History
Alaskan Malamutes originated with a group of native Innuits known as the
Mahlemiut. The dogs of that time were very large freighting dogs capable of
pulling heavy weight in extreme conditions. The Mahlemiut people mainly
inhabited the upper part of the Anvik river in Alaska, but were spread over a
wide region. The Malamute was used to haul food back to the villages. It was
used as a heavy freighting dog, able to pull a tremendous amount of weight over
long distances at a steady pace. The gold rush of 1896 created a high demand for
these dogs.
Today, there are essentially two different
"kinds" of Alaskan Malamutes. One line is referred to as the M'Loot and the
other is the Kotzebue. One difference between these two lines is the size of the
dog. M'Loot Malamutes are larger than the Kotzebue's. In addition, true
Kotzebues have only wolf-gray coats, whereas M'Loots come in a variety of
colors, including wolf-gray, black and white, sable and white, seal, blue, and
white. Kotzebues also tend to be less aggressive than the M'loot, however they
can be more hyper. The Kotzebue line is essentially due to Arthur Walden, and
Milton and Eva Seeley. In fact, it was Milton and Eva that got the Kotzebue line
recognized and registered by the AKC in 1935. Paul Voelker developed the M'Loot
line. Paul did not register his dogs, but he sold them to people who eventually
did. Amongst breeders, there is some argument as to which is the "correct"
Malamute. In spite of this, Alaskan Malamutes are credited as one of the few
breeds that is very close to its original form and function.
General
Appearance
The Alaskan Malamute, one of the oldest Arctic sled dogs, is a
powerful and substantially built dog with a deep chest and strong, well-muscled
body. The Malamute stands well over the pads, and this stance gives the
appearance of much activity and a proud carriage, with head erect and eyes alert
showing interest and curiosity. The head is broad. Ears are triangular and erect
when alerted. The muzzle is bulky, only slight diminishing in width from root to
nose. The muzzle is not pointed or long, yet not stubby. The coat is thick with
a coarse guard coat of sufficient length to protect a woolly undercoat.
Malamutes are of various colors. Face markings are a distinguishing feature.
These consist of a cap over the head, the face either all white or marked with a
bar and/or mask. The tail is well furred, carried over the back, and has the
appearance of a waving plume.
The Malamute must be a heavy boned dog with sound legs, good
feet, deep chest and powerful shoulders, and have all of the other physical
attributes necessary for the efficient performance of his job. The gait must be
steady, balanced, tireless and totally efficient. He is not intended as a racing
sled dog designed to compete in speed trials. The Malamute is structured for
strength and endurance, and any characteristic of the individual specimen,
including temperament, which interferes with the accomplishment of this purpose,
is to be considered the most serious of faults.
Size,
Proportion, Substance
There is a natural range in size in the breed. The desirable
freighting sizes are males, 25 inches at the shoulders, 85 pounds; females, 23
inches at the shoulders, 75 pounds. However, size consideration should not
outweigh that of type, proportion, movement and other functional attributes.
When dogs are judged equal in type, proportion, movement, the dog nearest the
desirable freighting size is to be preferred. The depth of chest is
approximately one half the height of the dog at the shoulders, the deepest point
being just behind the forelegs. The length of the body from point of shoulder to
the rear point of pelvis is longer than the height of the body from ground to
top of the withers. The body carries no excess weight, and bone is in proportion
to size.
Head
The head is broad and deep, not coarse or clumsy, but in
proportion to the size of the dog. The expression is soft and indicates an
affectionate disposition. The eyes are obliquely placed in the skull. Eyes are
brown, almond shaped and of medium size. Dark eyes are preferred. Blue Eyes are
a Disqualifying Fault. The ears are of medium size, but small in proportion to
the head. The ears are triangular in shape and slightly rounded at the tips.
They are set wide apart on the outside back edges of the skull on line with the
upper corner of the eye, giving ears the appearance, when erect, of standing off
from the skull. Erect ears point slightly forward, but when the dog is at work,
the ears are sometimes folded against the skull. High set ears are a fault.
