Kennebec River Chinooks

Kennebec River Chinooks

Chinook Breeder in the Heart of Maine

Planned Breeding Winter 2026

We are excited to announce the planned breeding of WyochinookWinds Ginger Popham “Poppy” in December 2025 (litter expected February 2026)

“Poppy” WyochinookWinds Ginger Popham

Date of Birth: 5-12-2022
Weight: 65 lbs
Height: 24″
Dam: ‘PR’ MountainThunder Rainbow
Sire: ‘PR’ Wildcat Valley Forest
OFA Hip Rating: Good
OFA Eye Rating: Normal
UKC Registered

Meet Poppy of the pines! Although born and breed in Wyoming, Poppy is a true Maine dog. A lover of the rocky coast, pine tree covered forest, and of course snow! Poppy’s favorite activity is a romp around Popham, her namesake beach. She loves splashing through water, rolling around in seaweed and chasing squirrels through the forest. Poppy is a great trail dog and currently working towards her Novice Pack Certification. She responds well to our calls but uses her nose to navigate the trail and stays close to us with very little direction. She is very focused, motivated, and agile on the trail. This is where she thrives. Poppy prefers the quiet of the woods over a trip to the farmers market. It takes strangers a bit of time and lots of treats to gain her trust and loyalty before being a part of what we refer to as Poppy’s “inner circle.” But wow, once you are in, she is extremely affectionate and a total sweetheart. Our friends and neighbors are so proud when they get a kiss from Poppy! Poppy is a dog’s dog, a social butterfly at our local dog park and gains a huge amount of confidence around humans when she is in the presence of other dogs. She lures everyone in with her gorgeous buff coat and apricot ears but she’s not afraid of getting down and dirty in the mud with her pals. She gets along well with dogs of all sizes and personalities, does well with her cat brother, and adores our 7 year old daughter. She is extremely loyal to her humans. We are greeted every morning and when we return to the house with not just a tail wag but a full butt wiggle, lots of kisses, and the Chinook “roo”. She is independent and loves having her own space but lets us know when it’s time for her cuddle and belly scratch. She is a very clear communicator. Poppy has an excellent off switch. She can often be found in our window seat overlooking the Kennebec River, sunning herself while she tracks the birds and watches the neighbors stroll by. Always ready to rush to the door if a pal walks by!

“TinTin” SwiftRun InquiringMindsBashaba

Date of Birth: 10-02-2018
Weight: 69 lbs
Height: 24″
Dam: ‘PR’ Rain Mountain Kenai Swift
Sire: ‘PR’ Bashaba Wojtek
OFA Hip Rating: Good
OFA Eye Rating: Normal
UKC Registered

Like many of my breed, I am very smart, very sweet, and very mischievous and spontaneously burst into song. I love all dogs, all people, and all activities except visits to the vet (but I still give the doctor kisses). I am an accomplished hiker and have great trail and land sense. I adore swimming and never skip a swimming hole on my daily walks. My best friends are my older sister Bella (another Chinook) and a funny fuzzy cat who pretends to be scared of me but then sleeps next to me.

More About Chinooks

The Chinook is a rare, American-bred working dog originally developed in the early 1900s in New Hampshire as a sled and drafting dog. Known for its strength, endurance, and gentle nature, the Chinook was bred by Arthur Walden by crossing a farm dog with husky-type dog to create a versatile and powerful sled dog suited to New England conditions.

Temperament and Behavior

Chinooks are generally intelligent, patient, and extremely loyal. They are particularly good with children and other animals, making them excellent family dogs. They bond deeply with their people and are more known for their calm, cooperative nature rather than aggression or high prey drive. They are a sensitive breed so they do well with positive reinforcement and obedience training.

Though bred for sledding, Chinooks are adaptable and excel in modern activities such as skijoring, agility, and obedience. They do best with regular exercise and companionship.

Learn More About the History of the Chinook

The history of the Chinook has been passed down via letters and storytelling. The exact source of this photo is unknown, however I found it on the highly recommended Chinook Fun Spot facebook group.

Nine Things You Should Know Before You Fall In Love With A Chinook

Chinooks talk – most (some more than others) will “woo“, “roo“, or make other noises that are unlike a typical dog bark. In this respect they do not make great guard dogs. However they will let out a chorus if they want your attention!

Chinooks are not retrievers. They have low ball-drive. They are more interested in chasing and romping around with a retriever than they are in the ball, stick, etc. They prefer tug-of-war, chase, and human sports like skijoring and hiking.

While Chinooks are friendly and non-aggressive, they tend to be reserved and typically stay close to their people or self-isolate when around a lot of strangers. With that said, they are often unbothered and quite patient around small children and other pets, making them great family dogs.

Chinooks typically do not swim. Some will wade in the water, and enjoy a good romp around the beach, but generally speaking they are not long distance swimmers or dock jumpers like a retriever.

Chinooks shed… A LOT! They tend to blow their coat twice a year but some shed lightly on daily basis. Anecdotally, some owners report differences between southern vs northern based chinooks, spayed/neutered vs intact, etc. Generally speaking though, regular brushing is necessary for the Chinook.

No matter their size, they will squeeze into whatever shape they want if it means being closer to their human or in the perfect lounge spot. Chinooks also have oddly flexible necks and will contort their head in mysterious ways, to keep a close eye on you.

Chinooks are a rare breed with potential for more diversity if puppies identified as breed potential are left intact. While not required, it is common for breeders to ask owners if they are open to the possibility of breeding. At the very least, owners are encouraged and sometimes required by a breeder to have regular health screenings so that the breeder can maintain oversight on the health and genetics of the pedigree.

Chinooks have unusually long tongues and some lick excessively. I know at least a few Chinooks that like to lick their people repetitively, others lick themselves, our’s likes to lick the couch.

Chinook ears and coat color vary. Ears can be flopped, pointed, or “flying” (one up, one down) and you won’t know what you get until they are older (see our Poppy’s puppy vs adult photos for example). Standards for Chinook coat color is a highly debated topic. While the majority of Chinooks are tawny, the UKC does recognizes registration of puppies who are buff and black & tan.