Alaskan Malamute

The Alaskan Malamute breed gets its name from the Mahlemiut aboriginal tribe that inhabited Alaska in olden times. The dog has changed little over its history, and it is known world wide as a superb sledge dog. Today, show experts and judges rely on the dog’s ability to pull weight as the basic criterion for evaluation. There are two varieties of the Alaskan Malamute: the M’Loot and the Kotzebue, which differ in size (the former is a little larger).

Alaskan Malamutes bear a close resemblance to many other Arctic dog breeds, such as Samoyeds, Eskimo dogs, and Siberian Huskies. Their wolf-like appearance is the most endearing feature. Malamutes have a dense double-coat, which is longer around the neck, on the shoulders and further along the back and over the backside. The undercoat is thick and wooly, and the dog sheds it twice yearly. During shedding periods, Malamutes require intensive grooming, but when the shedding is over, the dog can well take care of his own coat himself. Alaskan Malamutes do not have to be bathed frequently and do not usually require trimming.

Alaskan Malamutes measure 25-28 inches high at the withers, and their weight averages 75-85 lbs. They are very intelligent and docile companions. Being very people-oriented, they appreciate attention. Alaskan Malamutes are not aggressive toward strangers, and hence they do not make good guard dogs. However, like all arctic dog breeds, they are quite dog-aggressive, because they are pack animals. These dogs do not bark, but can produce characteristic howling sounds and can be extremely noisy when bored. Malamutes appreciate it when given a chance to go in and out of the house throughout daytime, but they should not be permitted to roam freely without attendance. They need a well fenced yard, because they are great diggers.

Being working dogs, Alaskan Malamutes like it when you keep them busy or permit them to take part in various household activities. Puppies must be trained from the very beginning, because Malamutes have a stubborn streak. If a puppy gets away with an undesirable trick at least once, it can be very hard to correct in the aftermath. Because of their stubbornness, Malamutes are a sheer challenge to train, especially for novice dog owners.

Malamutes are generally healthy and neat dogs. However, some species are prone to genetic abnormalities, such as progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and Hemeralopia (day blindness). Since these conditions occur due to genetic predisposition, the most effective way to avoid them is to closely examine breeding pairs and their pedigree background. Hip dysplasia is another hereditary disorder that affects the Alaskan Malamute, which can be disabling in hard cases.