Alaskan Malamute Dogs

Quick Stats For Alaskan Malamute Dogs

Height (at the shoulders): dogs 24 – 26 inches (61 – 66 cm) ; bitches 22 – 24 inches (56 – 61 cm)
Weight: dogs 80 – 95 lbs (36 – 43 kg) ; bitches 70 – 85 pounds (32 – 38 kg)
Life Expectancy: 12 – 15 years
AKC Group: Working Group – recognized in 1935
Shedding: heavy shedder
Living Conditions: not recommended for apartments; fairly active indoor; large yard recommended

Personality of The Alaskan Malamute

Alaskan Malamutes are large dogs that are powerful, strong-willed, independent, obedient, and loving. They are family dogs who love being around people. However, they may be aggressive towards other animals, especially strange dogs. Because of their strong prey instinct, they should be supervised around small animals.

They are very affectionate dogs and thrive on lots of human interaction. Although they are quite capable of sleeping outside even on cold nights, they prefer to sleep indoors with the other members of their family.

They are great with older children. Because of their extreme friendliness towards people, they would not make a suitable watchdog.

The Malamute is relatively quiet, but they do like to howl occasionally.

These dogs can be difficult to train in formal obedience, however, they are usually well-mannered since they love to please their owners so much. Proper socialization and obedience training is recommended to keep them well behaved.

History of Alaskan Malamute Dogs

The Alaskan Malamute originated in Alaska (who would have thought ). At first, their primary jobs were to hunt large game and to pull heavy sleds. Today, they are used almost exclusively for pulling sleds.

Like other spitz dogs, Alaskan Malamutes are at home in very cold climates. They are descendants of the Arctic Wolf.

The history of these dogs go back some 2000 to 3000 years, when they were used as transportation by the Mahlemuit Eskimos of Alaska. They were also used to hunt large animals such as seals and polar bears. Since they are incredibly strong, they would then be used to haul the carcasses back to the villages.

During WWII, Alaskan Malamutes were used as service dogs and to help with search and rescue missions. They were also used to haul freight, and as pack animals. After the war, the popularity of the dog breed continued to grow.

They were officially recognized by the AKC in 1935.

Alaskan Malamute Care and Grooming

The Alaskan Malamute is a dog breed that is very much at home in cold climates. They are capable of running for miles in the snow without stopping, usually as part of a larger dog team pulling a heavy sled. So you can probably tell that they are high energy dogs. This means that they require daily exercise, usually long walks. However, be careful not to overexert them in warm and hot weather.

Fun and active games are an essential part of the lives of these dogs. Without proper physical and mental stimulation they will become bored, frustrated, and then probably destructive.

Malamutes have a thick, coarse double coat. Their heavy coats need a proper brushing twice weekly, every other day during shedding season. Because their coats sheds so easily, it is rarely dirty. So they hardly ever need to take a bath. By all accounts, Malamutes are clean and odorless.

They are very heavy shedders.

Health Problems of Alaskan Malamute Dogs

Alaskan Malamutes have an average life expectancy of about twelve to fifteen years.

The two main health issues that are common to this breed are cataracts and CHD (Canine Hip Dysplasia). Other minor health concerns that may occur include hypothyroidism and chondrodysplasia. They also seem to be prone to bloat.

Veterinarians recommend that Alaskan Malamute dogs be tested for potential hip, thyroid, and eye problems.

Best,

Omar Reyes

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