Yes! We are both Malamutes!
The heavy-freighting dog of the Inuit people who
inhabited the shores of the Kotzebue Sound, the Alaskan Malamute excels as an
adaptable, intelligent, canine companion. A heavy-boned dog with a bulky muzzle,
a broad head, wide-set ears, and a thickly-furred tail carried plume-like over
the back, the Malamute is one of the most beautiful dogs on earth and, pound for
pound, almost certainly the strongest.
One of the many interesting features of the breed is the natural range in size,
color, and markings. The average weight for males is 85 pounds, for females 75
pounds. Many Malamutes, including show dogs, are larger or smaller than average,
and bigger is not necessarily better. Most Malamutes are gray with white trim,
or black and white, but coats of silver, sable, and red sometimes occur.
Patterns of facial markings range from the all-white "open face" to
the "full mask" - the combination of a black cap on the head, goggles
around the eyes, and a bar down the muzzle. ALL Malamutes have brown eyes.
The breed is blessed with a sunny disposition. Happiest when treated as an
intelligent partner, the Malamute is highly cooperative but never slavish or
fawning. The Alaskan Malamute works and lives with you, not for you. Sometimes
aggressive toward other dogs, especially those of the same sex, the typical
Malamute is outrageously and almost universally friendly to human beings. As the
dogs of a peaceful, nomadic people, Malamutes do not guard property and
virtually always extend a tail-wagging, face-licking welcome to strangers. These
dogs develop deep, complex attachments to their owners, but are not one-person
dogs. Adult rescue Malamutes readily bond with their adoptive owners.
The versatile Malamute is happy to pull a sled, but is equally glad to accompany
the backpacker or the casual walker. In cold weather, the Malamute makes an
ideal running partner. Large and powerful yet remarkably agile, Malamutes
sometimes enjoy retrieving tennis balls and Frisbees. Some Malamutes love to
swim; others have a marked aversion to water. Most enjoy car rides; the breed is
not prone to motion sickness. Virtually all Malamutes find their greatest joy in
human companionship and are perfectly content to join their owners in watching
television. Malamutes take an alert interest in their surroundings and are
excellent company.
Purebred, neutered Malamutes are eligible for American Kennel Club Indefinite
Listing Privilege registration; a rescue Malamute with an ILP number may be
entered in Obedience at AKC trials. As a competitive Obedience dog, the Alaskan
Malamute is more legendary for crowd-pleasing antics than for good scores. Each
year, however, Malamutes earn American Kennel Club Companion Dog, Companion Dog
Excellent, Utility Dog, and Tracking titles, and the breed is tremendous fun to
work with, if not always a joy to show in the Obedience ring. In contrast, the
Malamute is easy to train as a well-mannered pet.
An Arctic dog, the Malamute may live outdoors in a sturdy kennel with a high,
strong fence, but Malamutes also make splendid, almost odorless house dogs.
Under no circumstances should a Malamute be allowed to run loose or be kept on a
chain, tie-out, or trolley. The indoor dog requires daily exercise on leash
or in a completely enclosed area such as a tennis court or a fenced yard; the
outdoor dog has an equally strong need for daily companionship and affection.
The ancestors of today's Malamute were sometimes forced to hunt, forage, and
compete for food. Consequently, Malamutes have a predatory streak and, if
allowed to run loose in rural areas, will reliably slaughter livestock and wild
animals. In urban and suburban areas, a loose Malamute is a menace to cats.
Swift, fearless, and powerful, Malamutes have been known to catch songbirds on
the wing and, if challenged, to deal harshly with other dogs. Some adult rescue
Malamutes get along well with cats and with other dogs, but some must go to
homes with no other pets. Furthermore, although the breed boasts a few angels,
some Malamutes will raid trash and steal food inside the house. Anyone
unprepared to deal firmly and calmly with this wild streak should NOT own an
Alaskan Malamute.
The prospective adopter who has never before owned any dog should consider a
sedate older Malamute instead of a spunky young dog, as should anyone without
the physical strength to handle a vigorous youngster. Fortunately, the Alaskan
Malamute has a life-span of about 12 to 14 years. Thus a 5-year old Malamute
has, on the average, more years ahead of him than does a five-day-old Irish
Wolfhound.
Malamutes can bark, but seldom do. The characteristic vocalization is a long
series of woo-woo-woos, but Malamutes also produce yips, growls, rumbles, and an
immense variety of wwrrrs and other sounds not readily translated into English.
Some Malamutes never howl; others sound a spine-tingling reply to every passing
fire engine, ambulance, and police cruiser. The neglected Malamute
inappropriately chained in a back yard will loudly and indefatigably protest his
situation, but happy Malamutes are exceptionally quiet dogs.
The breed's double coat consists of a short, dense undercoat and an outer coat
of coarse guard hair. Malamutes shed profusely about twice a year. Except at
those times, they require very little grooming. Some Malamute owners bathe the
dog once a year; some, once a month. Some run a brush over the dog now and then;
others groom the dog daily. A few Malamutes have long coats that are
unacceptable in the show ring - but spectacular elsewhere. "Woollies,"
as these dogs are called require frequent grooming to prevent mats. Prospective
adopters should bear in mind that even a carefully groomed relatively
short-coated Malamute that is not actively shedding will nonetheless deposit
some fur on carpets and in automobiles. This is NOT the breed for the
fastidiously house-proud or car-proud.
Malamute
Facts (Short Version):
There is no such breed as a "Giant
Malamute". Their natural size ranges from 22" to 27" at the
shoulder, weighing 70 to 100 pounds. Selectively breeding for size alone has
created what some people tout as a "Giant". The inherent health
problems of any large breed is usually exacerbated by this breeding strategy.
