 |
 CHINOOK |
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| GENERAL APPEARANCE | - The Chinook is a large dog capable of pulling light to heavy loads. The Chinook has a broad skull, a tapered muzzle slightly shorter in length than the skull, a variety of ear carriages, brown almond-shaped eyes, a dense medium-length double coat of tawny color and a low-set saber tail that hangs down with an upward curve at the tip when the dog is in repose, but may be carried in a graceful sickle curve when the dog is alert. This breed is presented in a completely natural condition with no trimming, even of whiskers. Honorable scars are not to be faulted. The Chinook was developed to be a working sled dog and any deviation from the standard which compromises that purpose should be penalized in proportion to the degree of the deviation. | |
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| PROPORTIONS | - (standard does not comment). | |
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| SIZE | -
Height at the withers: Males 23
to 27 inches. Females 21 to 25 inches. In judging Chinooks, size does not take preference to quality. |
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length: (standard
does not comment).
- weight: Males 70 pounds. Females 55 pounds. At all weights, the appearance is lean and muscular with moderate bone. Gender differences should be easily discernable with the females somewhat smaller and lighter than the males. |
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| TEMPERAMENT | -
The Chinook is a Northern breed, bred to perform many of the same tasks as the
Spitz-type breeds and with some Spitz-type ancestors in the background. The
Chinook however bears more resemblance to the Mastiff-type dogs than the
Spitz-types in that he has a more rectangular shaped head, a saber tail, and a
close-fitting, tawny-colored coat made up of a coarse-textured outer coat and a
soft, dense undercoat. Other typical Chinook characteristics include webbed feet
with thick, well-furred pads and the aquiline nose. One of the key breed
characteristics is the Chinook temperament: calm, non-aggressive, with a willing,
friendly disposition. Chinooks are bred to work in teams and do not exhibit dog
aggression. Notwithstanding its gentle, even temperament, the Chinook is a
dignified dog who may be reserved with strangers or in unfamiliar surroundings.
A Chinook should, however, never appear timid or aggressive. In action, the
Chinook is graceful but purposeful, alert but calm. His expression reflects his
intelligence; his proud carriage reflects his dignity. This breed matures slowly and individual dogs may not reach their prime until as late as four years of age. |
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| SKIN | - (standard does not comment). | |
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| COAT | - Double coat of medium length hair. The undercoat is thick, soft, and downy in texture. The outer coat is coarse and the hair lies close to the body. Less dense coats are normal in very warm climates. The neck is well-furnished with hair, which forms a protective ruff blending into the apron. The tail is well-furred with longer hair at the base and underside of the tail. The groin and inside of the rear legs are protected by coat. | |
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| COLOUR | - The Chinook is tawny in color. This preferred tawny coloration has historically been a distinguishing characteristic of the breed. The ideal coloration runs from light honey color to reddish-gold. Black markings on the inside corners of the eyes are preferred. Dark tawny to black markings on the ears and muzzle are preferred. Guard hairs on the tail may be black. No white markings are allowed. Buff markings on the cheeks, muzzle, throat, chest, breeches, toes and underside are acceptable. | |
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| HEAD | - The head is of moderate length, about 10 inches, more or less, depending on the size of the dog. The length of the muzzle, measured from stop to the end of the nose, is slightly shorter than the length of the skull, measured from occiput to stop. The skull and muzzle are parallel to one another when viewed from the side. The skin on the head is tight with no wrinkles. | |
| - | Skull | - When viewed from the front, the skull is broad and slightly domed. The width of the skull is approximately equal to the length of the skull from occiput to stop. There is a shallow furrow running vertically from the stop to the occiput. The skin on the face and skull is free from wrinkles. |
| - | Stop | - Moderate. |
| - | Muzzle | - The muzzle tapers slightly from base to nose, is moderately deep and not pointed. The distance from the stop to nose is slightly shorter than the length of skull from occiput to stop. The bridge of the muzzle is slightly aquiline, and roughly parallel to the top of the skull. |
| - | Nose | - Large, always solid black and projects slightly over the mouth. |
| - | Lips/Flews | - Black in color. The top lip overhangs the lower lip very slightly and the corners of the lower lip are slightly pendulous. |
| - | Cheeks | - The cheeks have a chiseled appearance. |
| - | Jaw/Teeth | - The jaw is of moderate width with a full complement of strong, evenly spaced, white teeth meeting in a scissors bite. The line of the incisors is straight and perpendicular to the outside lines of the jaw. |
| - | Eyes | - Almond-shaped and of moderate size, with intelligent expression. Dark brown eyes are preferred but lighter, amber eyes are acceptable. Eye rims are dark-pigmented. A dark, apostrophe-shaped accent mark at the inner corner of the eyes is preferred. |
