Why We Celebrate a Breed Like the Alaskan Malamute
When nomadic cultures of the far north quite literally harnessed dogs we know today as the Alaskan Malamute, it had a profound effect on their lives. These dogs increased the distances people could travel, which in turn improved hunting opportunities, as well as the types of game they could hunt. Because the Malamute is a superb freighting dog, dogs made it easier to haul the carcass back to hungry families who made use of every part of the
The Malamute’s impact wasn’t felt just inside the culture of these people, it also made a difference in the “outside” world. In the late 19th century, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police was bringing government to northern frontiers with dog-team patrols. During the Klondike Gold Rush in 1896, Malamutes also transported prospectors, settlers, and freight. Prospectors realized early on that one of the benefits of the Malamute over other breeds was their low caloric requirement compared to other dogs of the same size, and that was important to someone wanting to strike it rich, not go broke feeding their dog.
The Mahlemuit people knew the value of these dogs, and soon realized that they could get top dollar for one dog – as much as upwards of $500 per dog, which in today’s market would come to about $10,000 a dog.
Even as the gold rush wanted, the Malamute’s value didn’t diminish. They were often the only reliable means of transportation for the mail service in Alaska and remote regions of Canada. Imagine: The last U.S. Postal Service mail driver using his Malamute dog team retired in 1963!
During WWII, Malamutes pulled sled in areas inaccessible by horse or planes. They freighted weapons and ammunition, and served as search and rescue dogs. In a piece appearing in the “Arctic Traveler,” Joe Henderson and Andrea Loveland wrote, “It was during a stint of military boot camp for dogs that the largest documented team of Malamutes was hooked up for a training exercise. Fifty-three Malamutes were harnessed into one gigantic team and pulled an army truck full of soldier over a distance of six miles.”
The Alaskan Malamute, thought to be some 12-20,000 years old, is a breed worthy of celebration. It has made a difference in history, and to the people who love it, the breed continues to have an impact. The Malamute is one reason National Purebred Dog Day celebrates the legacy of purebred dogs. https://nationalpurebreddogday.com/why-we-celebrate-a-breed-like-the-alaskan-malamute/
The Malamute’s impact wasn’t felt just inside the culture of these people, it also made a difference in the “outside” world. In the late 19th century, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police was bringing government to northern frontiers with dog-team patrols. During the Klondike Gold Rush in 1896, Malamutes also transported prospectors, settlers, and freight. Prospectors realized early on that one of the benefits of the Malamute over other breeds was their low caloric requirement compared to other dogs of the same size, and that was important to someone wanting to strike it rich, not go broke feeding their dog.
The Mahlemuit people knew the value of these dogs, and soon realized that they could get top dollar for one dog – as much as upwards of $500 per dog, which in today’s market would come to about $10,000 a dog.
Even as the gold rush wanted, the Malamute’s value didn’t diminish. They were often the only reliable means of transportation for the mail service in Alaska and remote regions of Canada. Imagine: The last U.S. Postal Service mail driver using his Malamute dog team retired in 1963!
During WWII, Malamutes pulled sled in areas inaccessible by horse or planes. They freighted weapons and ammunition, and served as search and rescue dogs. In a piece appearing in the “Arctic Traveler,” Joe Henderson and Andrea Loveland wrote, “It was during a stint of military boot camp for dogs that the largest documented team of Malamutes was hooked up for a training exercise. Fifty-three Malamutes were harnessed into one gigantic team and pulled an army truck full of soldier over a distance of six miles.”
The Alaskan Malamute, thought to be some 12-20,000 years old, is a breed worthy of celebration. It has made a difference in history, and to the people who love it, the breed continues to have an impact. The Malamute is one reason National Purebred Dog Day celebrates the legacy of purebred dogs. https://nationalpurebreddogday.com/why-we-celebrate-a-breed-like-the-alaskan-malamute/
Malamute Ears
Ears are important to all dogs. How else can they ignore their owner shrieking, “DROP IT!” from across a room?
More seriously, when it comes to a nordic breed, ears really are important because if they’re not correctly “put on,” they can impact the dog’s performance. In human terms, look at it this way: Teeth aren’t connected to a runner’s feet, but a throbbing toothache during a marathon is going to impact their performance.
The ears on most arctic species are small, and while the ears of an Alaskan Malamute are described as medium, it’s important to remember that they should be small in proportion to their head. If they’re too big and/or high set, there is more surface area vulnerable to frostbite, and greater heat loss. For this reason, owners who want to mush, run, or skijor with their Malamute in the winter should be aware of ears that are tall and/or high-set, and those who want to exhibit their Malamute should know that such ears will be faulted in a show ring.
