Alaskan Malamute

AKC Group: Working

Club: Alaskan Malamute Club of America, Inc.

Corresponding Secretary : Leneia Rogowski
Address: 640 E 50 N, Hyrum, UT , 84319-1454
Website: www.alaskanmalamute.org
Email: leneia.rogowski@ihc.com
Club Type: Specialty

General Apperance:

The Alaskan Malamute, one of the oldest Arctic sled dogs, is a powerful and substantially built dog with a deep chest and strong, well-muscled body. The Malamute stands well over the pads, and this stance gives the appearance of much activity and a proud carriage, with head erect and eyes alert showing interest and curiosity. The head is broad. Ears are triangular and erect when alerted. The muzzle is bulky, only slight diminishing in width from root to nose. The muzzle is not pointed or long, yet not stubby. The coat is thick with a coarse guard coat of sufficient length to protect a woolly undercoat. Malamutes are of various colors. Face markings are a distinguishing feature. These consist of a cap over the head, the face either all white or marked with a bar and/or mask. The tail is well furred, carried over the back, and has the appearance of a waving plume.

Size:

There is a natural range in size in the breed. The desirable freighting sizes are males, 25 inches at the shoulders, 85 pounds; females, 23 inches at the shoulders, 75 pounds. However, size consideration should not outweigh that of type, proportion, movement and other functional attributes. When dogs are judged equal in type, proportion, movement, the dog nearest the desirable freighting size is to be preferred. The depth of chest is approximately one half the height of the dog at the shoulders, the deepest point being just behind the forelegs. The length of the body from point of shoulder to the rear point of pelvis is longer than the height of the body from ground to top of the withers. The body carries no excess weight, and bone is in proportion to size.

Coat:

The Malamute has a thick, coarse guard coat, never long and soft. The undercoat is dense, from one to two inches in depth, oily and woolly. The coarse guard coat varies in length as does the undercoat. The coat is relatively short to medium along the sides of the body, with the length of the coat increasing around the shoulders and neck, down the back, over the rump, and in the breeching and plume. Malamutes usually have a shorter and less dense coat during the summer months. The Malamute is shown naturally. Trimming is not acceptable except to provide a clean cut appearance of feet.

Temperament:

The Alaskan Malamute is an affectionate, friendly dog, not a "one man" dog. He is a loyal, devoted companion, playful in invitation, but generally impressive by his dignity after maturity.

History:

The Alaskan Malamute, one of the oldest arctic sled dogs, was named after the native Innuit tribe called Mahlemuts. These people settled along the shores of Kotzebue Sound in the upper-western part of Alaska. The origin of these people and dogs has never been ascertained, but they were there for generations prior to the Asiatic sailors visiting the shores and returning to their homeland with stories of "native people using dogs to haul sledges."

It is confirmed that these Alaskan Malamute sledge dogs were used as draft animals and they have never lost their identity. When Alaska became settled by white men, the Arctic breed may have become mixed with outside dogs. The lure of sled dog racing also became popular, further encouraging mixing of lineage for faster dogs. Fortunately, the sport of sled dog racing became popular in the United States and interest in developing the pure strain of Alaskan Malamute started in 1926.

Interesting Facts:

• Named after the native Innuit tribe called Mahlemuts, who settled along the shores of Kotzebue Sound in the upper-western part of Alaska.
  
  
• The Mal is one of the oldest Arctic sled dogs.
  
  
• The Malamute is the native Alaskan Arctic breed, cousin to the Samoyed of Russia, Siberian Husky, and the Eskimo dogs of Greenland and Labrador.
  
  
• The Mal was recognized for AKC registration in 1935.
  
  
• The Mal is a popular sled dog.
  
  
• When sled racing enjoyed its heyday in the early 1900's, the Alaskan Mal breed was intermingled with some outside strain, leading to the period from 1909-1918 to be called the age of "decay of the Arctic sledge dog."