Origin and History

The Alaskan Malamute is named after a native Inuit tribe called the Mahlemut.  These magnificent dogs have only been registered as a breed since the early 1930s when they were bred to form teams for the Antarctic expeditions.  They are relatively unknown prior to this. To date there are only approximately 600 in the UK.

Temperament

The Alaskan Malamute is an affectionate, friendly dog, not a “one-man” dog.  He is a loyal devoted companion, playful on invitation, but generally impressive by his dignity after maturity.

General Appearance
The Alaskan Malamute is the heaviest of the Arctic spitz-type breeds and causes much conversation over its “wolfy” appearance.  It is primarily a working sled dog used for hauling heavy freight and therefore should be heavy boned and powerfully built.  They are not built for speed and are therefore less desirable for sled dog sprint racing.

The Malamute should have a thick, coarse guard coat, not long and soft.  The undercoat is dense, oily and woolly.  The double coat is critically important to the dog’s survival in Arctic conditions. 

The chest should be strong and deep; the body should be strong and compactly built.  The loins should be well muscled and not so short as to interfere with easy, rhythmic movement with the powerful drive from the hindquarters.

The head and skull should be broad and powerful.  The eyes should be almond shape and the ears moderately rounded.  The tail should be carried over the spine and have the appearance of a waving plume. The Alaskan Malamute must have strong, tight compact feet to be an efficient draft animal with great endurance.

Height
Dog – 25” – 28” – (desirable freighting size is at the lower end of the range)
Bitch – 23” – 26”
Weight – 85lb to 125lb

Colour
The most common markings are wolf grey but black and red-coated Malamutes are quite acceptable.  The facial markings are varied too ranging from an “open face” i.e. no black spectacles around the eyes to a black mask.  Uneven splashes of coat are undesirable and the only solid colour allowed is the all-white.