Alaskan Malamute :: VIVAPETS

origin:	USA
life expectancy:	10-12 years
classification:	Working dog
height:	56 to 66 cm
weight:	32 to 43 Kg

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History [ edit ]

The Alaskan Malamute is a large Nordic dog, and is one of the purest and oldest breeds. It descends from the Arctic wolf and is genetically distinct from other dog breeds. Its name comes from Mahlemuts, an Innuit tribe living on the Arctic coast of western Alaska, who used the breed in their nomadic travels in extremely low temperatures as a draught dog. These dogs pulled light traveling sleds and hauled heavy loads of food and supplies, helping the Mahlemuts to survive in such hostile environment. No wonder that Mahlemuts regarded them as their most prized possessions. They are very hardy dogs, displaying a superb adaptation to the extremely rigorous conditions of the Alaska. The Alaskan Malamute has been also used in many expeditions to the Pole due to its resistance, tenacity and incredible strength coupled with sense of direction and excellent smell, while being very affectionate toward humans. As companions, in the last decades the Alaskan Malamutes proved themselves to be civilized and good-natured. They are also used in search and rescue, carting, racing and weight pulling.

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General appearance [ edit ]

The Alaskan Malamute is a large, powerful and substantially built Arctic dog with a deep chest and a strong, solid, well-muscled body and a proud carriage. The back is straight and gently sloping to the hips. The loins are hard and well muscled.The head is broad and moderately rounded between the ears which are triangular, well-furred and erect when alerted. The muzzle is bulky, not pointed or long, yet not stubby, diminishing slightly in width from root to nose. The brown, almond-shaped eyes are obliquely placed in the skull, and look like those of a wolf, but have a friendly, sweet expression. The legs are strong-boned and heavily muscled, ideal for weight pulling and tracking.The coat is thick with a coarse guard coat of sufficient length to protect a woolly undercoat and a plumed tail held over the back. The feet are furry and have tough pads. Blue. The coat comes in white, black and white, wolf gray, wolf sable (red undercoat with dark gray outer coat), or red, often with darker highlights. Face markings, (consisting of a cap over the head, the face either all white or marked with a bar and/or mask) are a distinguishing feature.. The legs and muzzle are almost always white.

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Temperament [ edit ]

The Alaskan Malamute is extremely resourceful, hardworking, loyal and intelligent, and although wolf-like in appearance, he is sweet and most affectionate toward its “human pack”. It is playful in invitation but somnetimes can behave like a rambunctious puppy, though great with children who are old enough to play with him safely. Generally, after maturity he becomes a mellow dog that impresses by its dignity. The manner in which these dogs were originally bred – they were taught to rely on their own senses and act independentely of their masters´ orders when necessary for the safety of the team – turned The Alaskan Malamute into an extremely independent dog which sometimes may be considered as stubbornness. In fact, they may sometimes ignore commands and display insubordinate behaviours towards their masters especially while puppies. The Alaskan Malamute´s gregariousness and tendency to openly, unreservedly give affection to humans make a Malamute a poor watchdog. They are quiet compared to most dogs but they do like to howl and dig.

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Health [ edit ]

The Alaskan Malamute is generally a very hardy breed, but may be prone to hip dysplasia, although no more than any other large breed and less then many others. Some are also prone to chondrodysplasia (dwarfism).

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Dog trivia [ edit ]

The Alaskan Malamute helped Admiral Richard Byrd in his expedition the South Pole, and the miners who came to Alaska during the Gold Rush of 1896.

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