Back to Basics: The Alaskan Malamute

Featured photo: Inuit dogs from the Canadian coast in the 1980’s show Malamute breed type.

This article was originally published in Showsight Magazine, January 2013 issue.

Back to Basics: The Alaskan Malamute

The Alaskan Malamute is the heavy freighting dog of the north. Malamutes pull heavy loads at slow speeds. They are not racing dogs. The Malamute’s breed characteristics developed from the harsh environment they endured as much as from the lifestyle of the Inuit, the people of the North American Arctic coasts. These Arctic dogs were a necessity for Inuit survival. The dogs not only pulled sledges, they carried backpacks in the summer, they located seal breathing holes in the coastal ice, and they distracted Polar bears for hunters.

The Inuit are one culture from the coastal areas of Alaska to Greenland. Their dogs are essentially one breed across that large geographic area. Differences in these dogs that we see today, such as length of leg or coat, color and markings, result from the geographical separations of these nomadic people. The dogs Robert Peary used in the 1890’s to explore the Arctic could compete in our show rings today. There are still dogs used by the Inuit in Greenland that are true to Malamute type.

The Malamute gene pool today is made up of three basic strains. The AKC recognized the original Kotzebue strain, registered in 1935. The AKC opened the Malamute Studbook and admitted the M’Loot and Hinman strains in the late 40’s and early 50’s. The Army had drafted most sled dogs for service during World War II. In accordance with US military protocol, the Army destroyed most of those dogs at the end of the war, so that there were too few registered dogs to maintain the breed. The Malamute Club modified the original 1935 standard in 1960 to accommodate the new bloodlines. This change in the standard and admission of new lines caused a great deal of strife in our Club over the years. The one dog that unites all of these lines is Ch Toro of Bras Coupe. He represented our breed for many years in the “AKC Complete Dog Book.” Toro is behind every Malamute alive today because of his use in blending all three Malamute strains. He was bred by Earl and Natalie Norris of Alaska and won the Breed at Westminster in 1952.

The Malamute standard stresses the anatomical features that allowed these dogs to survive in the harshest environment. The dogs lived outside in weather that often got to 50 degrees below zero. When food was scarce they ate only every few days and still worked extremely hard. To protect the dogs in these extreme conditions, the Mals need a coarse, stand-off coat with a dense, wooly undercoat. A soft or long coat will separate in the wind and let the weather get to the skin. Good feet are also important for survival in the Arctic. The Standard calls for large compact feet which help the dog spread its weight in the snow. Small, thick, well-furred ears are less likely to freeze. Almond shaped, obliquely set eyes minimize the glare of sun on snow. A round or bulgy eye is at risk of freezing. The flat back skull, bulky muzzle, and slightly sloping stop do not provide a place for snow to accumulate on the dog. The Malamute standard uses the word ‘moderate’ to describe most aspects of conformation. Extremes in structure are usually not a successful survival strategy. Type features in our standard, such as the plume tail, ear placement, and dark eyes are not necessary for the dog to survive, but they help to make the dog a Malamute.

This “Important” note comes from the Malamute standard: “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.”

The character of the Malamute was shaped by the environment as well. The dogs lived in small family packs. The Inuit are a nomadic people and traveled around the Arctic, rarely meeting other family groups. The Malamute is not a guard dog, but he will tell you if any critter is around. He is not particularly loyal to one person or family, but should be affectionate with all people. Most Malamutes love children. Since they never knew where their next meal was coming from, Mals are prey-oriented and will attack any furry, feathered or finned creature they encounter. If they are raised with cats or other animals, they will generally be fine with them, but strange cats are fair game. Malamutes can be same-sex dog aggressive. Most enjoy the companionship of another dog, but typically the opposite sexes get along for life. Most of our mothers and daughters get along and occasionally we have had brothers who lived together for life. A neutered male and spayed female usually make a great pair for pets.

As noted previously, Malamutes were bred to pull heavy loads at slow speeds. Jamie Nelson is a musher who has run her dogs in three Iditarod races and other races including the 500 mile Bear Grease and 1,000 mile Yukon Quest. In 1994 she ran the first, and so far the only, “All Malamute” team in the Iditarod. Jamie compared running the cross-breds in a race to running Malamutes. With the cross-breds, she could take short naps on the trail and the dogs would keep running and following the trail without her encouragement. If she tried to nap with the Malamute team, they would just stop. Calories are precious in the Arctic, and Malamutes see no reason to waste them if it isn’t necessary. Conservation of energy is a Malamute survival strategy.

Malamutes were bred to pull heavy loads at slow speeds.

Siberian Huskies and Malamutes look similar, and people often ask about the differences between the breeds. Siberians, of course, came from Asia. Dog racers in Alaska imported Siberians in 1907 to run in the Fur Rendezvous races. Malamutes, as the name implies, hail originally from Alaska. Sibes are racers, Mals are sledgers. The Sibe is smaller than the Mal, generally half the size. A standard Mal bitch is about the same size as a standard Sibe dog. Sibes can have blue eyes. Since Mals don’t carry the blue gene, a blue eyed dog is not a Malamute and neither are its parents. Blue eyes are the only disqualifying fault listed in the Malamute standard. When people ask me what the difference is between a Mal and a Siberian, I tell them if your Sibe gets loose, it is in the next county. If your Mal gets loose, it is in your neighbor’s garbage.

One of the best things the Alaskan Malamute Club has done is to institute a working dog program. This program awards titles in weight-pulling, backpacking and sledding. It encourages breeders and owners to work their Malamutes and keep the important characteristics that make the Malamute a working dog. It also fosters friendships and camaraderie among breeders in a non-competitive way.

Malamute breeders and judges today should keep in mind this quote from Natalie Norris, charter member of the Alaskan Malamute Club, long time Malamute breeder and dog musher: “The Malamute is too fine and distinguished a breed to be changed into anything but what centuries of adaptability to its environment has produced. Our efforts should be to breed not only beautiful Malamutes, but as good specimens physically as were originally found in Alaska. It isn’t a question of breeding a better Malamute, but as good an Alaskan Malamute.”