What are the down sides of owning a Chinook?
Chinooks are not the type of dog used for protection. Some, but not all, will alert you to strangers, but they are bred to be non-aggressive. So if you are looking for a protective guard dog, this is not the breed for you. Major shedding occurs twice a year, when the Chinook “blows coat”. During the rest of the year, there is light shedding of hair. Chinooks have fur, so they are not hypoallergenic dogs. They are not recommended for people with allergies. Chinooks can be diggers, and they cannot be trained away from this behavior. They don’t dig to get out of a containment, but dig holes to lie in and play in. People have had success with designating an area of a yard in which the dog is allowed to dig. Not all Chinooks have this trait, but owners should be prepared for this. While Chinooks are generally quiet dogs, some are whineier than others. Whiney dogs tend to be whiney when excited, not when bored. Chinooks don’t tend to be big barkers, but they do talk – wooing, and making othe
