Hello, I was wondering if anyone on this board knew if there are any breeders of Chinook dogs in the UK?  I can't find anyone on the internet but for some reason I thought that I had come across a UK website in the past, or perhaps this was my imagination? 

Or is there anyone with any first hand knowledge of the breed who has met or owned one before as I would like to know more about them.  I have read a lot on the internet but people with any actual experience of the breed would be the most reliable source of information.

Thanks if you can help

Oh and please no daft jokes about helicopters and no ignorant flamers because its not a Kennel club recognised breed.

what is a Chinook?

edited to add: having googled it (for other readers) looks a bit like a hovawart X gsd might turn out.

to the op, why the interest? are they a nice breed?

I had to go and have a look .. and found this   http://www.chinook-dogs.org/history.html  really interesting..

Scoobysmum, the chances of anyone having one, let alone a breeding pair in the UK are remote, with only 500 purebreed chinooks in the world, in 2005

OOps I thought these were Chinooks

I too was thinking Helicopters

A Chinook, for those who don't want to read the lovely link (thanks for that), is an American sled dog although now it is more often a family pet.  It has no Hovawart in its ancestry as far as I am aware but the founding dog "Chinook" was a Husky type/Mastiff mix and yes I think there is GSD ancestry in the following generations. 

It is no longer a cross breed and Chinooks are mostly bred to Chinooks and breed true as far as I am aware.  There may be some breeding to Chinooks crosses because of the small gene pool.

The reasons I liked them are many and varied including things like they are reputedly much more obedient and reliable on recall than Northern sled breeds, males are not dog aggressive, I like the way they look, they don't need hours of exercise to keep them happy, they are versatile in the activities you can do with them and eager to please and they are about the right size and build of dog that I like (I like solid strong dogs around 40 Kg).

If anyone can suggest other similar breeds I'd be happy to look into them as well given, as has been pointed out, the rarity of Chinooks.

And yes Ha bl**dy Ha about the helicopters, not heard that one before.

thanks for that link i really enjoyed reading it ,

> A Chinook, for those who don't want to read the lovely link (thanks for that),

I had a quick look at the link too.  They seem pretty well organised with a good list of US based contacts.  They'd probably be very happy to tell you more and may also be the best place for information about dogs in the UK.  Although the website doesn't appear to have been updated in recent years I would imagine that many of the breeders contacts are still correct.  This link still works and has recent news!

Good luck with your research

looks wise i think the anatolian shepherd dog might be the closest we have in the U.K.   dont know how they compare temprement wise though.

>dont know how they compare temprement wise though.

The anatolians I've met (only 2, admittedly) have both been dodgy with people and completely dangerous with other dogs.

great reading kayc

I've always really liked the look of the Anatolian and did research the breed but their temperament is unsuitable for my lifestyle - they are serious flock guardians and as such cannot be expected not to guard, hence strong possibility of dog to dog aggression.  I walk my dogs in a public park where quite a few other people let their dogs come charging up to you uncontrolled, we wouldn't really want their unruly untrained unsocialised little darlings to get eaten now would we?  Plus I'd like a dog that likes to play for my kids sake and Anatolians are apparently a bit of serious dog.  Thanks for the suggestion though, I appreciate any intelligent feedback/experiences people have to offer.  

they sound a very nice breed. best of luck with your search, though it sounds like you might be waiting a while. can you find any EU breeders? you might be able to consider importing a bit easier that way.

though i will say theres no need to be defensive, people were having a wee joke- no harm ment or done...

We've been into sled dogs in the UK for 16 years and have never come across a Chinook in all that time, so I think it is pretty unlikely that there are any here in the UK.

Mick

ask the kennel club they will know of any imports.

> ask the kennel club they will know of any imports.

Unlikely, as the breed is not KC recognised.

I think the Hovies (Hovawart) might wel suit.

