- The Alaskan Malamute has been called the king of the working dogs
This breed is the native Alaskan Arctic breed, and was originally used by Mahlemut Eskimos for pulling
sleds due to its amazing endurance and strength. The Malamute was also used by the Mahlemut Eskimos
to babysit their children while the Eskimos would go hunting.
The Alaskan Malamute is a “Natural Breed” and it is not man made breed such as the
Rottweiler, Doberman, Labs and others.
Alaskan Malamutes are large and powerful dogs but very sweet and affectionate towards their owners,
children and people in general.
Alaskan Malamutes may look " intimidating" but are very friendly dogs.
It is a common misconception that Alaskan Malamutes do poorly in warmer climates. As long as
there is always shade, water and access to a cool area, your Malamute should do fine in
the heat.
This breed received recognition by the American kennel club in 1935
The Alaskan Malamute is an affectionate,friendly dog , not a one man dog. He is a loyal , devoted
companion. He is playful on invitation, but generally impressive by his dignity after maturity.
The Malamute makes a great family pet, enjoys being outside , but also loves being inside and spending
time with its human pack . These dogs are pack -oriented, and enjoy being around other animals but they
do tend to be same sex aggressive. They can be taught to get along with smaller animals but it is best to be
introduced at a young age then adult age.
Malamutes are generally clean and don't "smell like dogs". They groom them selves like cats, removing dirt or mud
from themselves. They "blow" their undercoats two times a year in the spring and in the fall and will need daily
brushing during this major shedding time . During the rest of the year, a weekly brushing will do.
Malamutes need something to do or they tend to develop behavioral problems, like wrecking the house,
and digging up the garden and yard. , digging holes for fun, and to lay in the hole they dug.. You can
allow them to use the spot they have selected, and just give up putting plants there, or encourage them to
use a particular spot, by burying treats . Some Malamutes are more dedicated diggers than others. Keeping their
life interesting cuts down on what humans view as destructive. I also have heard of owners having dirt
brought in to one place in the yard so their malamute could just dig in that dirt in hopes they wont dig up
the rest of the yard. Some say it works .
They can obviously be trained as sled dogs, and for weight-pulling. Malamutes like to accompany their owners on
long walks. Alaskan Malamutes can have especially strong prey drives, and can take after cats. They were bred to
be sled dogs. Alaskan Malamutes have also shown themselves to be accomplished in Agility, Search & Rescue,
and as Therapy Dogs.
Remember to keep their training interesting, not repetitious or boredom will take over.
People who are steady enough to cope with a growing malamute will be rewarded with a lifelong
companion whose devotion is boundless; but it takes commitment and determination to get
through to the often-headstrong malamute puppy, whose ancestors were created to push on through ice,
sleet, snow and impossible storms. Such tasks required a determination - that isn't something the
malamute switches on and off . You can guide a malamute in the direction you want it to go, but you can't
push it there. Nor can you be heavy handed. A malamute will not tolerate abuse. If subjected to abusive
treatment on a continuing basis, the most amiable youngster can become an unpredictable adult.
The Alaskan Malamute has an incredibly great memory. They forget nothing. This is part of what made them
invaluable at following trails.
This means you can't make a mistake in the rules for at least the first two years of their lives. No slack until they're
over two, or you just make your own job harder in molding a well- mannered Alaskan Malamute.
Alaskan Malamutes can be a threat to livestock. "The ancestors of today's Malamutes were sometimes forced to
hunt, forage, and compete for food," warns one malamute rescue group. "Consequently, malamutes have a
predatory streak, and, if allowed to run loose in rural areas, will reliably slaughter livestock and wild animals. In
urban and suburban areas a loose malamute is a menace to cats. Swift, fearless, and powerful, malamutes have
been known to catch songbirds on the wing and, if challenged, to deal harshly with other dogs ... Anyone
unprepared to deal firmly and calmly with this wild streak should not own a malamute."
