The Alaskan Malamute Dog Profile
The Alaskan Malamute is a solidly built Nordic breed dog that was created to pull big weights rather than race. This breed is somewhat longer than tall, with a strong boned and compact build that is built for strength and endurance.
The Malamute walks with a steady, balanced, and tireless pace. The coat is thick and double, with a coarse outer coat and a dense, wooly, greasy underneath for maximum insulation. The eyes have a “wolf-like” aspect, but the expression is soft.
Alaskan Malamute Highlights
- They are not suggested for first-time dog owners since their intellect paired with tenacity can make them a problem for someone who is unfamiliar with canine behavior.
- Malamutes will vie for the top spot in the family. Everyone who lives with the dog must be able to deal with it correctly and clearly establish that no family member is to be pushed around.
- The Alaskan Malamute is a notorious digger. Any fencing should be buried so that they can’t burrow their way out of their yard.
- Alaskan Malamutes are strong, independent canines who can become destructive or bored if not properly educated or exercised.
- Malamutes can learn to get along with other canines and indoor cats with early socialization and training. They’ll regard outside cats and other small animals as prey.
- A Malamute’s high hunting drive can compel them to stalk and kill small animals such as birds, squirrels, cats, and even smaller canines. They must be socialized and exposed to other companion animals.
- Two times a year, Alaskan Malamutes shed extensively. Their thick, multilayered coats make them unsuitable for hot areas.
- Malamutes are a calm breed that rarely barks. They do converse with you, expressing themselves vocally with “woo woo” sounds or loud, extended howls.
Alaskan Malamute Breed Features & Ratings
Rated base on a 5 Star Scale
ENERGY LEVEL: 3 Star
EXERCISE REQUIREMENTS: 4 Star
PLAYFULNESS: 3 Star
AFFECTION LEVEL: 5 Star
FRIENDLINESS TO DOGS: 1 Star
FRIENDLINESS TO OTHER PETS: 1 Star
FRIENDLINESS TO STRANGERS: 4 Star
WATCHFULNESS: 3 Star
EASE OF TRAINING: 1 Star
GROOMING REQUIREMENTS: 3 Star
HEAT SENSITIVITY: 5 Star
VOCALITY 3 Star
Alaskan Malamute Breed Profile
Dog Breed Group: Working Dogs
Height: At the shoulder, it ranges in height from 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 1 inch.
Weight: 75 t 100 pounds
Life Span: 12-15 years
Type: Purebred
AREA OF ORIGIN: United States
DATE OF ORIGIN: Ancient Time
OTHER NAMES: Mal, Mally
Temperament: Affectionate, Devoted, Dignified, Friendly, Loyal,Playful
Activities: Sledding, Agility, Conformation
Color : Shades of light gray to black, shades of sable to red, or all white
Litter Size: 4-10 puppies
Puppy Prices: $1200 – $2000 USD on average
An Alaskan Malamute pup from a good breeder typically costs between $1,200 and $2,000, with a top-quality Alaskan Malamute puppy costing up to $3,000. Their cost is determined on the age, sex, quality, pedigree, and location of the breeder.
Alaskan Malamute Health
A reputable breeder will check breeding stock for health issues such as hip dysplasia (the most prevalent skeletal ailment in dogs), elbow dysplasia, thrombopathia, chondrodysplasia (‘dwarfism,’ hypothyroidism, hereditary polyneuropathy, von Willebrand’s disease, and day blindness.
As with all breeds, an Alaskan Malamute’s ears should be cleaned on a regular basis to remove foreign matter and wax buildup, and his teeth should be brushed on a regular basis.
The following health checks are recommended by the National Breed Club:
- Hip Evaluation
- Ophthalmologist Evaluation
- Polyneuropathy DNA Test
Alaskan Malamute Grooming
The Alaskan Malamute’s thick, waterproof double coat is perfectly adapted to harsh Arctic living, yet it requires continual maintenance. Every day, brush a Malamute with a pin brush and metal comb, looking for mats that might hold fungus and hot places that can become infected.
