OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The Chinook Owners Association (COA) hosted the annual Chinook Specialty 2025, a competition celebrating the relatively rare American sled-dog breed, at the World Equestrian Center Ocala‘s Expo Center 2 on Dec. 15 and 16, 2025, from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. The first day was a handling class followed by Chinook-themed activities. The second day was the National Specialty followed by lunch and more Chinook-themed activities. The show was judged by the honorable Diane Price with support from the ring steward Diana Fowler.

A woman stands with two awards in hand in a large expo center.
Pam Turner was the ring steward at the Chinook Specialty at the Chinook Specialty 2025 in Expo Center 2 at the World Equestrian Center on Tuesday, Dec. 16.
Courtesy: Amber Battillo/352today

The morning began with a Chinook show with regular-licensed classes, altered license classes and non-licensed classes, starting with the junior categories and ending with the Chester Sweetie Award. Aspen Huntsman, her dog Andy and Coraline Mullon and her dog, Lucy won in their respective age groups in Junior Showmanship. The Junior Male winners were contestant 11 won first with Cole Illahee, contestant 9 won second with Tamanawas Tukamonuk and contestant 14 won third with Blue Bird Day. The Junior Female winners were contestant 5 with Tetlin in first and contestant 10 with Lunasa in second.

The next categories were the female categories with Adult Female, Open Female and Best Female before ending with Best Winners. In the Adult Female category, contestant 23 won first, contestant 19 won second with Bella Luna Isla Bleue and contestant 22 won third. The Open Female winner was contestant 12 with his Chinook, Myka. The Best Female winners were contestant 5 with Tetlin and contestant 12 with Myka. The Best Winners category of the males and females featured contestant 5 with Tetlin and contestant 11 with Cole Illahee with Cole Illahee winning first.

The following categories before the altered licensed classes were Champion of Champions, Grand Champion and Best of Breed. In Champion of Champions, contestant 15 won with Keeper of the Stars. The Grand Champion winners were contestant 6 in first with Katyaaq and contestant 7 in second. The winner in Best of Breed was contestant 11 with Cole Illahee.

The altered licensed classes winners were contestant 21 for Altered Adult Male and contestant 16 with Still Water Runs Deep for both Altered Adult Female and Altered Best of Breed. The non-licensed classes winners were contestant 20 in first with Shaktoolik and contestant 15 with Keeper of the Stars in second for the Stud Dog category and contestant 12 with Myka in first for the Brood Bitch category. The final award given out at the end of the show was the Chester Sweetie Award that was given to contestant 10 and her daughter with Lunasa.

The show was followed by lunch at Yellow Pony at the World Equestrian Center and games for Chinooks. Participants had the opportunity to get UKC Socialized Pet Obedience Test (SPOT) certified and AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) awards followed by a nose workshop later in the evening.

The Chinook National Specialty 2025 is a yearly chance for Chinook owners to come together for friendly competition, Chinook socializing, specialized workshops and take advantage of unique opportunities with Chinook Owners Association. To learn more about the COA, become a member or participate in these events, check out their website here.

A woman with a card reading, "19" makes a hand signal to a dog on a leash to sit.
A woman and her daughter walk with their dog down a padded floor in an expo center.
A woman jogs with her dog down a padded runway.
A woman in a pink dress walks with her Chinook dog on a padded runway.
A man walks with his Chinook dog down a padded runway.
A woman walks with her dog down a padded runway while an audience watches from the background.
A woman poses with her dog and a first place ribbon.
A woman jogs with her Chinook dog down a padded runway.
A woman jogs with her Chinook dog down a padded runway.
A girl walks with her dog on a runway.
A woman walks with her dog on a runway while people watch from behind, clapping.
A man jogs with his dog on a runway while the dog looks off to the side. People are clapping in the background.