Malamute puppies are born with their ears folded over, and by the time they’re six months old, the ears are typically erect (more on that in a moment) – and that’s when the fun begins. The Malamute has famously mobile ears that go up, go down, and rotate. Though the video clip below is shot in the dark, watch the dog’s ears for the whole 43 seconds of the video, and you’ll see what we mean:
Dogs have over a dozen muscles in their ears specifically for movement, allowing them to tilt, turn, raise and lower their ears like the dog in the video. Malamutes seem to take full advantage of every one of these muscles, perhaps more so than some other breeds, and especially when working or moving.
We don’t think of the Malamute as a breed in which ears are typically taped, but our research finds that it can be a concern to owners who want to show their dog if their pup’s ears droop and never perk up. There is no “rule” for when or how quickly a puppy’s ears go up; it can take weeks or sometimes months, but if they never seem to pop up, some folks, we’ve read, will use moleskin inside the ear to provide gentle support until cartilage firms up in the proper position (others might use tape).
The breed standard makes no mention of the ears impacting expression, but we find them to be an endearing part of Malamute breed type. https://nationalpurebreddogday.com/malamute-ears/
More seriously, when it comes to a nordic breed, ears really are important because if they’re not correctly “put on,” they can impact the dog’s performance. In human terms, look at it this way: Teeth aren’t connected to a runner’s feet, but a throbbing toothache during a marathon is going to impact their performance.
The ears on most arctic species are small, and while the ears of an Alaskan Malamute are described as medium, it’s important to remember that they should be small in proportion to their head. If they’re too big and/or high set, there is more surface area vulnerable to frostbite, and greater heat loss. For this reason, owners who want to mush, run, or skijor with their Malamute in the winter should be aware of ears that are tall and/or high-set, and those who want to exhibit their Malamute should know that such ears will be faulted in a show ring.
Malamute puppies are born with their ears folded over, and by the time they’re six months old, the ears are typically erect (more on that in a moment) – and that’s when the fun begins. The Malamute has famously mobile ears that go up, go down, and rotate. Though the video clip below is shot in the dark, watch the dog’s ears for the whole 43 seconds of the video, and you’ll see what we mean:
Dogs have over a dozen muscles in their ears specifically for movement, allowing them to tilt, turn, raise and lower their ears like the dog in the video. Malamutes seem to take full advantage of every one of these muscles, perhaps more so than some other breeds, and especially when working or moving.
We don’t think of the Malamute as a breed in which ears are typically taped, but our research finds that it can be a concern to owners who want to show their dog if their pup’s ears droop and never perk up. There is no “rule” for when or how quickly a puppy’s ears go up; it can take weeks or sometimes months, but if they never seem to pop up, some folks, we’ve read, will use moleskin inside the ear to provide gentle support until cartilage firms up in the proper position (others might use tape).
The breed standard makes no mention of the ears impacting expression, but we find them to be an endearing part of Malamute breed type. https://nationalpurebreddogday.com/malamute-ears/
The Malamute: Built from the Ground Up
The Alaskan Malamute is not a sled dog as so many “laymen” think, but is, in fact, a sledge dog that was used for heavy freighting in the Arctic. As such, the breed is built for strength and endurance, and of paramount importance is the dog’s feet. While hound fanciers refer to this aspect of their breeds as “running gear,” the Malamute foot is equally specialized, but if readers of the breed’s standard only get as far as the General Appearance, they may fail to understand how significantly more important these four knobs are beyond the simple mention of “good feet.”
If the Yeti was a canine (and not a, um, ……primate????) he would be a Malamute because this breed could rightfully be nicknamed, “Bigfoot.” He has large feet, and how this helps is that such feet have a lower surface area to volume ratio than smaller feet, so the paws radiate less body heat per unit of mass and stay warmer in the cold. Because a Nordic breed’s veins and arteries run very close to one another in the foot, essentially creating an intricate heat transfer system from warm arterial blood to cold venous blood, a larger foot helps.
Splayed feet don’t count because such a fault is the kiss of death in a breed that bears down on its paws for traction and push/pull. Toes far apart married to thin, flat pads not only fail to give inadequate support, they are painful. Add to this frigid, Arctic conditions, and a Malamute with bad feet wouldn’t last, let alone be tolerated. The toes have to be well knit (tight) and highly muscled, the foot well-arched, and the pads thickly cushioned and tough because this breed uses them! Check out the video we found as an illustration of what a Malamute did historically:
Hair also grows between the toes to offer protective insulation, and they add to the snowshoe effect of the feet. This isn’t our choice of words, it appears in the standard: “The feet are of the snowshoe type, tight and deep, with well- cushioned pads, giving a firm, compact appearance.” Snowshoe feet give the Malamute the effect of “flotation,” which simply means his weight is evenly distributed.