An undercoat rake should be added to the regimen twice a year, during the shedding season. Bathing a show Malamute once a week is common, but a pet Malamute can go six to eight weeks between bathing. Conditioner can be applied sparingly if the coat feels dry. The Malamute’s nails, like those of all breeds, should be cut on a regular basis.
The Alaskan Malamute has a thick double coat. The guard coat, a robust, harsh outer coat, should not be soft or lengthy. The undercoat is around one to two inches thick. It’s oily and fuzzy to keep moisture and chill at bay.
The length of the coat grows across the shoulders and neck, down the back, over the rump, and in the breeches (the hairy covering over the thigh that looks like pants) and tail plume. When it comes to tails, some have a “cork-screw” appearance that allows the dog to place their tail over their nose to remain warm in cold weather.
The coat colors of this breed range from light gray to black, sable, and hues of sable to red. The underside, as well as the feet, parts of the legs, and a portion of the face markings, should be mostly white. White is the only solid color you’ll notice. Some Malamutes have a lovely white blaze on the brow or around the neck.
Alaskan Malamute Exercise
The Malamute was not intended to race, but he was bred to labor. A Mal, a powerful, athletic dog with exceptional endurance and built to carry huge weights, demands daily exercise.
Malamutes like hiking, running, and swimming with their owners as well as romping in a properly-fenced yard or other contained environment. Malamutes frequently participate in agility and obedience trials, weight-pulling competitions, hiking (yes, you can buy a backpack for your dog), recreational or competitive sledding, and skijoring if their owner has the time and motivation.
Alaskan Malamute Training
Social interaction and instruction given are required to keep a Malamute from being pushy with children and other pets, or from becoming dominating over individuals he or she does not respect.
Malamutes are incredibly bright, yet they are also independent and willful, to the point of intransigence.
While fairness and patience can result in a beloved, trustworthy friend, certain behaviors, such as digging, may be impossible to train out of a Mal, thus any yard fencing must extend into the earth. And because Malamutes are sociable with everyone they meet, they are not well suited to be security dogs.
Alaskan Malamute Food and Nutrition
An Alaskan Malamute meal should be designed for a large breed with high energy and exercise requirements. For suggestions on what to feed your Malamute and the proper amount quantities, ask your veterinarian or a professional nutritionist.
Their food requirements will fluctuate as they progress through puppyhood, adulthood, and senior hood. Keep track of your nutritional needs.
Alaskan Malamute Temperament and Personality
The Alaskan Malamute is a strong, independent, and entertaining dog. Given its background as a sled dog, the malamute enjoys movement and engagement with the family.
Malamutes are family-oriented dogs who are well-mannered in the home as long as they get daily activity.
They can grow frustrated and destructive if they do not get enough exercise. This dog is friendly and social with people, but it can be forceful and should be introduced to new dogs, pets, or animals with caution. Some can be domineering, digging and howling.
Alaskan Malamutes will captivate you with their fun, energetic personalities. They welcome everyone as a friend, including strangers and first-time house guests, so they don’t make effective watchdogs, but they are devoted to their family and friends. Malamutes are social animals who enjoy spending time with their pack and insist on being included in all activities that their family participates in. They’re not big-time barkers, but they do howl and are recognized for creating a distinctive “woo woo” sound.
A variety of factors influence temperament, including heredity, training, and socialization. Puppies with good temperaments are interested and playful, eager to approach and be held by people. You might want to adopt the puppy in the middle, rather than the one who is beating up his littermates or hiding in the corner.
Always meet a dog before adopting to confirm that they have pleasant temperaments with which you are comfortable. Meeting the parents’ siblings or other relatives is also beneficial in determining what a puppy will be like when he grows up, but this is not always possible if the dog comes from a shelter or rescue.
Alaskan Malamutes, like all dogs, require early socialization (introduction to a variety of people, sights, noises, and experiences) when they are young. Socialization ensures that your Malamute puppy develops into a well-rounded dog.
