Chinooks, A Living History

By Rick Skoglund, CWW Registrar

Cheryl Kubart, Board Member. November, 2000

From time to time, questions are raised regarding the CWW registry and how it is maintained. Since we have many new members I would like to explain how CWW maintains records for the Chinook breed and the origins of the modern Chinook registry.

After the rescue of the remaining 11 breedable Chinooks, breeding programs began with each individual kennel maintaining their own records and issuing certificates of pedigree. The first attempt to centralize these records was by the Chinook Club of America in the mid 1980's. The CCOA sent out questionnaires and began a computerized database of all known Chinooks. This dated back to 1979 and included records from Kathy Adams while the Chinooks were at Sukee Kennels.

The CCOA disassembled and the Chinook Owners Association began compiling much of the same information from breeders and issuing certificates of pedigree. Litter registration sheets were sent to breeders who filled out these sheets and returned them to the COA registrar.

In 1993-1994 Chinooks Worldwide Inc. combined the records of the Sukee Kennel and Northdown Kennel, Chinook Club of America, and Chinook Owners Association. Northdown Kennel had not registered their Chinooks with any agency but left behind all breeding records and sales receipts of Chinooks. CWW also had access to Perry Greene's breeding records and pedigrees. CWW therefore became the largest registering body for the Chinook breed, encompassing all Chinooks from every known kennel. With the assistance of Ritter Consulting these records were put in a commercial pedigree program. CWW today maintains the practice of having breeders fill out litter sheets, assigning a registration number, and issuing a pedigree. This database has been used by various health professionals assisting us to research health concerns within the breed.

In 1992 The Chinook Owners Association turned their registry over to a private agency, the United Kennel Club. Many of the Chinooks from Northdown Kennel and others in the CWW Registry were not included in this foundation process. Breeders, the Acting COA Registrar, and the myself submitted approximately 45 Chinooks from Northdown and other Kennels such as Benjamins, Victors, and Backroads for inclusion in the UKC Registry.

It is important to grasp how many Chinooks were whelped at the former Northdown Kennel. Records indicate over 500 purebreds and crosses left Northdown from 1986-1993. Northdown had a controversial practice of allowing two sires to breed to one female. These breedings were recorded in the Kennel records as dual sired. NONE of these breedings were submitted to the UKC or included in the CWW registry. From over 500 Chinooks only 45 had acceptable records. Many of those 45 were spayed or neutered and fewer than a dozen were breedable stock. Many transfers of ownerships were available with pedigrees. Others were identified by previous owners or those who were familiar with many of these Chinooks. Some became UKC foundation stock, being issued registration numbers but sires and dams were left blank. I participated with the COA Registrar in a UKC Single Dog Registration Program to document many of these Chinook's pedigrees. It was an enormous task utilizing litter records, breeder records, and taking written statements from those who witnessed breedings at any time at Northdown Kennel, with the kennel owner reconfirming many of these breedings.

I maintain that the Chinooks Worldwide Inc. registry is just as complete and accurate as any other domestic registry for any breed of dog.

During 1994-1995, with DNA testing in its infancy for identification purposes, approximately a dozen registered Chinooks or dogs bred at Northdown had their DNA collected. It was determined that the samples may not have been immediately marked for identification, hands were not cleaned in between taking samples, and a neutral third party was not present to witness the process; thus allowing the potential for mismarked or contaminated samples.

Rather than clarify, DNA results were inappropriately used to cast a shadow of doubt over another kennel: North Wind Chinooks of Oregon. Several Chinooks reported to be full siblings were found to have different dams. Another sibling did not match the reported siblings. Though, PE AgGen (now Celera AgGen) does not support the use of comparing sibling DNA as an appropriate method of determining parentage. The parents of these dogs were reported deceased and not available for DNA testing. This created quite a dilemma for all Chinook owners. Suddenly we are faced with "Is Fido Fido??" Breeding programs were well under way and the pedigrees of almost every Chinook was involved.

The COA chose to divide siblings and make some foundation stock with open pedigrees while others keeping their full pedigrees. In the end it was the Board of the COA who decided what they felt was best for the breed. This was their prerogative.

The Chinooks Worldwide Board and myself as Registrar faced the same dilemma. These findings could place doubt as to the accuracy of any Chinook Registry. The CWW Board agonized over these findings and the potential inaccuracies of the sampling. In the end it was determined that our registry was as accurate as documentation allowed and voted to keep all historical pedigrees intact. Should we have sacrificed a breed teetering on the edge of extinction or she we have moved forward? The Board chose to go forward. Not unlike any other club struggling to establish their breed, there had to be a definitive place to start the Registry.

The Registrar acts much like a historian of the living history of the Chinook breed. The information gathered in writing and documents available are used to support pedigrees. Until DNA testing became available to verify canine parentage we could only trust the word of the Breeder. We did not want to disgrace or defame any kennel or owner and without irrefutable evidence being submitted we have no right to change a pedigree. Today we still maintain that our Registry is as accurate as humanly possible.

But, what does one do when faced with scientific evidence that could cast doubt on pedigrees? In 1996 the CWW Board chose not to accept the results of DNA testing done on the dogs discussed earlier in this article. They felt that the samples could have been contaminated or the sampled dogs may not have been correctly identified. The results of the DNA testing presented an impossible scenario because questionable sampling equals questionable results. In order to prevent this situation from happening again, a professional laboratory, Celera Agen was endorsed to do all DNA testing and analysis. A forward moving mentality was accepted for the use of DNA in our breed. All possible sires and dams of any Chinook tested must be properly on file with Celera Agen. This is the only accepted practice to positively verify parentage. You cannot collect DNA from a Chinook and go shopping for a sire and dam or attempt to use siblings to determine relations.

Occasionally errors in the registry are brought to my attention. Usually they are minor, a misspelled name or the wrong date of birth. These are easily corrected and owners need only send the correction in writing. An updated pedigree is then issued.

If members believe there is a serious error, such as a contested sire or dam, they need to present their concerns in writing with irrefutable evidence provided. This supporting proof must be provided in documentation that removes any shadow of doubt before a pedigree may be changed. If any circumstances surround the pedigree that can not be resolved (as deceased possible parentage) the pedigree may not be changed. All pedigrees are presumed innocent until proven guilty. As well, CWW can only request, not require owners to submit DNA from their dogs.

Are there questionable areas in our breed? Of course. From the origin of our breed there are questions about which breeds combined to create Walden's Chinooks. Perry Greene created even more mysticism surrounding the dogs by maintaining sole control over the Chinook and keeping breedings secret. There are many "lost" years in the history of our dogs. Though we cannot go back in time to fill in these blanks we can use the documentation we have to create a foundation and move forward. By using sound breeding practices and encouraging breeders to DNA profile today's breeding stock we can move into the future with reassurance that the Chinook will continue to flourish and progress.