http://www.PlatformChinooks.com/

Platform Chinooks, Eugene, OR (2026)

10/29/2026

BREEDER MATH. 🫠🐾

Let’s talk about Platform Chinooks’ most recent litter, shall we?

Minerva welcomed 11 puppies into the world on April 4th. Unfortunately, we lost four beautiful tawny girls in those first days. Absolutely heartbreaking, and something no amount of money could ever make easier.

We also walked away with a $2,500 emergency vet bill on Easter Sunday.

The seven surviving puppies required around-the-clock care. I’m talking 2½ weeks of tube feeding SEVEN puppies every TWO HOURS. Hundreds of dollars spent on formula, very little sleep, and a whole lot of praying that we could get everyone nursing from Nerve. Watching Minerva struggle at what she is amazing at because she wasn’t well either was extremely emotional.

Eventually, we transitioned them to puppy mush/gruel earlier than I normally would have, because I desperately needed some semblance of sanity before the teething, p**p, and absolute chaos began. 😂

And before I get into the numbers, I need to give a HUGE shoutout to Coulee’s people. ❤️

Ashlee drove from another state and spent an entire week sleeping on my sofa, waking up every two hours alongside me to care for Minerva and the puppies, and doing everything possible to keep me sane through one of the most physically and emotionally exhausting experiences I’ve had as a breeder.

She wasn’t just helping with puppies. She was making sure I was eating, drinking water, and taking care of myself, because somewhere between tube feedings, vet visits, and trying to keep seven tiny lives going, those things weren’t exactly at the top of my priority list.

She gave up a week of her life, traveled across state lines, lost just as much sleep, and didn’t get paid a single penny for any of it. Steve stayed home to hold down the fort and care for their dogs at home. They as the stud owners went absolutely above and beyond. I’m so so so grateful to have them as the bestest friends through all of this. They deserve to be recognized.

THAT is what it looks like when people genuinely care about a breed and the future of the dogs they’re producing. It’s not always about money, contracts, or whose name is on a pedigree. Sometimes it’s sleeping on someone’s couch, setting an alarm every two hours, and showing up when things are really, really hard. I’ll forever be grateful for that.

Now, back to breeder math. 😂

Of those seven surviving puppies:

* One went toward our stud fee.
* One was promised to a dear friend who has supported Platform Chinooks since the very beginning in so many ways.
* Two stayed with me.
* Three puppies were sold.

That’s right. Eleven puppies born, seven survived, and THREE actually brought in money.

And one of those puppy sales? Essentially paid for our Easter emergency vet visit.

The other two? Well, let’s talk about what goes into each Platform puppy before they ever leave my care…. AKC registration. UKC registration. Lifetime microchip enrollment. Embark DNA testing. Vaccinations. Deworming. Quality food. Puppy supplies. Socialization. Enrichment. And countless hours of hands-on care.

Those two puppy sales barely put a dent in what went into raising this litter.

And we haven’t even started discussing what I invested in Minerva BEFORE she ever became a mother.

Years of raising, training, showing, traveling, competing, health testing, and proving that she was a dog worthy of contributing to this breed. Thousands upon thousands of dollars invested long before a puppy was ever conceived.

And you know what hasn’t been factored into any of this?

MY TIME. Or the time of the people who stepped up to help me.

Not the missed work. Not the sleepless nights. Not the hours spent cleaning, feeding, worrying, evaluating puppies, communicating with families, or making sure each puppy went somewhere they would thrive.

Not to mention the emotional toll of losing four puppies we fought so hard for.

I’m not sharing this because I expect anyone to feel sorry for me. I made these choices. I chose to breed dogs, and I knew there were financial risks involved.

I’m sharing it because people see a $3,000 puppy and assume breeders are making a killing.

I promise you, my bank account would LOVE for that to be true. 😂

Could I cut corners? Absolutely. Could I skip some testing, stop traveling to shows, eliminate all the extras, and put considerably less into each puppy?

Sure.

But then I wouldn’t be breeding to the standards I’ve set for Platform Chinooks.

There is a difference between producing puppies and investing in a breed.

I don’t breed to produce as many puppies as possible. I breed with purpose, with the hope of producing healthy, sound, temperamentally stable Chinooks who will contribute positively to the future of this incredibly rare breed.

And the people who share that commitment? They’re the ones who show up, roll up their sleeves, lose sleep, and help each other through the hard stuff. Because at the end of the day, we have a breed worth fighting for, and none of us can do it alone.

Sometimes that means spending a ridiculous amount of money, losing a ridiculous amount of sleep, keeping a puppy (or two 🤦‍♀️), and somehow convincing myself I’ll do it all again.

