A-E  F-J  K-O  P-T  U-Z

This breed got its name from Malehmuts, an Alaskan tribe that raised and cared for these beautiful snow dogs. They are bred to pull sled with heavy cargo. In competitions, the Alaskan Malamutes are judged mainly on their pulling power and everything else is secondary. Their talent has been used in sledding, carting, search & rescue, weight pulling and racing.

physical appearance

The Alaskan Malamute is the largest of the Arctic dogs (which includes Siberian Husky, Samoyed, and the American Eskimo dog). The head is wide with erect ears. The eyes are of medium size, dark brown, small, and almond in shape and are obliquely placed in the skull. They hold an image of a wolf but with a proud, softer expression. Although blue eyes are widely accepted for their cousin the Huskies, blue eyes are a fault for this breed. The feet are large, of the snowshoe type with tough pads. The thick, coarse double coat averages one to three inches in length and comes in a range of light gray to intermediate shadings of black, sable and shadings of sable to red. The only solid color allowed is white. The dog often has darker highlights and sometimes has a dark mask or cap. The legs and muzzle are almost always white.

The Alaskan Malamute has a dense coat and should be brushed at least a couple of times a week. This breed sheds very heavily. Nonetheless, it is odorless and clean.

behavior

Malamutes are quite fond of people, a trait that makes them very popular among families. Malamutes are limber around furniture and smaller items, making them ideal house dogs, provided they get plenty of time outdoors meeting their considerable exercise requirements. Because they come from a cold region, Malamutes need to be cooled off with water every once in a while if you're living in a tropical area. One of the ways you can do this is by letting them play in baby pool to keep them cool in summertime.