The hunting style of a Malamute is akin to feline style. Quiet, stealthy, stalking. They can catch mice, rabbits, birds
and cats - to name a few.
If socialized with cats from a young age, they tend to view them as part of their pack, but this may not translate to
cats encountered outside.
Because they were bred to be such Herculean workers, Malamutes need daily exercise on a leash or in an
enclosed area. The person who cannot provide that exercise, diversity and the firm-but-fair discipline that
enables the Malamute to function best in society should look for a less demanding breed of dog.
The Alaskan Malamute is a true pack animal with the natural instinct to "lead or be led." Originally bred to
be a freighting dog, this breed's strength is second to none. Therefore, training must begin as early as 3
to 5 months of age.
It is imperative that the Malamute puppy you select shares your happiness about the commitment
you've made in selecting an Alaskan Malamute and grows to become a healthy, well-
behaved and majestic companion.
Training. It has been our experience that the Alaskan Malamute learns very quickly, however,
possesses a short attention span (bores easily). We have found that training is best kept to 15-20
minutes in length, but, that training "sessions" may take place as often as you have time. Commands
should be kept simple, i.e., "sit", "down", "walk", or "stay," and must be consistent. The use of hand
signals together with verbal commands is recommended as well.
The Alaskan Malamute is extremely eager to please and, therefore, it is important that your puppy/dog is
praised vigorously when he/she obeys your commands. Personally, we use treats as a training tool only
occasionally (and only in the beginning) ... we prefer the praise method.
Other Pets. A majority of our adult dogs were purchased as puppies and became accustomed to other
pets at a young age. Nevertheless, when the dogs are permitted to run our fenced yard, they are closely
supervised - a small animal of any kind running across the yard becomes fair game .
If you already possess a smaller pet, or, if it is your intent to adopt another smaller pet, it is recommended
that an Alaskan Malamute be introduced (to smaller animals) as a puppy - within the first year - not as an
adult. Also, if the new pet is to be another canine, it is best that the new puppy be the opposite sex as the
Alaskan Malamute
Shedding. Our dogs do come indoors, we found that the shedding is easily controlled by a daily
brushing. They shed in the spring and late summer. We use a "rake" to reach the undercoat and comb the dogs
thoroughly. Thankfully, all of our dogs love to be brushed.
Living Conditions
They are fairly active indoors and should have at least a large yard. If you live in a suburban area, a high fence is
a must, because they are likely to dig their way out. Alaskan Malamutes like to roam in what he considers to be his
territory.
Alaskan Malamute VS. Siberian Husky:
The Alaskan Malamute might look identical to the Siberian to people who don't know the malamute or have never
owned one. Many Malamute owners often hear "what a beautiful Husky"! But the truth is, a Malamute is not a
Husky at all! Most importantly Malamutes were born to pull while Siberians were born to be fast racers. Generally,
Malamutes are stronger, less hyper, less willing to escape (some malamutes will try to escape), NEVER have blue
eyes, are larger and have more patience than Siberians. Siberians have a foxy appearance, while correct
Malamutes should look more like a well furred wolf, or bear. Please study both breeds before buying either one.
THE GOLD RUSH
When the Gold Rush began in 1896 prospectors discovered the need for sleds and dog teams. Teams
became very expensive; it was normal to pay $1,500 for a small team and $500 for a good dog. The
Alaskan Malamute was the most prized and respected team dog and his facial markings were much
admired. However, the Alaskan Malamute breed could have been lost during this time of inter-breeding
with smaller, faster dogs for racing and also with larger dogs such as Saint Bernards for dog fighting and
weight pulling.
Despite this cross-breeding, the dogs quickly began to return to the Spitz type to which all Northern breeds
belong. Even the first generation of cross-breds tended to look more like the Spitz dog than the other half
of their breeding. Within three generations there would be no sign of outside blood. Why would this be so?