So the next time someone multiplies the number of puppies in a litter by the asking price and assumes that’s what a breeder pocketed, please remember there’s a whole lot more to the equation.

Platform Chinooks, where the dogs are spoiled, the standards are high, the village is priceless, and the profit margins are apparently imaginary. 😂🐾

09/28/2026

🏡 LOOKING FOR A FOREVER COUCH — KOOZIE EDITION 💜💛

This one is a little bittersweet.

Platform’s Watch This “Koozie” is almost 6 months old and looking for the right forever home.

Koozie is from our Coulee × Minerva pairing — Minerva’s final litter — and was one of the girls we kept back for ourselves. We adore this puppy, but sometimes being a good breeder means taking a hard look at the dog in front of you and asking where they would be happiest, not just where we want them to stay.

And honestly? Koozie would LOVE to be somebody’s girl.

She is confident, hilarious, affectionate, ridiculously people-oriented and has absolutely no shortage of personality. She’s been raised right in the middle of our household chaos, dogs, kids, travel and adventures. She’s already been swimming off the dock, has dipped her toes into the show-dog world, and approaches most things in life with a pretty solid “WATCH THIS” attitude. 😂

She is crate started, mostly potty trained, microchipped, AKC/UKC registered and has already had her eye exam completed.

Ideally, we would LOVE for Koozie to remain part of the Platform breeding program in the future, provided she matures the way we hope and completes/passes all of her required health testing.

Because of that, Koozie will be placed intact and on contract. Keeping an intact female is a BIG responsibility. It means managing heat cycles safely, absolutely preventing accidental breedings, being willing to communicate and work closely with us, completing future health testing and understanding that there may be additional responsibilities if she ultimately becomes part of our breeding program.

That kind of arrangement isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay.

Also, because I know the question will come: Koozie is not free, and she is not a cheap puppy because she’s six months old. She has had six months of our time, care, training, socialization, veterinary care and investment poured into her. We are looking for the right home, not the quickest one.

We would strongly prefer to keep her local to the PNW and with someone who wants to stay part of the Platform family. A home interested in doing something with her — hiking, training, performance sports, showing, whatever makes the two of you happy — would be fantastic. But she doesn’t need a giant résumé.

She needs her person.

Someone who wants a Chinook sprawled across their couch, involved in everything they do, supervising every trip to the bathroom and occasionally making them question who exactly owns the house.

There is ZERO rush to place Koozie. She has a home here forever if the perfect one doesn’t come along, and we’re going to be picky.

Very picky.

Because she’s worth being picky about. 💜💛🫶

If you’ve been quietly waiting for a Platform puppy but weren’t necessarily excited about the tiny-puppy, pee-on-the-floor, land-shark stage… 👀

Koozie might just be your girl.

Please message the Platform Chinooks page and tell me about yourself, your household, other pets, where you’re located and what life with Koozie would look like.

09/15/2026

The pride of Wonalancet, New Hampshire, the Chinook is a rugged working dog and devoted family pet known for intelligence, patience, and eagerness to please. Once on the verge of extinction, the Chinook is among the rarest AKC breeds.

06/30/2026

Available: Stanley

2025 Chinook National WD/BOW
AKC Working Group Specialty Group Placing
Major Pointed
Platform’s Nightbus Conductor CGC TKN

Stanley is a 3yr intact male Chinook looking for the right home.

This handsome guy is just four points shy of completing his AKC Championship and has completed all of his OFA CHIC health testing requirements, including an Excellent hip rating.

Stanley found his way back to me due to life circumstances beyond his previous family’s control. Prior to returning, he spent time in a board-and-train program and came home with a solid foundation of obedience. He’s intelligent, eager to work, and genuinely wants to be connected with his person.

Like all dogs, Stanley comes with strengths and quirks.

His biggest challenge is significant crate anxiety. He will stress pant, whine, and dig at the crate door or floor. Because of this, he would do best with someone willing to work with his needs and structure their lifestyle accordingly. **It’s worth noting that Stanley’s anxiety is specifically related to confinement. When left loose in the house, he is not destructive and has been very trustworthy. Typically, he simply curls up on the couch or bed and waits for his people to come home. Because of this, he may do best in a home where crating is not a regular necessity.**

Stanley thrives when he has a close relationship with his person. While he can initially be a little unsure of some men, he warms up quickly with patience and consistency. Once you’re part of his circle, he is fiercely devoted and wants nothing more than to be involved in your life.

He has been wonderful around puppies and can remain neutral around other dogs while on leash. However, he is still an intact male, so careful management would be necessary with other male dogs in the home.

