The Dogs Bone

The Alaskan Malamute is a spitz-type dog breed. Spitz types have a wolf or fox shaped face, with small, erect ears. Many, like the malamute, are sled dogs. But even if they were bred for other purposes, such as hunting, guarding, or similar, they are happiest when they have tasks to perform.

Because they were bred for strength and endurance, they can tolerate very low, icy temperatures. They are often used in sled races, and can pull a sled weighing nearly 1 tonne!

What Does The Alaskan Malamute Look Like?

Malamutes are very thick boned and muscular. They stand at 23 to 26 inches, and weigh from 75 to 125 pounds. Some ca be bigger.

Like the Siberian Husky, they have a thick, double layered coat, with the undercoat acting as an insulation layer, enabling them to withstand such low temperatures. The undercoat is very dense, and Alaskan Malamutes shed a lot. Most shedding occurs in early summer, but it is year round. As a consequence, they need regular brushing.

Malamute coats are black and white, with an off-white undercoat. Or red and white, or gray and white, with an off-white undercoat.

Temperament Of The Alaskan Malamute

• friendly and good natured
• stubborn
• intelligent
• affectionate
• strong and fast
• sociable
• can be aggressive to other dogs as they have a strong prey drive. Not a good choice if you have other dogs, or small pets like cats
  
• can be difficult to train as they are dominant and challenging dogs
  This is perhaps not the breed for someone inexperienced with dogs. Because they will challenge, owners must always remain 'top dog'. They need to be firm and consistent, although female Alaskan Malamutes are less aggressive and dominant. Malamutes need training from an early age. They can be aggressive towards other animals, and their size and intelligence can make them difficult to 'reign in'. The 'Come' command is hard to teach Malamutes.
  
• vocal
• need daily exercise to avoid them expressing that excess energy in destructive ways
• Malamutes love to dig!
• roughhousing play, especially with children, should be avoided.
  
  Malamutes can knock over and injure a child during play because of their size and strength. Chasing games should also be avoided.

Feeding An Alaskan Malamute

Malamutes are big eaters! The recommended feeding is 1 ½ – 2 ½ cans (13.3oz) of good quality meat products with the same amount of dry biscuits added. It might be an idea to check out the dog food options at the vet for large dogs, given their capacity to develop hip problems. If feeding Malamutes dry dog food only, choose a good quality, complete dry food, and feed them 5 cups a day.

Health

Alaskan Malamutes need a cold climate. They also need exercise, but should not run for long distances because they are prone to hip and shoulder problems, such as hip dysplasia. They can also suffer from bloat.

Malamutes live for 10 to 12 years. They are generally very loving towards people, but there have been a few instances of aggression towards people. This tended to come more from the males. Unfortunately, once a malamute dog expresses this type of behaviour, it is hard to change, and usually the dog is put down.

Malamutes can develop diarrhea if their food is changed too quickly.

Alaskan Malamutes need a big yard. They are unsuitable dogs for people living in apartments, or those with a small yard. Owners must be both confident and physically capable of handling a big, powerful breed. Having said that, overbearing or harsh people would be best to avoid this breed, given their intelligence. Grooming, training, and daily socialization must begin at an early age.