The Arctic type has been dominant for many centuries and obviously those dogs not inheriting the survival
characteristics of the Arctic breeds would not be able to survive. Additionally, many Arctic dogs are "easy
keepers" and require much less food than dogs of comparable size. It has been speculated that those
dogs that did not inherit these qualities may well have starved on the rations normally given to the sled
dogs. These differences can partially account for slight variations found in modern Alaskan Malamutes.
They do not indicate any impure breeding in present day dogs, nor any departure from true type.
The Three Bloodlines
The following three bloodlines contributed Robert Zoller's "Husky -Pak" line, the source of
many champions and foundations for the breed.
1. Kotzebue: This line stemmed from Arthur Walden's dogs. Later, Eva Seely took over his
dogs when he went to Antartica. Eva Seely is the owner of Chinook Kennels in Wonalancet,
New Hampshire. Chinook Kennels is the most renowned sled dogs headquarters in the
USA. The Seeleys deserve much credit for getting AKC to recognize the Alaskan Malamute.
One of Eva's dogs, "Gripp of Yukon," was the 1st champion in breed competitions (1936),
and the first Alaskan Malamute to be registered with AKC. His attributes were used to set the
standard for the breed.
2. M'Loot:
Credit for the M'Loot bloodline goes to Paul Voelker. He was the founder of the M'Loot strain
of Alaskan Malamutes.
Some of these dogs saw service in both World War I and World War II, and with Admiral
Byrd's second expedition. Ralph and Marcheta Schmitt, of Silver Sled Kennels, purchased
some of the Voelker dogs and further established the “M'Loot” strain.
Ralph & Marchetta Schmitt were the founders and owners of Silver Sled Kennels until their
death, when Lorraine Sharp inherited the kennel property and remaining dogs.Voelker
owned M'Loot Kennels near Marquette Michigan
The M'Loot line contributes to most pedigrees of modern day Alaskan Malamutes . Despite
Voelker's interest in maintaining the breed, his dogs varied slightly in appearance from the
Kotzebue, perhaps due to some selective interbreeding. For unknown reasons, he chose not
to pursue AKC registration.
3. Hinman: (or Hinman-Irwin): Details about this strain are not widely known; however, it did
make contributions to the quaility of the Alaskan Malanute. The Hinman, in combination with
the M'Loot, produced what are now considered by the AKC as the best representatives of the
breed.
AKC RECOGNITION OF THE ALASKAN MALAMUTE
Breed recognition for the Alaskan Malamute came in 1935, the same year that the Alaskan Malamute Club
of America was formed. The original registration period for AKC was very short, just long enough to get
enough dogs registered to provide a base on which the breed could grow and develop.
During World War II, many sled dogs, including many of the few registered Malamutes, were loaned for war
duty. After the war many of these same dogs were used on an expedition to Antarctica. They served and
then, due to some bureaucratic decision, were chained to an ice floe and destroyed by an explosive
charge (this action nearly incited a mutiny among the Navy men involved).
Alaskan Malamutes were bred to pull sleds in the artic.
Modern homes who consider a sled dog as a pet must understand that everything about the Alaskan Malamute
stems from this one overwhelming characteristic. Fussing, railing, or despairing about these
characteristics -- trying to change them -- is like training a retriever to not chase or trying to train a
cat to not stalk.
Alaskan Malamutes are born travelers and can never be trusted off leash. They are often escape artists.
They are high-maintenance. They can be small animal and livestock killers. They are useless as watchdogs.
They are people dogs , they love to be around people.
We love our Alaskan Malamutes and cannot imagine life without them.
| About Alaskan Malamutes |
Alaskan Malamute Puppies
Missouri Malamutes
Missouri Malamutes
Alaskan Malamute Puppies
Missouri Malamutes
Missouri Malamutes
| Jeff and Beth Chandler ~ Viburnum, MO 65566 573.743.3507 ~ 573.604.1290 beth@missourimalamutes.com |
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