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Alaskan Malamute breed guide
American Kennel Club (AKC) calls the Alaskan Malamute an immensely strong, heavy-duty worker of spitz type, recognizable by a well-furred plumed tail carried over the back, erect ears and substantial bone.
The name comes from the Mahlemiut, an Inuit tribe in Kotzebue Sound in northwestern Alaska.
- Height
- 25 inches male, 23 inches female
- Weight
- 85 pounds male, 75 pounds female
- AKC group
- Working Group
Alaskan Malamute temperament
Affectionate, loyal and playful but dignified, Alaskan Malamutes are pack animals. AKC says the leader of the family pack must be you: an Alaskan Malamute that does not respect you will end up owning you.
Socialization and obedience training keep an Alaskan Malamute from becoming pushy with children and other pets or dominant over adults it does not respect. AKC calls the breed highly intelligent but independent and willful, often to the point of stubbornness.
Alaskan Malamute lifespan
Alaskan Malamutes live 10 to 14 years. AKC lists the screening a responsible breeder runs: hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, thrombopathia, chondrodysplasia, hypothyroidism, inherited polyneuropathy, von Willebrand's disease and day blindness.
Alaskan Malamute care
The thick waterproof double coat suits harsh Arctic life but needs constant upkeep. Brush daily with a pin brush and metal comb while checking for mats, which can harbor fungus and hot spots, which can become infected.
In shedding season, twice a year, add an undercoat rake. An Alaskan Malamute also needs daily exercise: romping in a well-fenced yard suffices and Alaskan Malamutes enjoy hiking, running and swimming with their owners.
Alaskan Malamute history
The Alaskan Malamute is among the oldest sled dog breeds of the Arctic. The Mahlemiut developed it to work in packs, hauling heavy loads at low speeds over long distances.
AKC contrasts the two big sled breeds: Siberian Huskies pull lighter loads faster and are racers, while Alaskan Malamutes are freighters.
AKC trait ratings
| Trait | AKC rating | Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Level | 4 of 5 | Couch Potato to High Energy |
| Trainability Level | 5 of 5 | Self-Willed to Eager to Please |
| Shedding Level | 3 of 5 | No Shedding to Hair Everywhere |
| Barking Level | 3 of 5 | Only To Alert to Very Vocal |
| Adaptability Level | 3 of 5 | Lives For Routine to Highly Adaptable |
| Good With Young Children | 3 of 5 | Not Recommended to Good With Children |
| Good With Other Dogs | 3 of 5 | Not Recommended to Good With Other Dogs |
| Watchdog/Protective Nature | 4 of 5 | What's Mine Is Yours to Vigilant |
More Working Group guides
Sources
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Alaskan Malamute by Wojciech Pędzich, CC BY-SA 4.0
