Alaskan Malamute - A Great Working Breed

The Alaskan malamute dates back to the Inuit tribe called the Mahlemuts. These dogs helped their owners pull heavy loads and even dragged carcasses of dead caribou when necessary. They were bred for work dogs. The Mahlemuts lived in the upper parts of Alaska so the malamutes were also used as sled dogs to help the tribe get around.

Then during the gold rush days the Alaskan malamute was highly sought after. This led to some trying to breed the dog with other breeds to see if the characteristics could be improved upon. These attempts at breeding for the most part failed badly. Therefore the Alaskan malamute is among the oldest breeds in the world today. Their characteristics for all intent and purposes are unchanged in the breed today.

Temperament of the Breed

This breed is full of energy and needs a lot of physical activity, to be happy and healthy. The Malamute is quite an intelligent dog, which makes training easier for their owner. The dogs do well on their own not needing the companionship of other animals.

The malamute makes a devoted family pet and even good for protection. But because of its independence it could ignore your commands at times. This is not always done negative way though, if they since danger their owner's safety is more important than the commands they are hearing. The dog will make sure their owner is safe first before obeying commands. This can happen especially when they are being used for sled dogs.

They love the interaction between their owner family and them. The Alaskan malamutes make great pets and guard dogs. Just remember they do not necessarily like other animals being around though. So it is best to own them by themselves. As puppies they are hyper and full of energy, but as they age they calm down.

Health Concerns for the Breed

There are a few health concerns with the Alaskan malamute that need to be watched for. They can have the following health problems:

• Hip Dysplasia
• Chrondodysplasia
• Polyneuropathy (which is inherited)
• Cataracts/Vision Problems (as they age)

Basically the breed is fairly healthy as dog breeds go. The above health conditions are common for larger dogs. Most of the problems happen as the dogs get older rather than being a trait of the breed itself. This is where it is important to know the background of the dog you are buying. Buy from a reputable breeder and have them wear cool dog collars.

Grooming Needs

The Alaskan malamutes have heavy coats and need to have regular grooming. They need to be brushed at least 3 times during the week. This breed sheds only twice a year. During this time large amounts of hair can fall out at once. Simply brush more often during these times to keep it under control. Do not bath a malamute too often and use dog shampoo. In fact you can really stick to just dry shampooing once a month. Brush their teeth several times during the week. Also clip their nails to make sure they do not overgrow.

Remember to give your Alaskan malamute plenty of room to exercise. They are a high-energy dog. They love to be active and play games with their owners. They need as much as an hour worth of walking every day to play out this energy.