Malamutes can withstand a wide range of temperatures and live happily. They will
be less active in the heat of summer, but with enough shade and fresh water have
no problem acclimatizing to the weather.
As much as Malamutes like people, they tend to dislike other dogs, especially
dogs of the same sex.
It is NOT impossible to obedience train a Malamute, but it will be more
difficult than with some other breeds. Their intelligence and quick learning
ability makes repeating exercises very boring to them and they tend to have the
attitude "What's in it for me?".
The Alaskan Malamute is not a "barker", but some of them will
"talk" a great deal. Some of this will indeed sound and feel like a
"conversation" and can be quite amusing.
The Alaskan Malamute is the oldest and
largest sledge dog native to North America. Unlike his racing
"cousins", the Malamute is specifically built for heavy freighting.
His strength and endurance is second to none. It has often been said that the
Malamute would work to the death for his master, thus explaining his
self-confident, strong-willed personality.
Adult Malamutes range in size from 22" to 27" at the shoulder,
weighing 70 to 100 lbs. or more. Their double coats are thick and coarse,
enabling them to withstand severely cold temperatures. The oily, water-repellant
texture needs little maintenance except during shedding, when the under-coat
must be removed to promote healthy skin. Malamutes can tolerate most climates,
though extra care is necessary to keep them comfortable in hot weather. They
come in a variety of colors, the most common being gray and white and black and
white. Distinctive and varying facial markings make each a unique specimen.
Malamutes are affectionate, friendly dogs, unsuitable for guard work, although
their size alone will discourage intruders. They are happiest as outdoor dogs
when given sufficient companionship, but many thrive as house pets. They demand
attention, and failing to receive enough, will become nuisances, howling and
digging holes that would put any back hoe to shame. Malamutes are patient with
children but, like all large dogs, should be supervised during play. For
athletic people, Malamutes are ideal. They are skilled in hunting and fishing,
love backpacking, hiking and sledding, and excel in weight pulling. They do well
in obedience even though their greatest joy in life is to entertain the audience
with a series of comedy antics.
The Malamute is an animal with the natural instinct to "lead or be
led"; therefore, training must begin as early as 3 to 5 months of age. This
breed cannot be allowed to grow up lacking controlled socialization with humans
and animals, as they can become domineering over people they don't respect and
quite quarrelsome with other dogs of their same sex. A sensible combination of
love and discipline will net the Malamute owner a devoted and trustworthy
companion.
Is
the Alaskan Malamute Right For You?
No breed of dog is for everyone, and not
everyone should own dogs. Animal shelters and pounds are over crowded with dogs
that were bought by uninformed individuals for all the wrong reasons. IAMRA is
providing this information to help you make an informed decision if you are
considering ownership of an Alaskan Malamute.
The Alaskan Malamute is a large and powerful dog with a thick double coat
designed to protect it from even the harshest weather conditions. Colors vary
from black and white to various shades of gray, seal, sable and red, all with
white legs, underbodies and parts of face markings. The only allowable solid
color is white. Eyes are brown, never blue.
The Malamute is a physically tough breed with enormous strength that can easily
knock over a child during play or drag its owner around the neighborhood unless
it is properly trained and has learned its own strength. All dogs should be
under complete control of their owners at all times, and large dogs especially
have to be taught to be gentle during play and that the person on the other end
of the leash is in control, not the dog. The size and strength of the full grown
Malamute must be seriously considered since you will have to devote much time
and energy to proper training and socialization for this dog to be the
"gentle giant" it is known to be.
The thick double coat is shed out once or twice per year, and this is referred
to as "blowing" the coat because of the vast amounts of wool that
accumulates in the dog's living area. If you hate to vacuum or have allergies,
the Malamute may not be for you.
In spite of the Malamute's appearance, it is not a guard dog. This breed has
been bred from the beginning to trust people and to work tirelessly for anyone,
not just it's owner. The Eskimos, who were the earliest breeders of this dog,
shared all of their property which included the dogs, so the instinct to guard
property has not been bred into the dog. To try and train a Malamute to guard
your property and be suspicious of strangers would confuse the dog and could
present a potential danger. If you are looking for a guard dog, please look for
a breed that was bred for this function.
As much as Malamutes like people, they tend to dislike other dogs, especially
dogs of the same sex. Because this dog is a natural hunter and survivor, small
animals including cats, may be looked upon as prey. Malamutes are known to live
harmoniously with cats, but many will not tolerate the presence of a feline.
Malamutes are bred today with all their original instincts intact, and this has
to be appreciated. Since the Eskimos needed dogs that could sense or recognize
dangerous conditions and make their own decisions. This sometimes means that
they must disobey their handler's commands. Malamutes have a strong independent
nature. These dogs have been bred to be thinkers and decision makers. This trait
has been carried over even today and can present a challenge in obedience
training. This is a breed that learns quickly, but becomes bored easily.
Training is best approached positively and with a sense of humor to keep the dog
interested. Malamutes are not considered the easiest dogs to obedience train,
but may excel with proper training. There are logs of Malamutes with obedience
titles.
The ownership of any dog involves regular veterinary care, and this is important
to the health of any pet. A dog will require yearly heartworm tests, stool
samples, and vaccinations. This can cost a considerable amount of money. Discuss
costs you may incur with a veterinarian in your area before you consider
purchasing a dog to be sure that this pet is affordable.
Alaskan Malamutes make excellent pets if you are interested in any outdoor or
winter activities like sledding, skijoring, hiking, backpacking, and weight
pulling. If you love a big dog that is independent and you don't mind the hair,
the Malamute may be right for you.