The name Chinook comes from the warm wind, or chinook, that sometimes blows in Alaska. A dog named Chinook was born in 1917 on the farm of author/explorer Arthur Treadwell Walden. The mother, a Northern Husky, was a daughter of one of Admiral Peary's North Pole team, and the father was a large mixed-breed. Chinook did not look like either of its parents, but its offspring inherited its coloring, size and type. In 1929, Walden and 16 of these big yellow dogs accompanied Admiral Byrd on his expedition to the South Pole. Chinook males today weigh 70 to 95 pounds; females weigh 50 to 65 pounds. The thick double coat comes in various shades of tawny and should be brushed weekly. Dark, almond-shaped eyes are preferred, but amber eyes are allowed. Face markings should be black, and other body markings may be white or buff. Chinooks are people-oriented, enthusiastic and boisterous. They are not aggressive and are usually patient with children, but they can be headstrong, so training should begin early.