Alaskan Malamute

The Alaskan Malamute belongs to the large breed of dogs used as sled dogs. These dogs can sometimes be confused with Siberian Huskies, but many of their characteristics are different from Huskies. According to the American Kennel Club, the standard height for these dogs is 23 inches for females and 25 inches for males. The standard weights are 75 pounds in females and 85 pounds in males. Males and females are often remarkably varied in size and weight. Some Malamutes can even weight more than 110 pounds and are generally referred to as Giant Malamutes. However, such dogs are typically not permitted to participate in shows.

Like most northern breeds, these dogs have dense coats. The hair is coarser than that of Siberian Huskies. Common coat colors are shades of gray, sable, black, red or solid white. These dogs have almond shaped eyes, usually in different shades of brown. Dogs with blue eyes are disqualified from shows. Malamutes are heavily built dogs but quite compact in size. This means that these dogs are longer than they are tall. The main criterion based on which Malamutes are judged in dog shows is their efficiency in pulling a heavy load as a sled dog. Malamutes have often surprised their owners by their capacity to pull such loads.

The tails of Malamutes are heavily plumed and serve to protect them against snow and harsh winds when they lie down or curl up.

The primary use of Malamutes today is as pet dogs and companions. Very few Malamutes are actually used as sled dogs or in freighting. Some dogs are also used in recreational racing events such as canicross, mushing or bikejoring. These dogs are heavier than some of the smaller racing dogs and cannot compete with those breeds over short distances. Malamutes are most effective in pulling heavy loads at moderate speeds over longer distances.

These dogs should not be left unsupervised around other smaller animals and they do not adjust well to the presence of other animals. A possible reason for this is the Malamute’s shared ancestry with wolves, which gives them a strong hunting instinct that is not always controlled. Therefore, it is advisable that these dogs be kept away from other small pets in the family and from very young children who could get in their way.

However, these dogs are quite fond of human company and this makes them good pets. They are also able to navigate their way around furniture and small objects around the house and do not cause damage. These dogs like to be outdoors, especially in winter. In the warmer months, letting them splash around in a small or medium pool is recommended.

The average life expectancy of Malamutes is 10.7 years. This is very typical of breeds of their size. One of the major health concerns that this breed faces is cancer and about 36% of all Malamutes die of this disease. Other commonly found problems include cataracts and hip dysplasia.