Alaskan Malamute

Other names : Mal, Mally

Photo: adult dog of Alaskan Malamute breed
© Hanna Borysenko / Shutterstock
Photo: adult dog of Alaskan Malamute breed
© Hanna Borysenko / Shutterstock

The Alaskan Malamute was conceived for the hauling of heavy sleds, but the latter have since become an obsolete tool in the modern world: contemporary sled dog competitions are above all else a test of speed, which is better suited to more agile and flexible dogs (such as the Malamute’s nordic cousin, the Siberian Husky). Overtime, the Alaskan Malamute has therefore simply become a companion and show dog. Certain individuals- but by no means all of them- have a good watchdog capacity, but an authentic Malamute should never be vicious. The Malamute is extremely gentle and affectionate towards his family.

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Life expectancy

The Alaskan Malamute has a life expectancy of between 12 and 14 years

Temperament

Size

Large

Adult size

Female Between 23 and 25 in
Male Between 23 and 25 in

Adult weight

Female Between 75 and 84 lb
Male Between 75 and 84 lb
Coat colour
Blue Black
Type of coat
Long
Eye colour
Brown

Purchase price

The Alaskan Malamute costs between £550 and £690

Good to know

During the gold rush, these dogs were in extremely high demand, as the hopeful prospectors used them to transport enormous quantities of food and supplies over the mountain tops. 

The Alaskan Malamutes have been used during the Second World War, to sniff out mines, carry firearms and serve as search and rescue dogs. 

With regards to the Alaskan Giant Malamute, it was considered a separate breed in its own right and not a ‘kind of malamute’. He is, however, considered to be an outsized dog in Europe and is therefore rarely seen there. He is more often taken into account and bred in Canada and the United States.

More details about the Alaskan Malamute

Alaskan Malamute: Origins and history

Originally from the Alaskan High North, he was bred by the Mahlemut people, where he gets his name from. The Mahlemut used to hunt for caribous- animals that have become extinct shortly prior to the gold rush, leaving the people without resources. The first Americans who arrived in the High North only found a few specimens of this breed. Luckily, they brought them back to the United States and further developed the breed as we know it today. The FCI officially recognised the breed in 1963.

FCI classification of the Alaskan Malamute

  • Group 5 - Spitz and primitive types

  • Section 1 : Nordic Sledge Dogs

Training a Alaskan Malamute

On account of his independent character and his nordic roots, this dog can tend to be difficult to train if the training process does not start as soon as he integrates the home. 

Brutality should not be applied in any shape or form, at risk of forever compromising the master-dog relationship. A certain dose of rigor is necessary however, in order to consolidate mutual respect. 

These dogs are, generally speaking, not the top of their class in terms of obedience, it would therefore be futile to try and turn them into circus monkeys. The basics of discipline (hailing, walking on a leash, holding position) will be enough to forge a functional life with this dog. 

The intelligence and joviality of this dog make training sessions pleasant, though they must be held regularly, and carried out in a coherent, fair, and positive manner.

Alaskan Malamute: Purchase price

The price of an Alaskan Malamute varies depending on its origins, age, and gender. You have to count an average of £685 for dogs registered at the Kennel Club. 

With regards to the monthly budget required to meet the needs of a dog this size, you have to estimate an average of £55 per month.

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