Sweetie: Dog Zero
Timbermist Yukon Jack
Purebred Chinook bred to Dog Zero
10/1/1985-1997
Height 23"
Weight 70 lbs
UKC # P178039
Sire: Perry Greene Barrow
Dam: Alder Patch Oona
Glendon's Sweetie
Dog Zero
DOB 4/1/1987
Height 21.5"
Weight 55 lbs
Sire: Glendon's Max
Dam: Glendon's Princess Kyra
Glendon’s Sweety was bred by Paul Therriault, a talented breeder and musher (bred winning sled dogs for decades, won many sled races, including 1988 Four Dog Amateur Champion). ​
Paul bred Glendon's Princess Kyra (AKC registered German Shepard) with Gledon's Max (German Shepard-Labrador Retriever-Husky mix and was a gifted sled dog). Puppies from this breeding, including Sweetie, had tawny bodies and black masks, resembling the Chinook breed.
Sweetie, an outstanding lead dog, ran on Paul's team when she was only 7 or 8 months old. She ran part of this race, the Trek for Life (across Maine) in lead. Sweetie, by 10 months of age, was an exceptionally smart sled dog. Then, Paul ran a predominantly Chinook team, an accomplishment for the Chinook breed. Paul reported that Sweety was the best trained lead dog he ever had, turning on a dime in an open area upon hearing a gee or haw command.
Paul believes that strong, solid sled dogs will produce strong, solid sled dogs, passing on genetic memory for sledding through breeding. Paul bred Sweetie twice. The results produced evidence to support his theory. Paul helped Harry Gray (North Down Kennel, Waldoboro, Maine) develop a breeding plan, tracing pedigrees of the Chinook. In 1990, Paul gave Sweetie to Harry to breed to purebred Chinooks because Sweetie looked like a Chinook, was an outstanding working dog, had an excellent temperament, and possessed no known faults. Sweetie could add her natural drive and lead abilities to the Chinook line. A good choice.
Jack, a purebred Chinook, is recognized by the COA as part of the Chinook Breed foundation stock and registered with the United Kennel Club. It was important to make sure his contributions to the breed were captured and brought forward into future generations through various lines.
Jack had a affable personality and was described as a "heck of a musher" by one of his owners. He had a broad head, pricked ears and a thick, strong body. He was tawny with a buff mask. He produced several outstanding off-spring like Northdown Hootchinoo, Northdown Kaltag, Northdown Paleface, Northdown Oona.
Harry Gray of the Northdown Kennel states that Jack had no known health problems while in his kennel. He died in 1997 at 12 years of age of bone cancer. Sweetie produced many outstanding sled dogs, yet none of these Chinook hybrid lines were brought forward through a formal cross-breeding program until Northdown X Cheena (Sweetie x Yukon Jack) was registered through the Chinook Owner's Association’s (COA) Crossbreeding Program in 1998.
Chinooks of years gone by were motivated and strong sled dogs. Much of their motivation and size were lost when the Chinook numbers dwindled. Glendon's Sweetie, Dog Zero, was a proven working dog that resembled the Chinook breed, brought sledding drive into the Chinook line. Her line has been granted grandfather status as a recognized cross-line. Sweety's off-spring have proven themselves as superb working dogs.
Sweetie and her snowshoe paws
Sweetie in lead with Toes, Jack in wheel
Sweetie leading Harry's team