Concord – The House today passed a bill that would designate the Chinook as the state dog of New Hampshire.

The bill, approved on a 335-23 vote, was the idea of a group of seventh graders at Ross A. Lurgio Middle School in Bedford. Senate Bill 13 has already passed the state Senate, and next it goes to Gov. John Lynch for a signature.

Rep. Jayne Spaulding, R-Bedford, complimented the role the students played.

“They have pretty much done all of the hard work,” she said. “It was truly very, very well done.”

The Chinook, a sled and work dog, is the only breed to have originated in New Hampshire. Arthur Walden, who took the original Chinook up Mt .Washington and to the Antarctic, bred the dog as a combination of husky and mastif/St. Bernard mix at his home in Wonalancet.

The breed is relatively rare, with about 800 registered Chinooks today across the U.S. Dogs typically weigh between 55 and 80 pounds, and stand about 25 inches.

The Chinook would join the ranks of official New Hampshire mascots, a list that includes the ladybug and spotted newt.