| When Jack London wrote the novel "Call Of The | | | | such a cross would occur in the wild. If it |
| Wild", the main canine character "Buck" was | | | | is true that he descended from a cross with |
| more than likely a dog which had at least | | | | the wolves, this may account for his strong |
| some Alaskan Malamute in his bloodline. This | | | | acceptance of being a "pack dog" in the sled |
| dog is a native of Alaska, tracing his roots | | | | dog teams and his willingness to be within |
| back to the Mahlemut tribe , an ancient | | | | such a group. There are few "societies" of |
| Indian culture which is seldom mentioned | | | | animals which are as similar in their |
| without a mention also of their faithful | | | | interactions to human society than the |
| dogs. These dogs helped them with almost | | | | "society" of a team of sled dogs. In the |
| every aspect of their daily living, from | | | | animal kingdom, the society of wolves is very |
| fishing and hunting to hauling in the hunt. | | | | similar. Despite his "pack" mentality, the |
| The Alaskan Malamute is just one | | | | Alaskan Malamute possess an affinity to |
| representative of the many different breeds | | | | humans, loving not only to work for man, but |
| which were used in the settling of the great | | | | loving humankind altogether and without |
| territory of Alaska, a region whose vast | | | | reserve. |
| reaches of inhospitable climate required a | | | | |
| beast of burden who could live off the land, | | | | The Alaskan Malamute is a beautifully marked |
| who had great speed and who could pull heavy | | | | dog, with sharp contrast of white and black |
| loads. The fact that there were already large | | | | or white and gray, with the darker colors |
| numbers of dogs being used for these purposes | | | | being grizzled with silvery tips on the ends |
| made it natural that the cold reaches of the | | | | of the hairs. He gives the impression of |
| northern territory would be mostly explored | | | | great strength and heavy bone, even though he |
| and populated with the help of the dogs. | | | | is not particularly tall and is not |
| | | | considered a giant breed like the Mastiff or |
| There is a historical possibility that the | | | | the Newfoundland. His height is 25 inches at |
| Alaskan Malamute, one of the largest of the | | | | the shoulder. The coat is double and dense |
| sledge dogs, owes some of his size and | | | | and off standing, one or two inches in length |
| strength to the Arctic Wolf, a very large | | | | all over the body with a large ruff around |
| white animal nearly twice the size of the | | | | the neck of longer hair, providing weather |
| Alaska Malamute. This may be true or not. | | | | resistant protection against the elements. |
| Crosses are routinely engineered today in | | | | Weekly brushing is required for good coat |
| captivity, but no one really knows whether | | | | care and skin health. |