As suggested by its name, this breed hails from Alaska (U.S.), which is infamous for its cold and harsh climatic conditions. As they were bred in such a low-temperature area, they have adapted to that kind of weather very well. Thus, their tolerance to cold is awesome and second to none. On the other hand, if we talk about whether they are suitable for Indian climatic conditions, then the simple answer would be “noâ€. India is notorious for its hot and humid climatic conditions, and this breed would not be able to efficiently thrive in such conditions. Also, their initial and maintenance expenses are extremely high and thus their demand and availability are not that high in the country.
The Alaskan Malamute is an extremely well-built and a powerful dog that is known to be one of the oldest Arctic sled dogs. They carry their head high with an alert and curious expression on their face. The official standards of the Alaskan Malamute are given below:
Their stature and the overall mass are in great proportion to each other which gives them a well-balanced appearance. The average weight of an Alaskan Malamute is around 32-40 kg and its height hover around 22-26 inches. Males are slightly larger in size than the females.
|
GENDER |
WEIGHT |
HEIGHT |
|
MALE |
36-40 kg |
24-26 inch |
|
FEMALE |
32-36 kg |
22-24 inch |
The Alaskan Malamutes have double coats with the undercoat being dense, woolly and a bit oily. The outer coat or the guard coat is coarse, thick and soft to touch. The coat is longer around the neck and shoulder area as compared to the sides of the body. Their coat is available in a combination of two colors with one color being white which is predominant on the legs, feet, face and the underbody.
They have a substantially well-made body with a strong neck which is slightly arched. The chest is finely developed and the back region is straight and is sloping gently towards the hips. The forelegs and the hind legs are also strongly muscled and are quite sturdy.
Their head is fairly deep and broad but is in proportion to their overall size. They have medium sized almond shaped eyes which are obliquely placed in their skull and mostly possesses dark brown color. Ears are triangularly shaped but rounded at the tips, moderate in size and are set wide apart.
The upper and lower jaws are quite broad and carry large teeth. The muzzle is fairly bulky and large when compared to the rest of the skull.
The Alaskan Malamutes are generally affectionate and friendly with their family members or the ones who are close to them and are trustworthy. They are highly energetic and overall very easily excitable dogs who like to play with their loved ones a lot. They are also quite willful and have an independent personality which could make their training a bit difficult. But, they are very loyal to their owners and likes to stick by their sides most of the times. They can get well with the strangers and the ones not known to them after just a couple of meetings but they do not show the same warmth and affection to other canines and animals.
The Alaskan Malamutes are exceptionally beautiful and attractive dogs originating from Alaska. They have a wolf-like appearance which is admired and loved by most people. But, apart from a majestic look, they are also very well-built and robust dogs who represents a true combination of “Beauty+Brawnâ€.
They were bred to pull heavy loads and thus love to perform intense physical tasks in which they can spend their energy. These dogs are very energetic and agile and like to run and roam outside the house most of the times. And, thus their exercise needs are also very high and should be fulfilled on regular basis.
They are very loving and caring for their family members and are fond of spending the majority of their time with them, which means they are not very willing to be left alone for long periods of time. They also are quite playful and likes to play various games with their close ones.
But it is a sad yet true fact that they are definitely not meant for everyone, and for a number of good reasons which are as follows:
There are different types of Alaskan Malamutes based on various colors that their coats can possess. Mostly, they are available in a combination of two colors with one color being white. The different combinations are as follows:
|
Adaptability |
** |
Sensitivity Level |
**** |
|
Affection Level |
**** |
Potential for mouthiness |
*** |
|
Apartment-Friendly |
* |
Drooling Potential |
* |
|
Barking Tendencies |
**** |
Energy Level |
***** |
|
Friendly towards dogs |
** |
Health Issues |
*** |
|
Friendly towards other animals |
** |
Intelligence |
**** |
|
Child Friendly |
*** |
Playfulness |
***** |
|
Exercise Needs |
**** |
Shedding Level |
**** |
|
Grooming Needs |
**** |
Social Needs |
**** |
|
Good for novice owners |
* |
Stranger Friendly |
**** |
|
Trainability |
*** |
Watchdog Ability |
**** |
|
Tolerates Heat |
** |
Tolerates Cold |
***** |
The Alaskan Malamutes are large sized dogs and thus requires a substantial amount of food to maintain their health. The food can be cooked at home or it can be purchased from a pet store but it should be first given to them on a trial basis. If they respond well and it is also beneficial for them, then it can be given on a permanent basis.
The Alaskan Malamutes were bred to haul large and heavy loads. They like to spend their ample energy on some intense and physical tasks which can be running in a park, playing games with their owners for long durations et cetera. They get bored if left idle and without anything to do. To ensure that their health remains intact, they need large amounts of regular exercise.
If trained consistently and patiently from an early age by an experienced owner/trainer who has a trustworthy bond with the Mally, then the whole training process could feel like a breeze and would be very easy and effective. But, if firm obedience training is not given to them or they do not trust the trainer, then they can be very distracted and stubborn while getting trained.
Their beautiful and eye-catching coat comes at a cost which is heavy grooming. They should be brushed twice or thrice a week with a metal comb and a pin brush to avoid the formation of mats. Bathing and trimming of nails can be done on an occasional basis, but some owners like to bathe their Malamutes at least once per week. Also, they are heavy shedders and sheds their woolly coat more frequently than some other breeds.
They are normally healthy and fine but are prone to some health problems which can be harmful to them. Common diseases found in them are:
As they are quite sturdy and robustly-built, they generally remain healthy and fit and have a decent overall life-span, and thus doesn't require frequent visits to the veterinarian’s clinic.
The Alaskan Malamutes are believed to be bred by an Alaskan tribe known as the Mahlemuts, which is the inspiration behind their name. This breed is considered to be the descendant of the Arctic wolf because of their surprising resemblance to them.
These dogs possessed great endurance, strength, and will and thus were used for intense physical tasks like pulling heavy loads and were the only mean of transportation for the Mahlemuts. They also become quite popular with various Eskimo families and they took them as their companions and family pets.
The Alaskan Malamutes are considered to be one of the strongest and largest arctic dogs which also includes the likes of Samoyeds and American Eskimo Dogs. They gained popularity in other parts of United States because of their appearance, tenacity, and strength and were gradually spread out to other areas of the world as well. And, in the year 1935, they were registered as an official breed.
