So, you’ve decided to adopt an Alaskan malamute. Though these dogs are a lot of work, they make wonderful pets. However, if you’re planning to show your dog, there are a few things you need to know. Breed standards will help you choose a Mal for show.

Characteristics

Mals were originally bred as sled dogs. They are capable of pulling heavy loads, including full grown humans. They are able to survive in harsh Arctic temperatures and they love every minute spent outdoors frolicking in the snow.

Appearance

Mals are heavy boned, long in the leg, powerfully built and not too compact. They have a long range of colors, including red and white. They look a lot like wolves and are sometimes mistaken for them.

Head and Skull

A Mal’s head is broad between the ears, gradually narrowing to the eyes. The head is powerful and shouldn’t be out of proportion to the rest of the body. The skull should be moderately rounded between the ears, flattening out as it reaches the eyes, then rounding off to moderately flat cheeks.

The muzzle is large in proportion to the skull. The nose is black, except in red or white Mals, when it is brown. A pink or streaked nose, known as a “snow nose” is accepted by the Alaskan malamute breed standard.

Temperament

Mals are loyal, affectionate and devoted. They are not a “one man” dog. They enjoy interacting with members of their “pack,” which in this case is everyone in the household. They are always ready to play when invited and often do the inviting themselves. Rough housing should be kept to a minimum. Mals don’t usually bark, but communicate using “talk.” A whoo-whoo-whoo, is their way of greeting you and when they want something they will “talk” to communicate their need. They will often continue this communication until they get whatever they are asking for.

After maturity, Mals are very dignified, but may show dominance to other dogs. They are “people” dogs, so don’t expect to use them as guard dogs. They are more likely to kiss a burglar to death than protect your home and belongings. However, just having a dog of this size within your household often deters people from trying to enter you home for criminal activity.

Mals are very stubborn. When your pet is still a puppy, take him to obedience school. You will have to spend hours training him, using a firm but gentle hand. If not, the will dominate everything in your life.

Ears

A Mal’s ears are small in proportion to his head. They are triangular in shape, set wide apart at the back of the skull and have slightly rounded tips. When Mals are working, they may lay their ears flat against their skull.

Eyes

A Mal’s eyes are obliquely set, almond shaped and brown in color. Dark eyes are preferred, except in the case of red or white dogs, where light eyes are permitted by the Alaskan malamute standard. Blue eyes in Mals are very undesirable, according to the standard.

Neck

A Mal’s neck should be powerfully built and moderately arched. As he matures, it will thicken.

Mouth

A Mal’s upper and lower jaws should be broad with large teeth. The “scissor bite” should be regular, perfect and complete. A “scissor bite” means the upper teeth closely overlap the lower teeth and is set square to the jaw.

Body

A mal’s body should be powerfully built and strong. The chest should be broad and deep. The back should be straight, but not level and should slope slightly downward from the shoulder to the croup. Loins should never be short enough to restrict movement and should have lots of muscle. Mals should never carry excess body weight.

Forequarters

The back legs should be broad and well-muscled through the thighs. Hock joints should be broad and strong, moderately bent and well-laid down, with moderately bent stifles. When viewed from the rear, back legs should be vertical and stand and move true, in line with the forelegs. The legs should indicate a tremendous propelling power. Dew claws should always be removed from the hind legs.

Gait

Single tracking at a trot is normal for mals, but movement should not be too close or too wide at any gait. Mals should have rhythmic, easy, tireless movement produced by powerful hind quarters.

Tail

A Mal’s tail should be reasonably high set, following line at the spine and gently curving upward. When Mals are at rest, the tail should hang straight down. It should be well-furred and carried over the back when the dog is working, not tightly closed to rest on the back. The tail should never be short-furred or carried like a fox brush. It should give the appearance of a waving plume.

Feet

A Mal’s feet should be large, compact, and well-arched. Toes should close and pads should be tough and thick. Toenails should be strong and short. There should always be a protective growth of hair between the toes.

Color

Color in mals range from light gray to black or from gold to shades of red or liver. Mals should always have a white underbody. White should also be visible on legs, feet and mask. The face should have white cap-like or mask-like markings. Combinations of the two are common.

A white blaze on the forehead, a white collar or a white spot on the nape of the neck is permissible according to the standard. Heavy mantling of unbroken color is acceptable. Spots of color or splashing are very undesirable. The only solid color permissible in Mals is white.

Coat

A mals coat should have a soft, coarse guard and a dense undercoat one or two inches in depth, that is oily and wooly. Thick hair should grow around the neck. The coat should be of medium length along the sides of the body and increase around the neck and shoulders.

Size

Male mals should be 25 – 28 inches (64 – 71 cms) in height. Bitches will be slightly smaller at 23 – 26 inches (58 – 66 cms.) Both males and bitches should weight between 85 and 125 pounds (38 – 56 kgs.)