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History
The Alaskan Malamute is a descendant of dogs that were used by the Mahlemuts
tribe in Western Alaska. The dogs were considered equal companions by the
tribe members thus were not only used as working dogs. The dogs were used as
means of transport where they used to pull traveling sleds. The dogs were
also used for explorations and expeditions in the arctic, notable among them
being helping Admiral Richard Byrd get to the South Pole.
Description
The Alaskan Malamute is a strong and large Arctic dog. It has a double coat
in which the topcoat is coarse and differs in length with the soft, wooly
and oily undercoat. The Alaskan Malamute’s only solid color is white but in
some dogs it comes with shadings of white and black, gray, red or sable. The
dog’s face usually has a white blaze or mask. Its long body is well- muscled
and powerful throughout, heavy boned with very strong legs and a straight
back. The dog has strong furry feet with large pads that enable it to trudge
easily through snow. The head is large with small, rounded and triangular
ears set wide apart the edges of the skull. The dog’s brown eyes are almond
shaped and medium sized giving it a kind and charming expression.
Temperament
The Alaskan Malamutes are extremely intelligent, affectionate, sweet and
loyal to its owners. They are great playmates for children who are old
enough to play safely with them. They are very friendly and warm easily to
strangers and thus they do not make great guard dogs. Despite this it can be
aggressive towards other dogs or animals. Due to the nature of their work as
working dogs, the Alaskan Malamutes are team oriented and highly sociable.
The dog’s are happy living outdoors though once in a while they will
appreciate being indoors in the company of the rest of the family. The dogs
are not difficult to train since they prefer pleasing and obeying their
masters. This does not mean that it will always follow the commands of the
owner. If its master’s commands are contrary to its instincts, it will
disobey the owner and make its own independent decision. They should be
adequately trained for them to know who the boss is.
Health and Care
The Alaskan Malamute is very susceptible to hip dyslpasia but not as much as
other breeds. Some dogs tend to suffer from chondrodysplasia also known as
dwarfism. The dogs are not suitable for living in apartments, but will be
happy in homes with a fairly large yard. To prevent them from straying and
jumping over the fence, a large fence is required. Bury the fence’s base
since they are likely to dig under the fence. This breed does well in cold
weather and will need to be kept cool in hot weather so ensure they receive
adequate supply of clean water. The dogs are active and will require regular
exercise to make them fit.
Grooming
The Alaskan Malamute has a thick coat, which requires at least to be brushed
twice a week. The dog’s coat is able to shed dirt on its own thus
eliminating the need to wash it. Pets4You offers listings of
Alaskan Malamute breeders with puppies for sale. |
