ALASKAN MALAMUTE
APPEARANCE
Alaskan Malamutes are large working dogs. Their outer coat is harsh and thick, with a dense, softer undercoat. The underbody, feet, and face mask is white, and the rest of the coat can vary in terms of color, with colors that include gray, black, gold, red, and seal. Absolutely magnificent coloration and such a beautiful and strong overall build. The height of the Alaskan Malamute is around 23-27 inches and the weight is around 75-110 pounds.
PERSONALITY
Extremely loyal, affectionate and friendly, the Alaskan Malamute isn’t all work and no play. Males can be very dominant and both sexes can be combative with other dogs. Although very intelligent this calm and quiet dog can prove to be a bit stubborn. They have strong instinct so it’s advised to keep an eye on them around small animals. It is important to spend time with this breed and not neglect them, as they can become bored easily and this can lead to destructive behavior.
TRAINING
The Alaskan Malamute is an intelligent and clever dog. Bred for sledding and independence the Alaskan Malamute can prove to be stubborn. These dogs will do well in obedience training classes, but do not do so with smaller dogs as this can often cause their predatory instincts to come to play. You’ll find that males are more dominant and harder to train than females. One area where you may have problems in training is with housetraining.
EXERCISE
Alaskan Malamutes are very active and tireless dogs and are not recommended for apartment life, they prefers largely to pull a sled or a wheeled cart outside all day. Malamutes need a minimum of 2 hours exercise a day. You will want to spend time playing physical games with this breed. Because of its thick coat, the Alaskan Malamute easily gets overheated, so make sure to give them fresh water frequently to avoid dehydration.
SOCIALIZATION
Although a great companion and very loving, the Alaskan Malamute can be headstrong and stubborn, so they are best suited to those with experience in dog ownership. Early socialization is essentials to ensure that he gets along with other animals and people. The hunting instinct in these dogs is strong, and this means that you should be careful when he is around other animals or when he is loose.
LIVING CONDITIONS
Malamutes need open spaces and a large yard where they can engage in their favorite game: digging. Alaskan Malamutes are very active and tireless dogs and are not recommended for apartment life.
GROOMING
Alaskan Malamutes coat will require a brushing at least several times per week. You’ll want to be sure that the dog cared for in terms of his teeth too. Brush his teeth as often as your brush his coat. Twice yearly these dogs shed heavily, and at other times of the year they still shed although not quite as much - therefore this is not the best breed for allergy sufferers. As far as bathing goes, you don’t have to worry about doing so very often. In fact, besides to cool down in hot water it is almost unnecessary.
HEALTH ISSUES
The life expectancy of the Alaskan Malamute is around 10-12 years. There are a number of health problems to look out for with this breed, and this includes thyroid problems, bleeding disorders, Chd, cataracts, ligament problems, skin conditions, and autoimmune problems. You can also minimize the health problems of your dog by providing proper health care to the dog from the time that it is born and throughout its lifetime.
HISTORY
Originally used 2000 to 3000 years ago, the Alaskan Malamute is the oldest of the Nordic dogs. It gets its name from Mahlemuts, a tribe of northwestern Alaska. These dogs were also used for hauling and hunting in larger numbers. These working dogs were first registered with the AKC in 1935.