Signing up with them in puppy kindergarten is a terrific place to start. Inviting guests over on a regular basis, as well as taking them to busy parks, stores that accept dogs, and on leisurely strolls to meet neighbors, will help them improve their social skills.
Alaskan Malamute Care/Upkeep
This canine member of the working Group is unquestionably a task seeker. Long walks, hikes (while carrying a backpack), skijoring (pulling a person on skis), carting, and sledding are all favorites.
They must run, play, and generally move about a lot. Inadequate exercise will lead to boredom and destructive behavior in the Alaskan Malamute. However, try to ensure that the exercises are appropriate for the pet’s maturity, condition, and level of physical activity.
Malamutes enjoy digging. Rather than attempting to discourage this activity, your best bet is to accommodate it by providing your Malamute with his own digging space in the yard, such as a sandbox or other area that you don’t mind putting aside for them.
Alaskan Malamutes, thanks to their thick double coat, can live outside in subzero temperatures. They do, however, require proper cover and a walled enclosure, preferably with a roof.
Because Malamutes have an extraordinarily strong pack drive, they are happiest while living in the house with their pack. They adapt well to indoor living since they keep their coats clean and are simple to housetrain.
The Alaskan Malamute enjoys the winter season, especially snow. They can run for miles and require daily exercise, whether in the form of a lengthy leash walk or the opportunity to run. Brush the coat once or twice a week, or more frequently if it is shedding.
Alaskan Malamute Relationship with Children and Other Pets
Malamutes are kind with children and enjoy their attention, but fast-growing, energetic Alaskan Malamute puppies can quickly overcome a young child under the age of five. They can knock a toddler over in their zeal.
Constantly teach youngsters how to approach and touch dogs, and always supervise any interactions between dogs and small children to avoid biting or ear or tail pulling on either party’s side. Teach your child never to approach a sleeping or eating dog or to try to grab the dog’s food. No dog should ever be left alone with a youngster.
Your Malamute should get along well with other dogs with early socialization and training. He may hunt small animals such as cats if he is not raised with them and is not trained not to. It’s critical to appropriately introduce them to other animals in the house and monitor their relationships. Outdoor cats and other small animals will be considered fair game.
Alaskan Malamute Names
| Rank | Boy Names | Girl Names |
| 01 | Charlie | Lucy |
| 02 | Max | Bella |
| 03 | Rocky | Bailey |
| 04 | Jake | Molly |
| 05 | Riley | Lola |
| 06 | Duke | Stella |
| 07 | Sam | Roxy |
| 08 | Toby | Luna |
| 09 | Milo | Layla |
| 10 | Dexter | Zoe |
All About Alaskan Malamute
It’s easy to be impressed by an Alaskan Malamute’s massive physique, wolf-like facial features, and huge plumed tail waving at you. Malamutes are frequently thought to be wolf hybrids. They may appear as wolves on TV or in movies, but they are always domestic dogs.
The Alaskan Malamute is a breed with incredible power, energy, endurance, independence, and intellect. Historically, they were pursued to pull huge sleds over great distances, as well as to hunt seals and polar bears.
Alaskan Malamutes are now generally chosen for companionship, but they excel in a variety of canine sports, including conformation, obedience competition, weight pulling, skijoring, trekking, and leisure sledding.
They’re probably rummaging the trash, surfing your kitchen counters for anything yummy to eat, or digging a lovely cool hole in the backyard while they’re not “woo wooing,” pulling you on your inline skates, or watching TV with you.
Malamutes consider everyone they meet to be their buddies. If you want a watchdog, this is not the breed for you. A Malamute’s size may deter an invader, but that’s about all the protection you’ll receive from them.
Alaskan Malamutes thrive in environments that provide them with lots of space and opportunity to exercise so that they do not become bored and restless. Their independent character frequently leads to them being branded as stubborn or unintelligent, yet with the proper instruction, their brilliance shines through.
If the Alaskan Malamute is the appropriate breed for you, they will provide you with years of entertainment as an active playmate and companion who retains their puppy spirit well into adulthood.
