Description

The Alaskan Malamute is considered as an exceptionally large and powerful sled dog. They weigh over 100 lbs and are around 30 inches at the shoulder, whereas 25 inches high is considered as the preferred height for freighting. Alaskan Malamutes are large, commanding, lively, good-looking dogs; however their good looks often result in them ending up in inapt homes. They are very smart and can be trained extremely fast, but being very obstinate and stubborn makes them a low-trainability breed. Their size and amazing strength makes them unsuitable for many people - they are simply too powerful to be left under the control of children or the elderly.

Coat Description

Alaskan Malamute has double coat which consists of a woolly undercoat and long guard hairs. The uncouth outer-coat differs in length, as does the base coat. The coat is fairly short to medium down the sides of the body, with the length of the coat growing around the shoulders and neck, along the back, above the rump, and in the breeching and tail. The good news is that this only happens twice a year. The remainder of the time, Malamutes does not shed. Shedding period can be rather messy. Immense vacuuming and brushing are required. Most malamutes are found in color gray with white trim or black and white, as well as coats of silver, sable, and red sometimes are visible. They have a white "open face or the “full mask in combination of a black cap on the head, goggles in and around the eyes, and sort of bar down the muzzle. All have brown eyes. The Malamutes are required to be shown naturally. Decoration or Trimming is not acceptable except to provide a clean-cut look of the feet.

History of the Breed

It is said the Inuit people who were inhabitant of the shores of the Kotzebue Sound, the Alaskan malamute comes as an adaptable, intelligent strong companion. They are considered as the strongest and the most beautiful dogs. Alaskan Malamutes had their inception with a group of native Intuits known as the Mahlemiut. The dogs during those times were large freighting who could heavy weight in extreme conditions. The Malamute people mainly were widespread. They went for long distances with heavy weights. During 1896 the gold rush created a high demand for this breed.

Temperament

Alaskan Malamutes are extremely friendly and crave for a lot of attention. Hence teddy bears are their pet names. Since they are pack-oriented it is best when involved in the family rather than kept put. Malamutes are not "one-man" dogs. They are an extremely intelligent and can be very stubborn and bored. They learn new tasks easily. But to get them to do repeated actions over and over again is much challenging; due to their stubbornness. For strong pack nature, Malamutes might be more aggressive .Hence they need to socialize when young. For their nature makes them lousy watch dogs. It is against their instincts to make them watch or guard. Alaskan Malamutes are generally quiet dogs. They generally do not bark.

Health Issues and Concerns

They might have Snow Nose which results in pink/reddish marks in the nose which mostly appear during the winter months. Bad pigmentation occasionally occurs around the face and in some cases; it is fatal where pigmentation is the threat of sun cancer in areas as the pink skin is more at risk of sunburn. It is advised to cover the affected area with sun screen regularly. Hot spots may also occur as raw grazed skin. Here they lose coat as Alaskan Malamutes cannot digest rich and spicy food. Bloat is another condition. It is at times life-threatening. Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and (CPRA) also are concerns for them. Hemeralopia, or "day blindness", also occurs at times. Hip dysplasia which is a deformation in the hip joint might occur and needs full attention. They are strong, healthy dogs. Typically, the Alaskan malamute generally lives 10 and 12 years of age. With high maintenance on quality dog food, adequate grooming, and daily workouts, this breed may live a relatively healthy life. The Alaskan malamute can also suffer from other illnesses like Chrondodysplasia, Inherited Polyneuropathy, cataracts. In Chrondodysplasia, the suffering is a genetic deformation disorder where crippling problems are visible.

Grooming

Alaskan malamute is basically a clean, odor-free dog. Anyway it is a good idea to go over the dog weekly for a grooming session to check for skin rashes, cuts and eye or ear problems. Regular bathing is not recommended as it will dry out their natural oils. A good brushing or combing removes surface dirt, and leave the hair and skin smoother and healthier. Equipment for grooming are: Pin Brush, Narrow and wide tooth Combs, Nail Clippers, Scissors which are Blunt tipped.

Exercise

One should not strain them at 6 months of age as during that time the muscular-skeleton system is not developed to perfection. Playing is enough to keep them healthy. Obedience needs to be always kept in mind. Start taking the dog for walks in area on a leash. When the dog is full grown, at around 18 months, it’s ready for longer walks, an hour per day or more. The obedience training will make him quiet a good and adorable pet... Alaskan Malamutes enjoy jogging, and running.

Training

Socializing needs to be done from an early age and obedience training is a must for them. Their hunting instinct is strong, which means that one should be careful when he is around other animals or kept loose. Malamutes can be headstrong and stubborn hence, establishing the boss relationship via training is vital. They are also very possessive when it comes to food. When it comes to training them first, there is training that involves teaching and making the dog understand certain basic commands, as well as proper behavior. Second, there is training which include sledding, search and rescue, and at times freighting. Malamutes can also be used for Search and Rescue. When Malamute completes the appropriate and specific training and becomes a certified search and rescue dog, this breed can find people buried in avalanches, locate missing children, convoy ski patrol, and be of immense help in a number of other emergencies in which a good nose and likeness to cold are necessary. Another important training tip is to train your dog to come to you when called. In fact, many agree that while the other commands are very important, the “come” command is essential and needs to be followed in a number of situations. Since the Alaskan malamute might show aggressive tendencies to other breeds and it is always important to have the upper hand, especially when visiting the local park in the neighborhood or going for a walk. The most important factor is the come command is that it needs to be connected to something positive and progressive. In other words, do not penalize the dog when it does not listen to the come but get him a reward when he does come and attend to you. Also we need to keep in mind that this dog breed training should start young. Starting later could prove adverse Obedience training is necessary of every dog training regimen. It trains them to take you seriously and instigates a “conscience” which he will need to remember .It also signifies an important part for your dog’s safety. After completing obedience training, many commands need to be implemented to train your dog. House training is very important. Bathroom mannerisms should be taught at an early age. A common training is by using newspapers on your dog’s disposal. After he gets used to using of the newspaper, move it outside the house where he would eventually train himself to do the business. Alaskan malamute puppy training is very interesting and mostly compared to child training. Making and scheduling training session’s fun for your dog is a must. Give lots of encouragement, enthusiasm and praise. Start each lesson by reviewing what it already did before like taking a test. Practice the same three times a day for ten minutes in general. Alaskan malamute training is not very different any other breed in cases related to training. It needs to get acquainted to the voice and understanding hand signals.