The Alaskan Malamute, one of the oldest Arctic sled dogs, was named after the native Inuit tribe called Mahlemuts, who settled along the shores of Kotzebue Sound in the upper western part of Alaska. The Mahlemuts are believed to have developed the breed to pull sleds and as a pack animal.The Alaskan Malamute is the native Alaskan Arctic breed, cousin to the Samoyed of Russia, Siberian Husky (Kolyma River Region), and the Eskimo dogs of Greenland and Labrador. The Alaskan Malamute was recognized for AKC registration in 1935.The Malamute is a true pack animal with the natural instinct to "lead or be led"; therefore, training must begin as early as three to five months of age.   

Originally bred to be a freighting dog, this breed's strength is second to none. The Malamute is a large, powerful, heavy-boned dog weighing as much as 120 lbs. They are athletic dogs who love the outdoors, but can also thrive as house pets. Alaskan Malamutes are patient with children, but should always be supervised during play as they can be a "bull in a china shop" and literally knock your feet out from under you... just because they can. They are everyone's friend and do not make good watchdogs.  A Malamute's coat may be black/white, gray/white, or red/white or a combination of the above. A Malamute's eyes are ALWAYS brown.

Today there are generally two lines of Malamutes, the M'Loot and the Kotzebue. M'Loots are the larger of the two and some breeders offer these to buyers as "Giant" Malamutes and some as "Woolies", although there is only one standard at the present time.  There are some disagreements as to which line is the "correct" one.      

Alaskan Malamutes were originally bred to haul heavy sleds across long  distances in harsh winter conditions. This work expectation led to the development of a dog with tremendous strength, energy, and endurance. This is one of the reasons why many Mal owners do not let their dogs off-leash at any time.  Malamutes were bred to run from point A to point B and nothing, including cars, trucks, trains, etc., distracts them from it (except maybe a cat). Independence and intelligence are qualities sought after in a Mal. These are the foundation characteristics of the Alaskan Malamutes. A novice Mal owner will quickly be educated as to what this means. Some owners have said that their Malamutes will respond to their commands...only when there's something in it for them! These dogs have extremely high energy levels, which require release in appropriate ways. They need to run, play, and bounce around a lot. Without continuous physical and mental stimulation, they become bored and restless. If you don't find appropriate entertainment and work for them, they will entertain themselves. Their choice of entertainment can sometimes be destructive to themselves and your property. Malamutes have very high prey drives.  For this reason, a home with cats or other small animals may not be a good choice.  However, many Malamutes do quite nicely with cats when raised with them from puppyhood. They should never be left unsupervised around livestock.  Malamutes have also been known to be gender aggressive and sometimes food aggressive.  This usually surfaces in adolescent males around 1 1/2 to 2 years old and can be nipped in the bud with consistent training. 

Mals rarely bark, choosing instead to "talk" to people and other dogs using a "woo woo" type of noise (among others).  One analogy is that it sounds like Chewbacca on steroids.   Even though Mals are quite vocal, owners should never discount their body language.  Like other dogs, they rely on body language for communication and unless you can read it properly, you may be in for a wild ride of disappointment.

Alaskan Malamutes have been said to be "full of themselves".  They can be rowdy, especially during their growing years.  They are extremely pack oriented and will often challenge other dogs in the pack for position. If the human has not properly established him as the leader of the pack, and does not have control of the dog, the Mal will appointment himself as alpha. Until you've established yourself and the other humans in your household (down to the smallest child) as higher on the social food chain, challenges are likely. They can often be extremely goofy, providing entertainment and comic relief to visitors on a daily basis.  Learning to deal with pack dynamics is needed for everyone's sake, especially where large breed dogs and children are concerned.

For more information about Alaskan Malamutes, visit the Alaskan Malamute Club of America at www.alaskanmalamute.org.