The alaskan malamute or Alaskan malamute is native to the arctic and is considered one of the longest-lived breeds in the history of the sledding dogs His imposing and sober presence gives the wrong image of his real character. Its appearance similar to that of a wolf has made this breed capture the attention of all dog lovers, since its impressive size and beautiful coat does not go unnoticed. Sometimes, this breed is often confused with the Siberian Husky, however, as we will see, there are notable differences between the two.
The stories surrounding the Alaskan Malamute have also helped to ingrain the idea of a resistant, loyal, hard-working and very noble breed in the popular imagination. If you want to know much more about this breed, keep reading this article on our site, where we talk in depth about the characteristics of the Alaskan malamute, also called alaskan malamute, its origin, temperament and main care.
Origin of the Alaskan Malamute or Alaskan Malamute
The Alaskan malamute dog originated in the arctic and has the arctic wolf among its ancestors. These dogs were used by the Mahle people to pull their sleds and collaborate in hunting activities. In fact, the Alaskan Malamute could carry 70 kilos on a sled trip and could be seen fighting other Alaskan animals such as wolves or bears.
It is possible that the word "malamute" comes from "Mahle muit", which would mean "people of the mahle" English phonetics for these two terms would have given rise to the name of the breed. Over time, means of transportation in the arctic changed, and dogs became less and less important. However, the wonderful Alaskan Malamutes are still used by Alaskans and are common in many countries around the world as pets.
Characteristics of the Alaskan Malamute or Alaskan Malamute
The Alaskan malamute is a large, very strong and robust dog that is adapted to pulling very heavy loads such as sleds and up to weights of 40 kilograms. Let's see some of the characteristics of the Alaskan Malamute:
- The height at the withers of the alaskan malamute: for males it is around 63.5 centimeters, while in females females around 58.5 cm.
- Weight: around 38 kilograms in males and 34 kg in females.
- The chest: it is deep and strong, and its body is muscular but not hypertrophic. In addition, the Alaskan Malamute's demeanor shows dignity, pride, and nobility.
- Head: Continuing with the characteristics of the Alaskan Malamute, this dog's head is wide and deep, but well proportioned with the body. The facial expression of the Alaskan Malamute is friendly and affectionate.
- The snout: The Alaskan Malamute is long and bulging, well proportioned to the rest of the skull, and tapers slightly from base to the tip of the nose. It should never be sharp.
- Teeth scissor.
- The eyes of the Alaskan Malamute: They are medium-sized, brown, almond-shaped and set obliquely. The malamute must not have blue eyes (these are considered a fault).
- Alaskan malamute ears: These are medium in size, but small relative to the head. They are triangular in shape and slightly rounded at the tip.
- Neck: it is muscular and slightly arched. No double chin.
- The body of the malamute: It is powerful and compact, but not short. This dog is powerful and, although it is not light, it should not be excessively heavy. The tail is thick and densely furred. Its insertion is medium, continuing the line of the spine. The Alaskan Malamute should carry it curved on the back when not working.
Colors of the Alaskan malamute or alaskan malamute
This breed has two coats and is therefore prepared to withstand cold temperatures. The outer coat is thick and rough and is the malamute's protective coat. The inner mantle is very dense, oily and with a wool-like texture.
As for the colors of the Alaskan Malamute, the most common is black and white, however, the accepted colors are many more, so we can find them in shades ranging from light gray to black and reddish Combinations between the colors in the inner layer of the mantle and face.
No solid colors are accepted for the Alaskan Malamute, except for white. Likewise, irregular colors are not accepted either. In general, the appearance of the Alaskan malamute's coat is like that of a blanket. Now that you know the characteristics of the Alaskan dog, let's see its character.
Alaskan Malamute Character
It doesn't look like it, but the Alaskan Malamute is a docile, sociable and affectionate dog, especially with his owners and even with strangers. It is very important that the malamute has someone experienced as its owner and that they have been informed about the characteristics of the breed because they need discipline. It is a very intelligent and independent dog that will not accept commands just for the sake of feeding them every day. They look for in their leader a responsible and consistent friend whom they can follow. Shows a calm, slow and relaxed character.
He is a playful dog, Faithful to his masterand protector of the little ones in the home. Although in reality he is not a protection dog in himself, it is true that he will serve us as a guard dog. With a good socialization and weekly doses of training we will obtain a balanced dog due to its high learning potential
Regarding the character of the Alaskan Malamute with other pets, it should always be under the supervision of the owner since due to its strong hierarchy instinct it can be involved in aggression with other animals, another reason why it needs an experienced owner. It is very important that we educate our children and our pet in the field of play since the large size of the Alaskan Malamute can be a problem if the game is not correct.
