s great to watch the teams change and grow through all the work they’ve done.
Does Junie compete in other sports?
We’ve started the foundations of scent work as my partner would like to work towards tracking with her for Search and Rescue, which he’s involved in. True to her roots, she’s my rock star sled dog! We skijor and bikejor, and she’s run with a dog team and done amazingly. We tried Fast CAT, but I’m fairly certain she was just running to get to me at the end of the chute and could have cared less about getting the “bunny!” She’s shown in conformation once as a puppy, and that was a little rough but she (and I!) made it through.
Any advice for someone considering adding a Chinook to their family?
Chinooks are super versatile dogs, LOVE kids, are great in packs/with other dogs, and generally mirror their family and that energy. But it’s important that they have stable and consistent training as well as to remember they are part of the working dog group so they need a job to thrive. That job could be pulling sleds but could also be agility, therapy work, scent work, etc. They are also a lot of dog in many ways. They have big personalities, and males can weigh upwards of 100 pounds and stand 25 inches tall. They do shed, generally twice a year, but it’s still a lot of hair!