Alaskan Malamute

This sturdy breed of domestic dogs is known as the Alaskan Malamute. These dogs have been around for over 12000 years, popularly known for their exceptional strength and endurance qualities. They look very much like the arctic breeds such as the Siberian Husky and Greenland Dog. If you aspire to know more about this canine, keep reading!

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Alaskan Malamute Appearance

The Alaskan Malamute male has an average weight of about 85 pounds and stands tall at 25 inches from the ground. The female has an average weight of 75 pounds, standing high at 23 inches. It features a double coat, whereby the undercoat has a woolly texture and the upper coat is coarse.

This breed has small ears, which are always erect. It’s generally a heavy build dog that is known for its unmatched speed and agility. You’ll find this canine in a range of colors including shades of grey and white, stable and white, black and white, red and white, and solid white.

They have almond-shaped eyes that are a light tone of brown and sometimes go toward dark brown. Moreover, it has a furry tail that is usually seen all curled up in the snow. The tail comes in quite handy in the harsh weather as it protects its nose and face, keeping it warm.

With a deep muzzle and black nose, the Alaskan Malamute is quite the handsome sled dog! It has an average life expectancy of up to 15 years.

Alaskan Malamute Grooming

In terms of grooming, a constant check is necessary since the dog is used to living under extreme weather conditions. Its waterproof double coat requires daily brushing either with the aid of a pin brush or metal comb. You must regularly check for mats, fungus, and hot spots because these dogs are prone to infections.

Shedding takes place twice a year, and these times call for regular brushing of the coat to get rid of dead hair and tangles. They may also be showered weekly, but these dogs can last up to eight weeks without a bath. Since the upper coat has a coarse texture, use a softening conditioner while bathing these sturdy canines.

Moreover, the Malamute's nails are to be trimmed on a regular basis to prevent infection. Lastly, clean its ears using a damp cotton ball inside and out and constantly look for signs of redness and bad odor.

Alaskan Malamute Temperament

These are generally playful and outgoing dogs that tend to be quite friendly with children and other pets. However, they are also very nice to strangers, so you cannot keep Malamutes as watchdogs. They’ll quickly make friends with anyone and everyone they come across.

They enjoy spending quality time with their family and enjoy all sorts of indoor and outdoor activities. You won’t find your Malamute making loud barking noises, but slight ‘woo woo’ sounds every now and then.

The temperament of these dogs is largely influenced by training, socialization, and heredity. They must be socialized from a young age to enable exposure to new faces, sounds, places, and experiences.

Your guests are likely to have a great time whenever they visit you because the Malamute is surely to keep them company and entertained.

Alaskan Malamute Training

As far as training is concerned, socialization and obedience training are a must. Otherwise, the dog tends to take on a pushy attitude when introduced to children and other pets. These intelligent dogs can be quite stubborn at times and may be unwilling to learn basic commands, but a little patience is all you need.

Use positive reinforcement and try to use a soft and gentle tone while training or else they might become unwilling to learn. Keep in mind that there are certain things you can never teach your Malamute, one of which is digging. Plus, they can’t be trained to become guard dogs either owing to their extremely friendly nature toward everyone.

Alaskan Malamute History

The Alaskan Malamute is among the oldest sled dogs that are associated with the Mahlemuts tribe. The dogs have been historically used to hunt seals, pull sleds, and chase away polar bears. During the Gold Rush in 1896, these dogs were bred with other sled dogs from Alaska. Later, these dogs were supplied for the Byrd Antarctic expeditions during the 1930s.

These dogs are commonly known as utilitarian dogs and have worked, hunted and lived with humans ever since their inception. Their exceptional hunting abilities have made them quite the star against predators such as bears and wolves.

These dogs were also used in World War I & II. The Alaskan Malamute Club came into being in 1935, and it was during the same year that this canine was recognized as a unique breed by the American Kennel Club (AKC). Today, this breed is ranked 57^th among all other breeds registered by the AKC.