The skull is broad and moderately rounded between the ears, gradually narrowing
and flattening on top as it approaches the eyes, rounding off to cheeks that are
moderately flat. There is a slight furrow between the eyes. The topline of the
skull and the topline of the muzzle show a slight break downward from a straight
line as they join. The muzzle is large and bulky in proportion to the size of
the skull, diminishing slightly in width and depth from junction with the skull
to the nose. In all coat colors, except reds, the nose, lips, and eye rims'
pigmentation is black. Brown is permitted in red dogs. The lighter streaked
"snow nose" is acceptable. The lips are close fitting. The upper and lower jaws
are broad with large teeth. The incisors meet with a scissors grip. Overshot or
undershot is a fault.
Neck,
Topline, Body
The neck is strong and moderately arched. The chest is well
developed. The body is compactly built but not short coupled. The back is
straight and gently sloping to the hips. The loins are hard and well muscled. A
long loin that may weaken the back is a fault. The tail is moderately set and
follows the line of the spine at the base. The tail is carried over the back
when not working. It is not a snap tail or curled tight against the back, nor is
it short furred like a fox brush. The Malamute tail is well furred and has the
appearance of a waving plume.
Forequarters
The shoulders are moderately sloping; forelegs heavily boned and
muscled, straight to the pasterns when viewed from the front. Pasterns are short
and strong and slightly sloping when viewed from the side. The feet are of the
snowshoe type, tight and deep, with well-cushioned pads, giving a firm, compact
appearance. The feet are large, toes tight fitting and well arched. There is a
protective growth of hair between the toes. The pads are thick and tough;
toenails short and strong.
Hindquarters
The rear legs are broad and heavily muscled through the thighs;
stifles moderately bent; hock joints are moderately bent and well let down. When
viewed from the rear, the legs stand and move true in line with the movement of
the front legs, not too close or too wide. Dewclaws on the rear legs are
undesirable and should be removed shortly after puppies are whelped.
Coat
The Malamute has a thick, coarse guard coat, never long and soft. The undercoat
is dense, from one to two inches in depth, oily and woolly. The coarse guard
coat varies in length as does the undercoat. The coat is relatively short to
medium along the sides of the body, with the length of the coat increasing
around the shoulders and neck, down the back, over the rump, and in the
breeching and plume. Malamutes usually have a shorter and less dense coat during
the summer months. The Malamute is shown naturally. Trimming is not acceptable
except to provide a clean cut appearance of feet.
Color
The usual colors range from light gray through intermediate
shadings to black, sable, and shadings of sable to red. Color combinations are
acceptable in undercoats, points, and trimmings. The only solid color allowable
is all white. White is always the predominant color on underbody, parts of legs,
feet, and part of face markings. A white blaze on the forehead and/or collar or
a spot on the nape is attractive and acceptable. The Malamute is mantled, and
broken colors extending over the body or uneven splashing are undesirable.
Gait
The gait of the Malamute is steady, balanced, and powerful. He is
agile for his size and build. When viewed from the side, the hindquarters
exhibit strong rear drive that is transmitted through a well-muscled loin to the
forequarters. The forequarters receive the drive from the rear with a smooth
reaching stride. When viewed from the front or from the rear, the legs move true
in line, not too close or too wide. At a fast trot, the feet will converge
toward the centerline of the body. A stilted gait, or any gait that is not
completely efficient and tireless, is to be penalized.
Temperament
The Alaskan Malamute is an affectionate, friendly dog, not a "one
man" dog. He is a loyal, devoted companion, playful in invitation, but generally
impressive by his dignity after maturity.
Summary
IMPORTANT: In judging Malamutes, their function as a sledge dog
for heavy freighting in the Arctic must be given consideration above all else.
The degree to which a dog is penalized should depend upon the extent to which
the dog deviates from the description of the ideal Malamute and the extent to
which the particular fault would actually affect the working ability of the dog.
The legs of the Malamute must indicate unusual strength and tremendous
propelling power. Any indication of unsoundness in legs and feet, front or rear,
standing or moving, is to be considered a serious fault. Faults under this
provision would be splay-footedness, cowhocks, bad pasterns, straight shoulders,
lack of angulation, stilted gait (or any gait that isn't balanced, strong and
steady), ranginess, shallowness, ponderousness, lightness of bone, and poor
overall proportion.
Disqualifications
Blue Eyes