Alaskan Malamute

Alaskan Malamutes are a breed of large, heavy-coated working dog from the Arctic regions of North America. They’re very friendly and affectionate but also strong, active and agile dogs that need plenty of exercise to keep them happy. They have a thick coat which is good in cold weather as they can be kept outside without shelter all year round! In this blog, I’ll give detailed info for our readers here at Our Pets HQ including appearance, characteristics, history, traits, nutrition, health issues and more.

Let’s start with the history

History of Alaskan Malamute

Alaskan Malamute, or Malamute for short, is a breed originating from Arctic regions in North America. The original ancestors of the Alaskan Malamute are thought to be of a now extinct Eastern Siberian (not of modern-day Russia) and Greenland dog breeds brought over by native Americans and Inuits. The dogs were first imported to Alaska in 1909, and first registered by the AKC (American Kennel Club) in 1935.

Alaskan Malamute has a thick coat that is good for North American’s harsh climates. These dogs were bred as working dogs to pull heavy objects over long distances through snow; this breed therefore requires regular exercise to avoid becoming bored and destructive. They are still used as working dogs today, pulling sleds in races such as the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

This is probably the most popular breed of dog in Alaska! So let’s take a look at how they appear…

Appearance

Alaskan Malamute: A pure white Alaskan Malamute with pale blue eyes

Male Alaskan Malamutes generally grow up to 24-26 inches and can weigh up to 80 pounds. Females, on the other hand, generally grow up to 22-24 inches and can weigh up to 60 pounds. These dogs have a large head with erect, oval-shaped ears that stand straight up. Their tail is long and bushy, tapering over the back with a curve at the end. They have a compact body, thick neck and well-boned front legs. Fur lengths can vary from very thick to medium with a shorter undercoat in warmer weather.

Alaskan Malamutes are extremely loyal and affectionate dogs that bond well with humans. They’re known to be a great companion dog as they enjoy spending time with their family, but can be wary of strangers. These dogs also love playing around in the snow and will happily play outside all day long!

Characteristics

Alaskan Malamute: A happy Alaskan Malamute that loves playing in the snow

Alaskan Malamutes are known to be very intelligent, alert and independent dogs. They’re natural shepherds with a tendency to bark loudly when strangers come around, but take well to training once they’ve bonded with their owner. These dogs make great watchdogs as they will alert their family to any approaching strangers.

Alaskan Malamutes are known to be very strong-willed, so they require owners who can give firm but fair discipline when needed. These dogs also need constant mental and physical exercise to ensure they don’t become destructive! This breed is an ideal one for active families, especially if you like to indulge in outdoor activities such as dog-sledding.

Health Issues of Alaskan Malamute

Alaskan Malamute: A cute puppy that is still growing into its full “malamute” coat

Malamutes are generally healthy dogs with few breed-specific health problems. However, like most large breeds, they’re known to be susceptible to hip dysplasia and bloat. Hip dysplasia is a hereditary condition that causes the thighbone to not fit properly into the hip joint – it can lead to loss of mobility, pain and arthritis. Bloat is a common health problem in large breeds where they essentially “bloat” because their stomach fills with gas and swells up. This is a serious medical condition that can be fatal if not treated immediately by a veterinarian.

Alaskan Malamutes are also known to have an increased risk of certain health problems compared to other breeds, including:

Heart conditions – Alaskan Malamute puppies may be especially sensitive to drugs used on the heart, so you should never use these on your dog

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) – This is a common eye disease that can cause blindness in dogs

Care Features

Alaskan Malamute: A cute Alaskan Malamute puppy that loves to play with toys!

Alaskan Malamutes require a lot of daily exercise, especially in cold weather. These dogs need to be taken on long walks every day for between 45-60 minutes, as well as a great deal of off-lead time to run and play away from home. Without sufficient exercise, these dogs can become restless and destructive – they may even resort to digging up your garden!

Alaskan Malamutes are a large breed, but can still make good apartment dogs as long as you give them enough exercise. These dogs do best in moderate climates that aren’t too cold or hot, and should be allowed inside the house whenever possible. Alaskan Malamutes shed heavily twice a year, so they’re not suitable for allergy sufferers.

Grooming and Shedding

Alaskan Malamute: A cute Alaskan Malamute with his owner, showing off the breed standard colors of gray, black and white

Alaskan Malamutes have a thick coat that can be quite difficult to brush. These dogs shed heavily twice a year, but daily brushing during that time can help to reduce the amount of fur that ends up all over your home! These dogs should be bathed about once a month, and their coat should be thoroughly brushed at least weekly. Alaskan Malamutes are also known to drool from time to time!

Alaskan Malamutes have a thick coat that can be quite difficult to brush. These dogs shed heavily twice a year, but daily brushing during that time can help to reduce the amount of fur that ends up all over your home! These dogs should be bathed about once a month, and their coat should be thoroughly brushed at least weekly. Alaskan Malamutes are also known to drool from time to time!

Alaskan Malamute: An Alaskan Malamute puppy showing off his adorable eyes

Alaskan Malamutes are very sociable dogs, and make great family pets. These dogs are not suitable for homes with cats or other small animals, however. These dogs love children, but you should teach your child how to properly interact with your dog. These dogs are also extremely intelligent, which means they can be quite challenging to train. They’re loyal and loving dogs that make great family pets.

Alaskan Malamute vs Husky

• Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes are different type of breeds. Alaskan Malamute is a working sled dog, while Siberian Husky is originally bred to be a sled and working dogs. Alaskan Malamute is larger in size than Siberian Husky and has a thick coat while Siberian Husky has medium-sized muscular body and short coat. Siberain Huskies are intelligent, can be trained easily while Alaskan Malamute is very difficult to train. Siberian Husky loves the company of humans, while Alaskan Malamute loves being independent.
• Alaskan Malamute have thick coat while Siberian Husky have their short coat. Alaskan Malamute are large size dogs while Siberian Husky are medium to small size dogs. Alaskan Malamute weigh up to 60 pounds (27 kg) while Siberian Huskies usually weigh 20-35 pounds (9-16 kg).

Alaskan Malamute vs German Shepherd

• Alaskan Malamute and German Shepherd are both working dogs, as such they share some similarities as well as differences. Alaskan Malamute are larger in size while Geman Shepherd are medium-sized dog breeds. Alaskan malamutes have thick coat while Geman Shepherds have their short coat. Alaskan malamutes are independent while Geman Shepherds are considered as intelligent. Alaskan Malamute are active dogs who need to exercise daily, German Shepherds, on the other hand, don’t require frequent exercises.