Dog Breeds A To Z: The Alaskan Malamute

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The Alaskan Malamute is an impressive animal. These powerful wolf-like dogs have incredible reserves of energy and will run all day, particularly when pulling a sled. But they are also sociable, loyal and affectionate towards people and have a great sense of fun and a genuine enjoyment of life.

As you may have guessed from the name, the Malamute is an Alaskan breed. Their history is inextricably linked to that of the Mahlemut tribe. They were used as multi-purpose working dogs by these people, and were fundamental to their survival.

But there was little room for sentiment in the relationship. The dogs were there to work and were used to pull sleds and in tracking and hunting large prey.

Recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1935, the Malamute went on to serve with honor during World War Two. They were used mainly as search and rescue dogs, and stories of their exploits led to a boom in popularity after the war.
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DNA evidence confirms that the Alaskan Malamute is one of the oldest dog breeds. The breed has remained fundamentally unchanged for thousands of years.

The Malamute is a highly intelligent dog, but with an independent streak that can make them difficult to train. They are also immensely hard working, and love nothing more than a job to keep them occupied. But the breed is not just work and no play, they are friendly dogs who form close bonds and have an intense loyalty to those they love.

This breed loves to play, and will seek their own amusement if they become bored. They do tend to calm as they get older, and have a gentle demeanor that makes them wonderful pets.

However, Malamutes have a strong prey instinct, and you need to keep a close eye on them around small animals.

As a Malamute owner you will need to spend a lot of time exercising your dog. Bear in mind that these are dogs who can pull a heavy sled for miles on end. They are very demanding of exercise and while you might get away with 2 hours a day, your dog will probably need more than even that.

The ideal owner for one of these dogs is an active outdoor person, or someone who works outdoors and is able to take the dog along. Most dogs that are under-stimulated mentally and physically develop behavioral problems, and this will most certainly be the case with an under-exercised Malamute.

This is an affectionate, sociable breed that really thrives on interacting with people. They have a lot of love to give and respond well to a loving, attentive owner.

As such they much prefer being indoors and close to those they love, even though they are physically equipped to live outdoors in the harshest climate. You do need to be aware that the Malamute is a heavy shedder, and the coat requires brushing every day.

The Malamute is generally a healthy dog but, as with all pure breeds, it has its share of health issue. These dogs can suffer from coronary heart disease, hypothyroidism, chondrodysplasia and cataracts. Like most large breeds they are also prone to hip displaysia and bloat. Average lifespan for the breed is 12 years.

by: Gary Walker

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