The Alaskan Malamute breed

The Alaskan Malamute is a large northern dog breedas well. The Malamute's gregariousness and tendency
originally bred for use as a sleddog.to openly, unreservedly give affection make them
Appearancehighly attractive to many dog owners; these same
The AKC breed standard calls for a natural range ofqualities make a Malamute a poor guard dog.
size, with a desired freighting weight of 75 to 85The harsh conditions for which Malamutes were bred
pounds (34-38.5 kg) and a height of 23 to 25 inchesrewarded a strong prey drive, as food was
(58-63.5 cm). Heavier individuals (100+ pounds) andoccasionally scarce. Consequently, Malamutes may
dogs smaller than 75 pounds are common--there isinstinctively attack animals such as house cats,
often a marked size difference between males andsquirrels, rabbits, chickens, quail, and even deer
females. Weights upwards of 140 pounds or more(however, many households enjoy harmonious, mixed
are occasionally seen; these dogs are uncommon and"packs" of cats and Malamutes). Historic competition
are produced primarily by breeders who market afor food is also a reason why Malamutes may regard
"giant" malamute. These "giant" sizes are not indogs outside their own pack or team with disdain or
accordance with the breed's history or the AKChostility.
standard. The coat is a dense double northern dogMalamutes dug for food when required, and digging is
coat, somewhat harsher than that of the Siberiannow a common way in which Malamutes deal with
Husky. The usual colors are various shades of greyboredom. It is not uncommon to see a Malamute
and white, sable and white, black and white, red anddigging madly in pursuit of a mouse, mole, or gopher.
white, or pure white. Eyes are almond-shaped andMalamutes may also dig to escape a fenced yard,
brown; blue eyes are sometimes found, but willand have been known to dig escape tunnels
disqualify the dog in shows. The physical build of theunderneath houses. This tendency to dig can be
Malamute is compact with heavy boning. In thisparticularly frustrating to owners who maintain yards
context 'compact' means that their height to lengthor gardens.
ratio is fairly even, unlike dogs like Great Danes whichOwing to the Malamute's independent nature, physical
are longer and lankier in their ratios.strength, and its high levels of energy and intelligence,
According to the American Kennel Club, the primarymost experts on the breed advise that Malamutes
criteria for judging the Malamute in a show is itsnot be adopted by people who:
function to pull heavy freight as a sled dog;are inexperienced in training dogs
everything else is secondary. As many an owner haslack the time, energy, and space to exercise them,
found out, the pulling power of a Malamute isor
tremendous, and if this trait is lacking in a show dog,lack the patience and stamina to repeatedly engage
it is enough for a disqualification.in contests of willpower with a large, powerful animal
Characteristicswithout becoming angry.
Although still in use as sled dogs for recreationalHealth
mushing, most Malamutes today are kept as familyHealth issues in the Malamute are hip dysplasia,
pets or show dogs. They are unable to competeinherited polyneuropathy, chrondo dysplasia, and the
successfully even in long-distance dogsled racingusual northern-breed eye problems (particularly
against smaller and faster breeds and their workingcataract and progressive retinal atrophy).
usefulness is limited to freighting.While Malamutes have been successfully raised in
The Malamute is one of the most "unaltered" ofplaces such as Arizona, their dense coats generally
breeds, retaining its original form and function.make them unsuited for hot climates. When the
Responsible breeders will want to preserve thisweather gets hot, they—even more than
heritage of the Malamute's working abilities. They areother dogs—need plenty of water and
widely regarded as handsome, affectionate towardshade. Also, being a winterised breed they will grow a
humans, intelligent, resourceful, and hardworking.winter coat and subsequently, come spring, shed it
While they may bark like other dog breeds,again.
Malamutes normally tend to "talk" by vocalizing aDogs cool themselves internally by panting, not
"woo woo" sound (the characteristic vocalizations ofexternally by sweating like humans do. Cooling
Chewbacca in the Star Wars films are based upon ainternally means that their thick coats allow them to
Malamute named Indiana, once owned by Georgebe more resistant to heat, the same as their coats
Lucas). They may howl like wolves or coyotes whenallow them to be resistant to cold. Shaving a dog for
feeling excited, sad, or lonely.the summer will have the opposite effect than what
Understanding Malamute behavior requiresis intended. The idea that thick coats mean bad heat
understanding life in an aboriginal Arctic village.tolerance is a myth.
Malamutes were originally bred to think and actHistory
independently for the sake of protecting the sledThe Malamute is a descendant of dogs of the
team. Hazardous and unpredictable Arctic trailMahlemuit tribe of upper western Alaska.
conditions rewarded the ability of a Malamute to relyFor a brief period during the Gold Rush, the Malamute
on its own senses and, when necessary, override theand other sled dogs became extremely valuable to
sled driver's judgment and commands. As such, therecently landed prospectors and settlers, and were
breed is notorious for displaying a highly independentfrequently crossbred with imported breeds. This was
streak that manifests itself as stubbornness.often a misguided attempt to improve the type, or
Malamutes are sometimes downright insubordinateto make up for how few true Malamutes were up
toward their human handlers and may ignorefor sale. This genetic dilution seems to have had no
commands, particularly when young.long standing effect on the modern Malamute, and
At the same time, Arctic life required that Malamutesrecent DNA analysis shows that Malamutes are one
be bred to behave as consummate members of theof the oldest breeds of dog, genetically distinct from
sled team, family, and village community. Thereforeother dog breeds.
they are usually very affectionate to members ofThe Malamute dog has had a distinguished history;
their own pack - human and dog members alike. Aaiding Admiral Richard Byrd to the South Pole, and
Malamute may talk in glee in greeting a returningthe miners who came to Alaska during the Gold Rush
family or pack member after a period of separation,of 1896. This dog was never destined to be a racing
and howl in protest when it feels ignored, neglected,sled dog; instead, it was used for heavy freighting,
or excluded from group activities. Also, Malamutespulling hundreds (maybe thousands) of pounds of
are usually friendly to other humans outside their ownsupplies to villages and camps in groups of at least 4
pack, often demanding their attention and affectiondogs for heavy loads.