Stanley can have a startle response to unusual sights or sounds, but he recovers well and moves on. Sirens are his personal favorite, he responds with the most adorable Chinook howl and usually convinces every puppy in the vicinity to join the chorus.

He is current on vaccinations and ready for his next adventure.

In a perfect world, I’d love to see someone finish his AKC Championship, but that is absolutely not a requirement. My priority is finding the right fit for Stanley. I am not in a hurry, and he will always have a home here if that’s what is best for him.

Adult purebred Chinooks rarely become available, and Stanley is a very special dog looking for someone who will appreciate everything he has to offer.

If you think you might be the right home for him, please reach out and let’s talk.

EDIT TO ADD:
Stanley is currently located with me in Eugene, OR.

06/09/2026

Introducing….

Platform’s Watch This

Or, as she’s more commonly known around here… “Koozie”. (Previously Meridian 💜)

Because let’s be honest, if there was ever a puppy whose life philosophy could be summarized as “Hold my b**r and watch this,” it’s this one. The registered name came first.
The call name practically named itself. A koozie exists to hold a b**r while questionable decisions are being made.

And Koozie has spent her entire life making questionable decisions with unwavering confidence.

Need to jump off that? Watch this.
Need to climb on that? Watch this.
Need to sprint full speed into a situation without any regard for self-preservation? WATCH THIS.

This girl has never once considered whether she should. She only asks whether she can…. and usually by the time you’ve answered, she’s already done it.

Koozie lives life with both feet on the gas pedal and absolutely no interest in finding the brakes.

She’s athletic, driven, hilarious, and completely committed to every idea she has… regardless of how terrible that idea might be. Most of the time, it works out for her.

She’s the kind of puppy that makes you laugh daily because there’s simply no way to predict what she’s going to do next. And yet somehow, underneath all that chaos and enthusiasm, lives one of the sweetest puppies in the litter. The moment the batteries finally run out, Koozie transforms.

She melts into your lap. She seeks out her people. And more often than not, she seeks out one person in particular…. Benny.

Long before any decisions were made, Koozie had already made hers. Even when she was still a little russet potato of a puppy, she’d hear Benny walk into the room and immediately start making her way toward him. It didn’t matter if she was sleeping, nursing, or causing trouble. If Benny appeared, she wanted to be where he was.

Some puppies choose their people. Koozie absolutely chose hers.

With all the time, effort, sweat, patience, and work Benny has poured into Platform puppies over the years, it only seems fair that he finally get a puppy of his own. (I don’t think he had much say in the matter. Koozie had already decided.)

So while her littermates are beginning their adventures elsewhere, Koozie is staying right here at Platform.

Not because she was the planned keeper.
Not because she checked some box on a spreadsheet.
But because every once in a while a puppy walks into your life and says, “You’re stuck with me.”

Koozie is also Platform’s first-ever double-up ear puppy, which feels incredibly fitting for a girl who has never shown much interest in doing anything like her siblings. As she grows, we’ll be keeping an eye on a recessed v***a, which can sometimes contribute to issues like urinary tract infections. It may resolve naturally as she matures, or it may require some management down the road. Either way, she’s staying close where we can monitor her and make the best decisions for her long-term health.

I wasn’t looking very hard for reasons to let her go anyway.

So here’s to Koozie. Platform’s Watch This.

Professional chaos coordinator. Benny’s self-appointed sidekick. Living proof that sometimes the best plan is no plan at all.

A puppy who has never once hesitated to say:
“Hold my b**r, watch this.”

06/08/2026

Weekend Wrap-Up | 1,000+ Miles, 2 Mountain Passes, Showing Dogs, and Countless Memories

What a weekend.

Friday started at 4:30 AM leaving Eugene with Stanley and five puppies loaded up for adventure. First stop was Puyallup, where we dropped everyone off at Coulee’s house before immediately turning around and heading across the mountains to Wenatchee for one of the most important events of all…

My daughter graduated high school. 🎓

Not only did she graduate, but she did it while earning her associate degree. Watching that moment made every mile worth it.

After the ceremony, it was back across the mountains and over to Puyallup to prepare for an early morning at the Gig Harbor Kennel Club show.

Saturday was packed. Lewis, Stanley, and Coulee all hit the ring. Lewis earned Select Dog, officially finishing his Grand Champion Bronze title. (Turns out I celebrated a point early—he was sitting at 99 points. Oops. 🤣)

Coulee took Best of Breed and got to show off in the group ring, looking every bit the dog we know he is.

Outside the ring was just as special. Tempo headed home with her new family, and Circa got to spend time visiting with her people. Watching these puppy families come together is always one of my favorite parts of this journey.

