In 1917 Chinook was born on author/explorer Arthur Walden's farm in Wonalancet, New Hampshire, one of 3 large yellow pups. The mother, a "Northern Husky"' was a daughter of one of the dogs on Peary's North Pole team, and the father was a large mixed breed. (Seeley and Lane)

Chinook was a 'sport,' a phenomenon of nature, not looking like either of his parents. However, Chinook's own offspring seemed to inherit his coloring, size and general characteristics. He was known not only as a wonderful sled dog, but also for his gentle disposition toward children. In 1927 Walden and 16 of these big yellow dogs accompanied Admiral Byrd on his expedition to the South pole. In Byrd's words they were described as "heavy draught animals, of (Walden's) own breed, with a splendid record…Walden's team was the backbone of our transport." (Byrd)

While on the expedition, Chinook, now an older dog, wandered away and was never found, an incident Byrd describes as "perhaps the saddest during our whole stay in the Antarctic". Upon Walden's return, he found he was too busy with exploration to keep up with the kennels, so he turned them over to Mrs. Julia Lombard who selectively bred the Chinook stressing their "gentleness of nature". She bred them for intelligence and disposition without sacrificing their ruggedness an stamina." (Saturday Evening Post)

In 1939 Perry Greene and his wife, Honey, became the successors to Mrs. Lombard, and devoted the rest of their lives to preserving the breed. During this time the Chinook became extremely popular as a household pet developing a loyalty to the breed that is alive today, being passed down through generations of Chinook owners.

However, when Perry and Honey Greene died, they had no clear successor to the kennels and the remaining breeding stock was boarded for many years. Only a few litters were born during this time and the total population dwindled to only a handful of dogs.

When Neil and Marra Wollpert (Ohio) went searching for the breed in the 1970s, they discovered Kathy Adams (Maine) trying to save the dogs. Adding Peter Abrahams (California) to the rescue party, the remaining 12 breeding dogs were purchased and placed with these three families. (M. Wollpert) They, along with many who have since joined their ranks, have brought the purebred Chinook population up to 140 in early 1990 (Registrar, COA)

Hundreds of articles were written in the 1920s about the great "Chinook", the father of the current Chinook breed. More than just a sled dog, his loss caused thousands to mourn the death of perhaps the most popular dog of the era…one who was considered an institution in the New England states. (Literary Digest) The Chinook is still used for sledding and is unmatched as a family member.

As Chinook's legend lives on, it is our sincere hope to revive the breed to the popularity it enjoyed during the first half of this century.