We will avoid pulling the pet's tail and ears as well as violent games or large body movement. For the rest, you have to be careful in the first days of interaction. In general, the Alaskan Malamute is a breed that gets along great with children and is capable of risking his life to protect the little ones in the house. Simply, you have to remember the correct rules of play to both.
Alaskan Malamute Care
High temperatures can be a serious problem for malamutes, just like any other breed of sled dog. It is important to take this into account to avoid heat shocks that can be fatal. A small flat or house is not the ideal place for this breed.
It is preferable if there is a garden or patio where the malamute can discharge its energy each day. This does not mean to have it isolated, but to give it the opportunity to "move the skeleton" every day. Some of the more specific Alaskan Malamute care are:
- Food: This is one of the most fundamental cares for the Alaskan dog, as it provides he alth and energy. His diet is simply based on a balanced and rich diet that provides him with all the nutrients but without exceeding it, since it can lead to being overweight. Therefore, when are puppies the ideal is to give them between one and two cups of food a dayWhen are adults it is best to mix wet and dry food Also, you can continue to feed two times a day or just once. Finally, when the Alaskan Malamute is in his senior phase, it is best to give him wet foodEven so, we recommend that you always consult your veterinarian.
- Exercise: The Alaskan Malamute requires daily exerciseThis exercise does not need to be extreme, but it should at least be moderate. Great care should be taken to avoid heat shock when exercising the malamute in a hot climate.
- Grooming: this breed does not need frequent baths, but it does need frequent brushing. Depending on the weather, the malamute can lose a lot of hair, so it is recommended to brush it twice a day slightly moistening its coat to facilitate this task and using a soft brush long tines.
For the rest, we must have the same kind of care that we would have with another dog: we will be attentive to the care of its nails and eyes, as well as its ears.
Alaskan Malamute Education
The Alaskan Malamute is a somewhat independent but highly intelligent dog. They will enjoy learning orders of all kinds and also tasks at home, although we have to carry out a correct education since, due to their genetics and origin, the Alaskan Malamute dog can have an aggressive behavior, as we have mentioned in the previous section.. If we carry out sessions of between 10 and 15 minutes it will be enough to educate him.
The first thing we must do is socialize it with other animals and people, as well as teach it to live with them. We will have to practice walking because being a large dog can give us some pull and hurt us. On the other hand, in addition to being used as a sled dog or for carrying weights, the Alaskan dog is also a good rescue dog, as well as a for people with physical disabilities.
For more information, do not hesitate to consult the following article on our site about Dog socialization.
Alaskan Malamute He alth
The Alaskan Malamute is one of the dog breeds that is certainly fairly he althy and very hardy and, although not prone to disease, the most common that affect the breed are the following.
- Hip dysplasia and Elbow dysplasia: Treats of hereditary problems, so we will not be able to prevent them to a great extent unless we know the origin of our Alaskan Malamute. It consists of a malformation of either the hip or the elbow in question and is common in Alaskan malamutes due to their large size.
- Heat strokes: due to very high temperatures. It is also known as hyperthermia in dogs and usually affects dogs with excess weight. In addition, due to a lack of hydration or too much exercise, our Alaskan dog can suffer from heat stroke. If you want to know more about heat stroke in dogs: symptoms, what to do and treatment, do not hesitate to consult this post.
- Kidney failure: it can affect both kidneys or just one, although we will notice its symptoms because our dog will lose weight, lose his appetite, you will have vomiting and diarrhea and may even go blind, among other symptoms.
- Hemeralopia: This is blindness during the dog's day.
- Eye diseases: such as glaucoma, corneal dystrophy or progressive retinal atrophy. These are diseases, again, of hereditary origin for our Alaskan Malamute. Periodic consultations with the veterinarian are necessary since, as they are progressive diseases, they can lead to our dog Alaska losing his sight completely.
For the rest, we will keep our alaskan malamute he althy if we keep his vaccination record up to date and go to the vet when we observe unusual symptoms that are not our own.
Where to adopt an Alaskan Malamute?
After reading all these characteristics and care of the Alaskan Malamute dog, perhaps you are thinking of adopting one. It should be noted that, as we have been mentioning throughout the article, the Alaskan Malamute breed is very strong and, due to its origins and genetics, it can have behaviors that are difficult for a first-time guardian to manage, so this breed of dogs is more focused on those already experienced.
Even so, if you are well informed and guarantee that you will be able to provide the best care, you can try contacting clubs that have the breed of Alaska or, if not, with a kennel society near where you live. In any case, remember that the important thing is to be able to welcome a furry to give him the best care, regardless of the racial standard.
Curiosities
- The Alaskan Malamute or Alaskan Malamute dog breed comes from an Inuit tribe, the Mahlemiut. Known for eating raw meat, they forged a very close relationship with the breed of affectionate and sociable qualities that also helped them with the transport of large goods through the snow.
- They are relatives of the Siberian Husky.
- They were used as rescue dogs in World War II.