That evening was exactly what we needed… pickle pizza, Chinooks running around the yard, and good company with Ashlee, Steve, and the crew. The kind of evening that reminds you why this community is so special.

Then it was right back at it Sunday morning.

The real MVPs may have been the puppies. These kids traveled like seasoned professionals, met countless new people and judges, navigated busy show grounds, and took every new experience in stride. I couldn’t be happier with how they handled themselves.

By the time we finally rolled back into Eugene, it was about 7:30 AM this morning.

And because apparently the universe doesn’t believe in rest, Benny still had to get off to school this morning, and I was right back to work as soon as we got home. 🤣

But the adventure isn’t over yet. This morning, Tally’s person flew in from Michigan to meet her and bring her home. One more puppy gets to start the next chapter of her story, and I can’t wait to watch where life takes this special girl.

And then came the kicker.

After 1,000+ miles, multiple mountain passes, a graduation, a dog show weekend, and surviving on caffeine and pure stubbornness… I got home to discover that my refrigerator apparently quit working at some point during the weekend. My entire freezer full of meat and whatnot had thawed, and the kitchen was an absolute disaster waiting for me.

Because of course it was. 🤦‍♀️

Over 1,000 miles.
Multiple mountain passes.
A high school graduation.
A Grand Champion Bronze.
Puppies heading off to their futures.
A refrigerator mutiny.

No rest for the wicked. ❤️🐾🎓🚗✈️

06/04/2026

💙 Today is also Chrono’s day and if I’m being completely honest, I’ve been dreading writing this one. 💙

Every litter has that puppy. The one you find yourself watching just a little longer. The one that makes you stop what you’re doing when he trots across the yard. The one that quietly reminds you why you spend years planning pedigrees, studying structure, evaluating temperaments, and pouring your heart into a breeding program.

For me, that puppy has always been Chrono. From the very beginning, he was my pick male.

Not because he was the biggest puppy in the litter… though he certainly earned that title… but because he consistently embodied everything I hoped this breeding would produce.

Substance without being cumbersome. Confidence without being pushy. Presence without demanding attention.

A beautiful, thoughtful expression. Incredible movement. A temperament that makes you want to live with him.

As breeders, we spend years making decisions that won’t be fully understood until generations later. We study pedigrees, health histories, strengths, weaknesses, and compatibility. We make educated guesses and hope that all of those pieces come together to create something special.

Every once in a while, a puppy comes along that makes you feel like maybe you got it right.

Chrono is one of those puppies.

When he moves across the backyard, I still stop and watch. For such a substantial puppy, he carries himself with remarkable lightness. Everything about him feels effortless. His movement flows. His structure works. He has the kind of natural athleticism that reminds me exactly what this breed was created to do.

Then there’s that gorgeous silver-gray coat, those rich tan markings, and an expression that melts people the moment they see him.

He’s the kind of dog that makes people notice Chinooks. And that matters.

For years, Platform Chinooks has worked to put this breed in front of people. Dog shows. Meet the Breeds events. Performance sports. Education. Conversations with curious strangers. Countless hours spent advocating for a breed that deserves to be seen and appreciated.

The goal has never been simply to produce puppies. The goal has always been to produce Chinooks that represent the best qualities of this incredible breed… soundness, temperament, versatility, beauty, and the ability to be a true family companion.

Chrono represents all of those things.

His new family has actually been part of that journey for several years. We’ve met at dog shows and Meet the Breeds events throughout the Pacific Northwest. They’ve spent years researching Chinooks, meeting Chinooks, and learning about the breed before deciding they were ready.

After more than twenty years of owning Mastiffs, they decided it was finally time to “downsize.” Naturally, they’re getting the largest puppy in the litter. 🤣 Compared to a Mastiff, I suppose Chrono probably qualifies as compact.

What makes this placement even more special is that Chrono will remain part of the Platform family. He’ll stay intact as he grows and matures, allowing us to continue evaluating him over time. Pending completion of all recommended health testing and proving himself worthy of contributing to the breed, he may one day help shape the future of the program that produced him.

Today he heads to Hillsboro, Oregon, where a family that has waited patiently for years is ready to welcome him home. They’re already completely in love with him. And, I can’t blame them.

This goodbye feels different. Not because I won’t see him again, I absolutely will.

But because every now and then a breeder gets the privilege of watching a puppy who represents years of work, planning, and hope walk out into the world.

That’s what today feels like.

Chrono, you have been everything I hoped for and more.

Thank you for making me dream about the future.

Now go make your family as proud as you’ve made me.

This is only the beginning of your story.