Anything less than a sound foot is considered a serious fault because as the expression goes, the Alaskan Malamute is “built from the ground up.” https://nationalpurebreddogday.com/the-malamute-built-from-the-ground-up/
If the Yeti was a canine (and not a, um, ……primate????) he would be a Malamute because this breed could rightfully be nicknamed, “Bigfoot.” He has large feet, and how this helps is that such feet have a lower surface area to volume ratio than smaller feet, so the paws radiate less body heat per unit of mass and stay warmer in the cold. Because a Nordic breed’s veins and arteries run very close to one another in the foot, essentially creating an intricate heat transfer system from warm arterial blood to cold venous blood, a larger foot helps.
Splayed feet don’t count because such a fault is the kiss of death in a breed that bears down on its paws for traction and push/pull. Toes far apart married to thin, flat pads not only fail to give inadequate support, they are painful. Add to this frigid, Arctic conditions, and a Malamute with bad feet wouldn’t last, let alone be tolerated. The toes have to be well knit (tight) and highly muscled, the foot well-arched, and the pads thickly cushioned and tough because this breed uses them! Check out the video we found as an illustration of what a Malamute did historically:
Hair also grows between the toes to offer protective insulation, and they add to the snowshoe effect of the feet. This isn’t our choice of words, it appears in the standard: “The feet are of the snowshoe type, tight and deep, with well- cushioned pads, giving a firm, compact appearance.” Snowshoe feet give the Malamute the effect of “flotation,” which simply means his weight is evenly distributed.
Anything less than a sound foot is considered a serious fault because as the expression goes, the Alaskan Malamute is “built from the ground up.” https://nationalpurebreddogday.com/the-malamute-built-from-the-ground-up/
No Good Sledge Dog is a Bad Color
In and of itself, the photo you see here isn’t all that remarkable until you look again and realize that this dog is not a Samoyed. It’s a solid white Alaskan Malamute, the only solid color allowed in the breed’s standard with the AKC, UKC and FCI. A solid white Malamute is unusual, and to our knowledge, there have been only five white AKC Champion Malamutes in the breed’s history.
They are remarkably beautiful since both their guard hair and undercoat are white, and the dog’s mask (and sometimes the ears and topline) have biscuit or buff-colored shading. A solid white Alaskan Malamute is also remarkably rare because its coloring is caused by a single recessive gene called “Melanocortin Receptor 1,” or MC1R. It controls the production of black pigment (or eumelanin) in the melanocytes, and when a DNA variant in the gene shuts down production of the black pigment altogether, it leaves only the production of yellow/red pigment in the melanocytes which extends the yellow pigment over the dog’s entire body. When a puppy inherits this gene from both parents, it will dominate whatever color the dog was supposed to be by removing any black in the coat
A solid white Malamute doesn’t necessarily have poor pigmentation, though it’s common for such a dog’s nose to fade to a flesh color edged in black as the dog ages to maturity (what some people call “winter or snow nose”). The lips and eye rims aren’t effected, and because the thinking that no good sledge dog is a bad color, it has no bearing on the dog’s work ability or conformation in a show ring.
Several laboratories, such as the University of California/Davis offer DNA tests to identify carriers of the gene since just looking at a potential sire or dam is no indicator of its genetic suitcase. https://nationalpurebreddogday.com/no-good-sledge-dog-is-a-bad-color/
They are remarkably beautiful since both their guard hair and undercoat are white, and the dog’s mask (and sometimes the ears and topline) have biscuit or buff-colored shading. A solid white Alaskan Malamute is also remarkably rare because its coloring is caused by a single recessive gene called “Melanocortin Receptor 1,” or MC1R. It controls the production of black pigment (or eumelanin) in the melanocytes, and when a DNA variant in the gene shuts down production of the black pigment altogether, it leaves only the production of yellow/red pigment in the melanocytes which extends the yellow pigment over the dog’s entire body. When a puppy inherits this gene from both parents, it will dominate whatever color the dog was supposed to be by removing any black in the coat
A solid white Malamute doesn’t necessarily have poor pigmentation, though it’s common for such a dog’s nose to fade to a flesh color edged in black as the dog ages to maturity (what some people call “winter or snow nose”). The lips and eye rims aren’t effected, and because the thinking that no good sledge dog is a bad color, it has no bearing on the dog’s work ability or conformation in a show ring.
Several laboratories, such as the University of California/Davis offer DNA tests to identify carriers of the gene since just looking at a potential sire or dam is no indicator of its genetic suitcase. https://nationalpurebreddogday.com/no-good-sledge-dog-is-a-bad-color/
The Richness of Alaskan Malamute Markings!