I did also look into Hovies but was put off a little because I got the impression they were quite high energy dogs that need a lot of exercise all the time - I have a young family and not always great health so exercise for our dogs is on a sometimes more sometimes less basis.  But if anyone knows anything about Hovies that they would like to share I'd appreciate the info, thanks for the suggestion. 

> got the impression they were quite high energy dogs that need a lot of exercise all the time

wouldn't a sled dog need as much if not more?

According to all that I've read about Chinooks the answer would be no, despite their original use a sled dogs they are adaptable in their exercise requirements as long as they are included and kept close to the family they are happy.  That's one of the things I liked about them, although very trainable they don't seem to have any of the neurosis of many working breeds because most of them are primarily family companions.   Not that it matters that much now though as it seems incredibly unlikely that there are any in the UK, oh well c'est la vie.  I hope some one with more time and money than me takes a shine to them and imports some one day.

Thanks for all the replies.

> neurosis of many working breeds

..... !!??

D'you think you may have inadvertently chosen the wrong word there flower? LOL!
I've certainly never known dogs with Mental or emotional disturbance being able to work!? and most certainly not a trait of The Northern Breeds!!

> neurosis of many working breeds
> <IMG alt=confused src="/images/confused.gif"> <IMG alt=confused src="/images/confused.gif">..... !!??
>
> D'you think you may have inadvertently chosen the wrong word there flower? LOL!

i did wonder... perhaps high maintenance high intellegence? the tendancy to get bored?

I have only met one hovie who was lovely, she reminded me of a flattie ( sorry here I go again polly) and seemed to have similar enegy levels.
Have you spoken to the breeders? the one near me (limpsfield surrey) seems from their website very helpful and invites people to meet their dogs (not sure where you are in the country )

Mind I have know idea if a hovie would fit the bill as I imagine they are very different from the northern breeds however I have absoultly no experience just admire them.

>I've always really liked the look of the Anatolian and did research the breed but their temperament is unsuitable for my lifestyle - they are serious flock guardians and as such cannot be expected not to guard, hence strong possibility of dog to dog aggression.  I walk my dogs in a public park where quite a few other people let their dogs come charging up to you uncontrolled, we wouldn't really want their unruly untrained unsocialised little darlings to get eaten now would we?  Plus I'd like a dog that likes to play for my kids sake and Anatolians are apparently a bit of serious dog.  Thanks for the suggestion though, I appreciate any intelligent feedback/experiences people have to offer. 

When I was little and lived at home with my parents we have an Anatolian Karabash bitch called Lucy who had an absolutely fantastic temperament with our other dogs - A GSD and a Bichon Frise and she was also fine with our cats and my younger sister and brother.  She was a lovely dog and I often think of her

> I've always really liked the look of the Anatolian and did research the breed but their temperament is unsuitable for my lifestyle - they are serious flock guardians and as such cannot be expected not to guard, hence strong possibility of dog to dog aggression.

I've met a lot of Anatolians the first one I saw was in 1969 in Leeds & was a direct import from Turkey belonging to a USAF couple. I've never met an aggressive one yet. They are not a Guard dog in the European terminology they are bonded from puppy hood with whatever they are to guard, goats, sheep etc. Only when thei animals are threatened are then defensively "guarding". We had a totally untrained unsocialized Anatolian 3 year old bitch to our clicker classes & she was in no way dog aggressive & in fact learnt to play with the other dogs after only two visits & she is the sweetest of girls. They are superb with children & often"nanny"children of the families they live with.

Hi have you thought of contacting some of the US breeders to see if they have ever imported to this country? maybe they have a breed club over there that might help.

We have an anatolian at our show training and he was lovely.  I guess if you keep them for purpose of guarding then the instinct would be there.  but if you have a family is it worth the risk and could you cope once you had took it on. after all if the breed has these traits there is no guarantee that you would get and ok one.  please i am not critising the breed just thinking that it is sensible to research a new breed at depth before bringing them into your home.