The Alaskan Malamute, also called the “Snow Train”, is a strong, powerful working dog that brings a smile to anyone’s face. One of the oldest dog breeds in the world, this intelligent breed makes a great companion for those who want an exercise buddy and loyal friend.
Researchers believe malamutes are descended from the wolf-dogs that crossed the Bering Strait into North America roughly 4,000 years ago. Through the years, the nomadic tribes bred the dogs for hunting seals, hauling heavy loads, and fighting off predators—including polar bears. The Inuit tribes began developing different strains of the breed; however, they all had a similar appearance.
In 1896, gold was discovered in Alaska and an assortment of dog breeds was developed that could withstand the snow and help miners bring in their loads. Very few malamutes were used for this work, and the breed retained its original appearance.
By the turn of the century, the breed started to receive recognition in the United States when Arthur T. Walden began breeding malamutes in New Hampshire. However, rather than taking off as a family pet, the breed was utilised by explorers in Antarctica. Unfortunately, many of these dogs passed away due to strenuous conditions.
Today, malamutes are still used in Arctic areas for work; however, many people also proudly keep them as house pets due to their intelligence. While not the most popular breed, many people will tell you that once they have malamutes, they will never get another breed of dog.
Malamutes are not the ideal dog for an inexperienced dog owner and it’s imperative that anyone considering getting a malamute consider the work required to keep one as a pet. If you have decided that the breed is right for you, make sure you obtain one from a reputable rescue centre or breeder.
Alaskan Malamutes are affectionate dogs that are more than willing to flop on your lap during their downtime. This overt friendliness will (usually) extend to nearly anyone you meet, leading to plenty of conversations initiated by your friendly pooch.
As they rely on human interaction, malamutes make poor guard dogs. They are much more likely to walk off with someone burglarizing your home rather than protect your property.
However, this doesn’t mean a malamute is incapable of hurting anything. The breed has an exceptionally high prey drive, and they will go after anything from small animals to cats to other dogs if they come into their yard. Once a malamute discovers an animal, the hunt is on, and it can be difficult if not near impossible to get the dog to come back before any damage is done.
Malamutes can be trained to be friendly to other animals in their home with proper socialization. Ideally, owners will also have another dog to fulfill the breed’s pack instinct.
Malamutes will not bark often, if at all, but instead make a yodel or howl that resembles talking. Some owners can even train their dogs to “sing.”
These incredibly intelligent dogs can easily find themselves in trouble. Persistent diggers, your garden’s fence must be secured below ground to keep the dog from leaving the yard. With proper training, you can dissuade malamutes from digging; however, if the breed is bored or lonely, they’ll look for other ways to get in trouble.
Do you like to exercise? Then a malamute is likely the perfect dog for you. Requiring upwards of two hours of exercise per day, the breed is perfect for those who want to follow a strenuous fitness routine. Not much of a fitness buff? The active malamute might not be a great fit for your household. A bored malamute is a destructive malamute and they’ll think nothing of destroying your home or garden if given the chance.
Do you leave often for work and business trips? As pack animals, malamutes are extremely companion-oriented, and when left alone become bored and howl. If you cannot send someone to your home to check in on your dog, you can risk separation anxiety and bad habits forming.
Do you have a large garden? Giant Alaskan malamutes like to roam around, and a large garden will give them plenty of space to explore various nooks and crannies. Flat owners, however, will likely want to consider a different breed as malamutes that can’t roam tend to form destructive tendencies.
One of the main things to remember with malamutes is that they are extremely intelligent dogs, and this leads to them also being one of the most stubborn breeds for dog owners. If you’re looking for your first dog, a malamute likely won’t be the best pick as they require a firm hand that’s willing to provide them with plenty of (loving) discipline and guidance. New dog owners can find a malamute’s needs to be overwhelming, especially being the dog may be slow to respond to commands.
