• Chinooks have a gentle, even temperament and are rarely shy or aggressive.
• Chinooks should live indoors with their people, preferably in a home where they have access to a safely fenced yard.
• Chinooks can be diggers.
• Chinooks need 30 to 60 minutes of daily exercise. They enjoy hiking, jogging, and pulling, whether what's behind them is a sled, wagon, or person on skis or skates.
• Chinooks are smart and learn quickly, but if you're not consistent in what you ask of them, they'll take advantage of you.
• Chinooks are not barkers but can be talkative, whining and "woo-wooing" to express their opinions.
• Chinooks have thick coats and shed heavily twice a year; the rest of the year they shed small amounts daily.
• Chinooks need daily brushing to keep their coats clean, but baths are rarely necessary.
• Chinooks love kids when they're raised with them, but can be reserved with them otherwise.
• Never buy a Chinook from a puppy broker or pet store. Reputable breeders do not sell to middlemen or retailers, and there are no guarantees as to whether the puppy had healthy parents. Reputable breeders perform various health tests to ensure that their breeding dogs don't pass on a predisposition to genetic diseases.
• Interview breeders thoroughly, and make sure the puppy's parents have been screened for genetic diseases pertinent to that breed. Ask breeders about the health issues they've encountered in their dogs, and don't believe a breeder who claims that her dogs never have any health problems. Ask for references so you can contact other puppy buyers to see if they're happy with their Chinook. Doing your homework may save you a lot of heartbreak later.

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