Alaskan Malamute
Utility

Group:

Utility

Size:

large

Lifespan:

10-12 years

Exercise:

high

Grooming:

medium

Trainability:

very low

Watchdog ability:

medium

Protection ability:

medium

Area of Origin:

Alaska

Date of Origin:

ancient times

Other Names:

none

Original Function:

heavy sled pulling, large game hunting

History

Native to the northern regions of the Western hemisphere, this member of the Spitz family was originally bred by a tribe of Inuit, the Mahlemuts. The Malamutes were all-purpose dogs and performed tasks such as hauling sleds in winter, carrying packs of freight in summer, guarding herds of caribou and hunting polar bear, moose or wolves. In camp, the dogs were loyal family pets that watched over and kept children warm during long winter nights. Ideally suited to ice and cold weather, this breed has also adapted well to more temperate climates.

Temperament

This is an affectionate, loving and loyal family dog not suited to guard work. Confident and strong-willed, they tend to be very dominant and require early obedience training. They are energetic, playful and friendly, but, as with all large breeds, require supervision at play with small children.

Upkeep

The Alaskan Malamute loves cold weather and especially loves to haul a sled through the snow. It can run for miles and needs to have adequate exercise every day, either in the form of a long walk on leash or the opportunity to run or mush. It can live outdoors in temperate to cold climates, but it does better inside during warm weather. Its coat needs brushing once or twice a week — more often when shedding.

Official Breed Standard

GENERAL APPEARANCE:
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 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 colours. 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.

The Malamute must be a heavy boned dog with sound legs, good feet, deep chest and powerful shoulders, and have all of the other physical attributes necessary for the efficient performance of his job.

The gait must be steady, balanced, tireless and totally efficient. He is not intended as a racing sled dog designed to compete in speed trials.

The Malamute is structured for strength and endurance, and any characteristics of the individual specimen, including temperament, which interferes with the accomplishment of this purpose, is to be considered the most serious of faults.

CHARACTERISTICS:
In judging Malamutes, their function as a sledge dog for heavy freighting in the Arctic must be given consideration above all else. The legs of the Malamute must indicate unusual strength and tremendous propelling power. Face markings are a distinguishing feature.

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

Head and Skull:
The head is broad and deep, not coarse or clumsy, but in proportion to the size of the dog. The expression is soft and indicates an affectionate disposition.

Skull:
Is broad and moderately rounded between the ears, gradually narrowing and flattening on top as it approaches the eyes. The topline of the skull and the topline of the muzzle show a slight break downward from a straight line as they join.

Muzzle:
Is large and bulky in proportion to the size of the skull, diminishing slightly in width and depth from junction with the skull to the nose. The lips are close fitting.

Nose, lips and eye rims' pigmentation:
Is black in all coat colours except reds. Brown is permitted in red dogs. The lighter streaked "snow nose" is acceptable.

Eyes:
The eyes are obliquely placed in the skull. Eyes are brown, almond shaped and of medium size. Blue eyes are a serious fault.

Ears:
The ears are of medium size, but small in proportion to the head. The ears are triangular in shape and slightly rounded at the tips. They are set wide apart on the outside back edges of the skull, in line with the upper corner of the eye, giving ears the appearance, when erect, of standing off from the skull. Erect ears point slightly forward, but when the dog is at work, the ears are sometimes folded against the skull. High set ears are a fault.

Mouth:
The upper and lower jaws are broad with large teeth. The incisors meet with a scissors grip. Overshot or undershot is a fault.

Neck:
The neck is strong and moderately arched.

Forequarters:
The shoulders are moderately sloping; forelegs heavily boned and muscled, straight to the pasterns when viewed from the front. Pasterns are short and strong and slightly sloping when viewed from the side.

Body:
The chest is well developed. The body is compactly built but not short coupled. The back is straight and gently sloping to the hips. The loins are hard and well muscled. A long loin that may weaken the back is a fault.

Hindquarters:
The rear legs are broad and heavily muscled through the thighs; stifles moderately bent and well let down. When viewed from the rear, the legs stand and move true in line with the movement of the front legs, not too close nor too wide. Dewclaws on the rear legs are undesirable and should be removed shortly after puppies are whelped.

Feet:
Are of the snowshoe type, tight and deep, with well cushioned pads, giving a firm, compact appearance. The feet are large, toes tight fitting and well arched. There is a protective growth of hair between the toes. The pads are thick and tough; toenails short and strong.

Tail:
Is moderately set and follows the line of the spine at the base. The tail is carried over the back when not working. It is not a snap tail or curled tight against the back, nor is it short furred like a fox brush. The Malamute tail is well furred and has the appearance of a waving plume.

Gait / Movement:
The gait of the Malamute is steady, balanced and powerful. He is agile for his size and build. When viewed from the side, the hindquarters exhibit strong rear drive that is transmitted through a well-muscled loin to the forequarters. The forequarters receive the drive from the rear with a smooth reaching stride. When viewed from the front or from the rear, the legs move true in line, not too close nor too wide. At a fast trot, the feet will converge toward the centreline of the body. A stilted gait, or any gait that is not completely efficient and tireless, is to be penalised.

Coat:
The Malamute has a thick, coarse guard coat, never long and soft. The undercoat is dense, from 2.5-5 cm (1-2 ins.) 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.

Colour:
The usual colours range from light grey through intermediate shadings to black, sable and shadings of sable to red. Colour combinations are acceptable in undercoats, points and trimmings. The only solid colour allowable is all white. White is always the predominant colour on underbody, part of legs and feet, and part of face markings. A white blaze on the forehead and/or collar, or a spot on the nape is attractive and acceptable. The Malamute is mantled, and broken colours extending over the body or uneven splashing are undesirable.

Size, Proportion and Substance:
There is a natural range of size in the breed. The desirable freighting sizes are: Dogs 63.5 cm (25 ins.) at the shoulders - 38.5 kg (85 lbs.).
Bitches 58.5 cm (23 ins.) at the shoulders - 34 kg (75 lbs.).

However, size consideration should not outweigh that of type proportion, movement and other functional attributes. When dogs are judged equal in type, proportion, and 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 shoulder, 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.

FAULTS:
The degree to which a dog is penalized should depend upon the extent to which the dog deviates from the description of the ideal Malamute, and the extent to which the particular fault would actually affect the working ability of the dog.

Serious Faults:
Any characteristics of the individual specimen, including temperament, which interferes with his strength and endurance is to be considered the most serious of faults. Any indication of unsoundness in legs and feet, front or rear, standing or moving. Faults under this provision would be:
Blue eyes,
Ranginess, shallowness, ponderousness,
Lightness of bone,
Poor overall proportions,
Straight shoulders,
Lack of angulation,
Bad pasterns,
Cow hocks,
Splay-footedness.
Stilted gait, or any gait that is not balanced, strong and steady.

Faults:
High set ears. Over or undershot. Broken colours extending over the body or uneven splashing.

Note:
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles full descended into the scrotum.