| - | Eears/Leathers | - Well-furred, medium-sized and set wide apart on the head. The ear leather is thick from base to tip. The inner edge of the ear is in line with the outer corner of the eye just below it. Drop, prick, or helicopter ears are acceptable. Helicopter ears are similar to flying ears except that the outer edges of the ears fold inward and the inside edges of the ear stand out from the head, parallel to the ground. For aesthetic purposes matching ears are preferred. |
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| NECK | - The neck is strong and moderately arched. The skin on the neck is pliable but does not form a prominent dewlap. | |
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| BODY | - The length, measured from point of shoulder to point of buttocks, is slightly longer than tall (measured at the withers.) The body is extremely flexible and is well-muscled and hard. | |
| - | Topline | - The topline of the back is straight and strong with a slight arch over the loin to allow for efficient transfer of thrust from the rear quarters. |
| - | Withers | - The highest. |
| - | Back | - Strong and straight. |
| - | Chest | - The chest is deep, extending nearly to the elbow, and moderately broad. The deepest part of the chest is just behind the forelegs. The forechest extends well in front of the legs. |
| - | Ribs | - The ribs are well-sprung out from the spine, forming a strong back, then curving down and inward to form a deep body. |
| - | Belly | - There is a definite tuck-up with a clearly defined waist at the flank. |
| - | Loins | - Slightly arched. |
| - | Underline | - (standard does not comment). |
| - | Croup | - (standard does not comment). |
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| LIMBS | ||
| Forequarters - | ||
| - | Shoulders | - Moderately laid back. The scapula and the upper arm form an angle of about 110 degrees. When standing the forelegs are placed directly under the withers. |
| - | Upperarms | - The muscles of the upper leg are firm and well-developed. The shoulder blade and the upper arm are roughly equal in length. |
| - | Elbows | - Neither close to the body nor out but are set on a plane parallel to the body. |
| - | Forearms | - The forelegs are straight, with strong, moderately short, slightly sloping pasterns and moderate bone. |
| - | Carpus | - (standard does not comment). |
| - | Pasterns | - There should be a slight rotation of the pastern causing the dog to toe out not more than 10 degrees so that the dog pushes off from the center toes. Front dewclaws may be removed. |
| - | Forefeet | - Oval, firm, and compact, with well-knit, well-arched toes and tough, deeply cushioned, darkly-pigmented pads. The toes are moderately webbed and the feet are well-furred, even between the toes. The front feet turn slightly outward. |
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| Hindquarters - Viewed from behind, the rear legs are moderately spaced and parallel. | ||
| - | Thighs | - Powerful in appearance and strongly muscled. |
| - | Stifles/knees | - Stifles are moderately angulated. |
| - | Lowerthighs | - (standard does not comment). |
| - | Metatarsus | - Rear dewclaws, if present, must be removed. |
| - | Hocks | - Hocks are well let-down and parallel to each other when viewed from the rear. When viewed from the rear or the side, the hocks are perpendicular to the ground. |
| - | Hindfeet | - Oval, firm, and compact, with well-knit, well-arched toes and tough, deeply cushioned, darkly-pigmented pads. The toes are moderately webbed and the feet are well-furred, even between the toes. Dewclaws, if present, must be removed. |
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| Tail | - The Chinook has a saber tail with an overall well-furred appearance. The tail is distinctly flattened on the sides, with longer hair occurring on the underside and at the base of the tail. It is set just below the topline and is carried in a graceful sickle curve when the dog is alert. When the dog is standing, the tail hangs downward, approximately to the hocks, with a slight upward curve at the tip. The Chinook tail is never docked. | |
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| Gait/Movement | - The Chinook must be exhibited at a trot. This gait is smooth, efficient and effortless. When the front leg is fully extended the foot should reach to a perpendicular line drawn from the center of the chin to the ground. Viewed from behind, the rear pads should be fully visible. Viewed from the side, some smooth up and down movement at the trot is allowed because this is consistent with proficiency at the gallop. If a Chinook paces in the ring, the judge should ask to have the dog gaited again into a trot. No Chinook should be penalized for pacing unless it cannot demonstrate the correct trotting gait. | |
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| Faults | -
should be regarded in exact proportion to its degree. - Excessive overbite. Undershot jaw. - Body too short or too long. Barrel-shaped or slab-sided ribs. Shallow or narrow chest. - Straight shoulders. Weak pasterns. Fine bone. Short upper arm. - Straight stifles. Sickle hocks. - Splayed toes. Long, injury-prone toes. Cat feet or hare feet. - Long, soft, or thin coat. Lack of double coat in cold climate. Unprotected belly and groin. - Any color other than tawny. |
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| Severe Faults | - (standard does not comment). | |
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ELIMINATING
FAULTS -
Viciousness or extreme shyness. Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. White dogs.
Rear dewclaws. Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified. |
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| NOTE: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum. | ||