Alaskan Malamute History
The Alaskan Malamute, one of the earliest Arctic sled dogs, traversed the land bridge from Siberia to Alaska with aboriginal peoples prehistoric times.
The Alaskan Malamute was produced by a tribe identified as the Mahlemuts who inhabited the northern part of the Seward Peninsula. The canines were employed to hunt seals, drive polar bears away, and pull huge sledges stocked with food or camp supplies.
The natives treated their dogs well and placed a high value on them. The gold rush of 1896 brought a large influx of dogs of various sizes and breeds who could withstand the elements to Alaska.
Many native pups interbred with these dogs, resulting in the loss of pure type. Because the Mahlemuts were a relatively isolated tribe, the Alaskan Malamute fared better than other breeds throughout the onslaught.
In New Hampshire, Arthur T. Walden founded the Chinook Kennel and began breeding Alaskan Malamutes. In the 1930s, he and his successors, Milton and Eva Seeley, supplied several dogs for the Byrd Antarctic expeditions. The Seeleys started a campaign to breed the dogs discovered in Alaska’s Norton Sound area. The “Kotzebue” strain of Alaskan Malamutes became well-known.
Paul Voelker, Sr. produced a somewhat different strain from dogs he purchased in Alaska in the early 1900s and subsequently in the 1920s. The “M’Loot” strain was the name given to this strain. Some of these dogs served in World War I and II, as well as on Admiral Byrd’s second mission.
The Alaskan Malamute Club of America was founded in 1935, and the breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club the following year. Because there was such a high demand for sled dogs during WWII, the majority of registered Alaskan Malamutes were loaned out for war service. Unfortunately, several of them were destroyed after serving their country in an Antarctic mission during World War II.
Today, all AKC-registered Malamutes can trace their pedigree back to the original Kotzebues or dogs recognized during the open era in the late 1940s.
Where to Adopt or Buy an Alaskan Malamute
There is a dedicated community dedicated to raising and showing Alaskan malamutes, and there are many respectable breeders. If you’re looking for an Alaskan malamute puppy, check out the AKC and the Alaskan Malamute Club of America.
There are, however, national and regional Alaskan malamute rescue organizations. Puppies and older dogs equally find themselves in need of a loving home, and a rescue can be an excellent way to locate your new best friend.
Check out the following websites for assistance in locating an Alaskan malamute:
- Alaskan Malamute Assistance League
- Alaskan Malamute Club of America Breeder Listing
- American Kennel Club Breeder Listing
More Dog Breeds and Further Research
An Alaskan malamute may be the ideal pet breed for you; however, conduct your research first and ensure that you can give the proper environment. Consider whether you can provide your malamute with enough activity, training, and grooming to keep it happy and healthy.
Check out these related breeds for more productive canines:
Alaskan Malamute Fun Facts
- They don’t bark much, but they are vocal and enjoy stretching their vocal cords and howling on occasion.
- They’re designed to resist low temperatures and have been utilized in Arctic excursions in the past.
- They assisted settlers in hunting, tracking, and keeping an eye out for bears, as well as hauling gear across cold terrain while pulling large sleds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes malamutes to be so vocal?
- Whilst others breeds bark just to be heard, a malamute barks to express his displeasure, happiness, anger, and other emotions and demands. Your malamute wants to connect with you, and while some dogs communicate with a wagging tail, you’ll also need to pay attention to your malamute’s eyes, ears, and body language.
Do malamutes love to cuddle?
- Malamutes are a breed that requires a lot of exercise on a regular basis. When Malamutes do not get enough exercise, they can exhibit odd behavior, which could explain why yours does not want to cuddle. When Malamutes are healthy adults, it is advised that they get at least an hour of exercise per day.
Is it possible for Alaskan malamutes to be dangerous?
- Alaskan Malamutes are raised as hefty sledding and hunting dogs, trained to kill animals as large as polar bears, thus they can be deadly, but with appropriate training, they can be quite amiable.