NH’s State Dog Is Almost Extinct

In case you didn't know, it's the Chinook, and there aren't that many around.

Shame on me for not knowing New Hampshire had a State Dog.

There's a good reason the Chinook is New Hampshire's State Dog, it's existence is due to Arthur Treadwell Walden of Wonalancet, NH., and Walden's dog, Chinook, was the principal male ancestor beginning in 1917.

Walden was a dog driver, who brought founded the New England Sled Dog Club in 1924. Chinook was of a mix of Husky and Mastiff, and was bred to German Shepherds, Canadian Eskimo Dogs, and Belgian Sheep Dogs.

As you would imagine, they are great sled dogs as well as working dogs. And they are an extremely smart and affectionate breed and great with children.

But they are rare, as only about 100 new puppies are born each year. In fact, according to the American Kennel Club, in 1965, The Guinness Book of World Records recorded the Chinook, for the first of three times, as the rarest dog with only 125 alive.

So, from the 'you learn something new everyday' file, I submit  New Hampshire's State Dog, the Chinook. It does sound like a perfect dog, and hopefully won't go extinct.