Alaskan Malamute Breed Description

An Owner's Alaskan Malamute Description
Houdini's favorite pastime is digging and finding a way out of our yard. We've had to resort to making sure our fence goes below yard grade. We've had Houdini for about six years and he still acts like a big puppy. Sometimes he just isn't aware of his own strength. In his friskiness and eagerness for play the kids can get knocked down pretty easily. He means no harm and is just about the most loveable and affectionate dog a family can own. The kids simply adore him.

Houdini would never make a good guard dog. He's simply much too friendly. And not just with people. More than once, Houdini has taken a stray kitten under his wings to protect and care for. He'll act like a doting father and not let the little one get too far from eyesight. It's then that Houdini seems to suddenly outgrow the puppy-like games. He becomes a mature, responsible dog. It's truly a remarkable transformation to watch as this behavior is normally only seen in the female breed.

Another nice aspect of the Malamute is their cleanliness. They actually clean themselves much as a cat does. So other than the shedding, which can really add up to a lot in warmer climates, they are easy on house cleaning. So, I'm glad that we live in a cold climate and Houdini's shedding is only seasonal and not really all that bad. We just make sure we keep him regularly brushed. He loves the attention although he can become impatient to play if we take too long.

The best thing about Houdini is that at the end of the day, after all the playing is done, he settles down and is content with just chilling with the family.

 

 

Introduction

Bred by the Mahlemut Inuit living on the Artic coast of western Alaska, these handsome dogs have been used as sled pullers for centuries. The Timber Wolf has participated in their development. They are affectionate dogs who play willingly with people and other dogs that they know. Malamutes are powerful animals with a deep chest and outstanding stamina. They weigh 85 to 125 lbs. and stand 23-28" at the shoulders.

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 transportation where they were used to pull traveling sleds. The dogs were also used for explorations and expeditions in the arctic, notable among them 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 at the edges of the skull. The dog’s brown eyes are almond shaped and medium sized giving it a kind and charming expression.

Temperament

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 they 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 dysplasia, 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 to be brushed a minimum of two times a week. The dog’s coat is able to shed dirt on its own thus eliminating the need to wash it.

Colors

The coloring of their coats range widely. They are often various shades of white and grey. Other combinations include black and white, pure white, red and white as well as sable and white.

Living Area

Your Alaskan Malamute will be a very active animal. For this reason, they do need space. Apartment living is not the best suited for them because they need to run and move. They can and should live indoors, but they will need a large enough yard to run and roam.

Recognized By

CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, NZKC, APRI, ACR

Pets4You offers listings of Alaskan Malamute breeders with puppies for sale.