If you have other pets, it’s important to get a malamute as a puppy or one that has plenty of experience around other animals. A properly socialised malamute can easily become a welcome playmate, but ill-socialised dogs have been known to attack other dogs.
Remember that malamutes are made for Arctic temperatures and will need cooling off during warm summer months. Because of their double coat, malamutes can quickly become overheated in temperatures humans may consider mild. During the winter months, they’ll likely want to spend plenty of time outdoors, especially if they can prance around in the snow. During the summer, you should only take your dog out for exercise during the cooler parts of the day.
Finally, if you’re struggling to choose between a malamute or a husky, remember that a malamute is much larger and stronger than a Siberian husky. If the activity level appeals to you but the large size does not, a husky may be the better option.
Due to their long double coat, malamutes are well-insulated against the elements during harsh Alaskan winters however, outside of the north, their coats require a lot of care.
Malamutes go through two shedding cycles a year, getting rid of that thick, downy double coat that’s both oily and wooly at the same time (you have to feel it to believe it). This coat can be as deep as 5 cm and requires careful removal from a skilled owner or groomer.
Due to their fur, malamutes also shed a great deal. You must be prepared to brush the dog daily to ensure clumps of hair aren’t located around your home, especially during the summer.
During the summer months, malamutes can quickly become overheated. To prevent this, some owners resort to shearing their dog’s coat. This is unacceptable. Double-coated breeds’ coats will grow to their genetic length and stop. The guard hairs (the course, wiry hair on the top) is made, in part, to keep the dog cool during the summer. When the coat is shaved, the new hair that grows in will be an undercoat that does not provide the same temperature regulation the guard hairs do. This hair is also significantly thicker, giving owners a fluffy, thick mess to deal with that’s more likely to overheat the dog. Instead, owners should brush their dogs out once a day and provide plenty of water to keep their malamute cool.
During the winter months, many people assume their malamutes are fine however they still require regular care. Again, daily brushing continues to help the breed as well as weekly baths to ensure they’re nice and clean. Many malamutes also tend to find themselves in trouble and need to have their underbellies and back haunches clipped (never shaved) to remove any build-up they may be experiencing.
Hip Dysplasia is an inherited condition that means the thighbone doesn’t fit snuggly in the hip joint.
The symptoms are generally pain and lameness which will vary in severity and can be present in one or both rear legs.
Sadly, it’s not uncommon for the disorder to lead to hip replacement.
Make sure you ask any breeder if the puppy’s parents have been tested and cleared for Hip Dysplasia. If they have not, or the issue is present in one or both, find another breeder.
Hypothyroidism is a disorder of the thyroid gland which is believed to be a cause of issues including epilepsy, hair loss, obesity, lethargy and skin conditions.
This is a disorder that can be quite easily treated through a dog’s diet and medication.
Bloat doesn’t sound too serious, but if it’s left untreated it can be deadly for your dog. Large, deep-chested dogs are more commonly affected than smaller breeds.
Bloat causes the stomach to swell with gas and then twist. The dog can’t belch or vomit to release the gas, blood flow to the heart is impeded, blood pressure drops, and the dog goes into shock.
To avoid bloat, split their feeds into multiple smaller meals through the day instead of one large portion. You must also avoid exercise for at least half an hour to an hour after eating. Another cause can be drinking too much water rapidly, so keep a watchful eye on that as well.
Symptoms of Gastric Dilation Volvulus are a swollen abdomen, excessive drooling, dry retching, lethargy and a rapid heart rate.
Without immediate medical attention, bloat can be fatal, so if you notice any of these symptoms, take your dog to the vet immediately.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is a family of eye diseases that involves the gradual deterioration of the retina.
Early in the disease, affected dogs become night-blind, with the loss of sight during the day occurring as the disease progresses.
Unfortunately, there is no treatment, but it is known that the condition doesn’t cause any pain or discomfort and most dogs will adapt well to their limited or lost vision, so long as their surroundings and environment stay the same.