We don’t know if Alaskan Malamutes are like snowflakes (no two are alike), but the breed does have a wide range of individual colors and markings within the breed, and we’re hoping our readers can help us with this by posting pictures under this article of their Malamute, along with the name of the marking of the dog. To help us along (and as far as we know), here are the markings that can be seen in this breed:
Our starting point is the cap because we use it as a “landmark” to describe everything else that follows. The cap is what it sounds like: A “beanie” or cap of color that covers the top of the dog’s head and ears, and often comes to a point in the center of the forehead that resembles a “widow’s peak;”
A bar is the dark “stripe” or area that extends from the center point of the “cap” down the dog’s muzzle and nearly to the nose leather;
When a Malamute has a cap that covers the top of her head, but has no other markings on her face, it’s called an open face; When she has dark coloring covering the face, but no distinct markings on her face, she has a closed face;
A blaze reminds us a little of a bar, only it’s white and extends from the center point of the dog’s cap back up his forehead;
When as dog has both a cap and goggles, he’s said to have a mask, and when she has a cap, goggles and bar, she has a full mask;
A dog with dark areas under her eyes that extend up and sideways to the cap is said to have goggles, but when dark markings appear under the eyes but not extending up to the cap, the dog is said to have eye shadow;
The star is another mark that is what it sounds like: A small white spot in the center of the dog’s forehead;
A necklace is a curving band of dark color across the dog’s chest (not to be confused with a collar which is a white band of color that encircles the neck);
Two bands of dark color that burst across the dog’s chest and resembles an eagle emblem is called (wait for it) an eagle;
White marks of varying size that are centered at the withers or at the base of the dog’s neck is called the wither’s spot.
https://nationalpurebreddogday.com/the-richness-of-alaskan-malamute-markings/
The origin of the Alaskan Malamute
The Alaskan malamute is one of the oldest sled dogs. His ancestors came from Siberia to America via the Bering Strait, as a faithful companion of the indigenous tribe known as Mahlemuts. They used their dogs to hunt the seals, to scare polar bears and to pull heavy loads.
Towards the end of the 19th century, during the gold rush, demand for sled dogs was so great that many prospectors mixed their sled dogs with other breeds, making the purebred Alaska Malamute almost extinct. Due to their isolated existence, the dogs of the Mahlemuts remained pure and the race was saved.
A few decades later Mrs. Seeley had composed the first standard of the breed. Based on this standard, the breed has been officially recognized by the AKC (American Kennel Club). This standard was based on the ‘Kotzebue’ line.
The power of the Alaska Malamute was quickly noticed and the army used it during the Second World War and expeditions later in Antarctica. Both took a heavy toll and again the Alaskan malamute was almost extinct.
At the same time from the Kotzebue line, there were breeders from other Alaskan malamute lines but not part of the first standard: the M’Loot line (breeder Paul Voelker) and Hinman (breeder Dick Hinman). To safeguard the Alaskan malamute, the standard has been reopened and modified so that these lines belong to the official standard.
All the current Alaska Malamute purebred are derived from one of these three lines. The Alaskan Malamute in BelgiumIn the 1950s some Malamutes were found in Europe, but the real interest in this breed only began in 1960. Until 1980 Malamutes of local lineages appeared in shows in Belgium together with exhibitors coming from France, Germany and The Netherlands.
Mrs. Chris Jannelli of the first official malamute kennel in Belgium “Cold Valley”, and one of the founders of AMCB, inquired in different countries in Europe and in the US about malamute bloodlines. In 1960, after being informed about Alaskan Malamute bloodlines, Mrs. Janelli decided on dogs of the Kotzebue bloodline. She had found then a bigger type of the “Tigara” kennel that didn’t have a chondrodysplasia, a hereditary illness that distorts the bones.
Most Belgian Malamutes were selected from dogs coming from different Kotzebue kennels abroad, females from “Blue Ice” and “Storm Kloud”, as well as males from New England, one a son of “Taku of Chinook”, the last female of Mrs. Seeley and another one from the “Sno Pak” bloodline (Kotzebue Youko).
From the litters bred by Mrs. Janelli, two males “Ch. Cold Valley’s Erasmu” and his sibling “Cold valley’s Evening Song” became a big influence of the bloodlines developed since. Dogs from Kotzebue lines from Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom were selected for breeding, and brought a lot to the breed in Belgium, thanks to their qualities. They allowed the first breeders to have a big genetic variety for the early breeding program.
Among other important kennels that have contributed to the development of the breed in Belgium are “Joli Mapa”, “Du Grand Pierreux” and “Keema’s Wolfpak”. They all started with dogs from the “Cold Valley” kennel. The owner of the kennel “of Keema’s Wolfpack” was president of the AMCB for more than 10 years. Her first female malamute, bought in 1984, was “Taiga” (Cold Valley’s Ioghi Myjoy), was at the base of her kennel (daughter of Cold Valley’s Erasmu and Gossamer’s Keema of the Tigara lineage). All these breeders have made sure to develop the breed on the basis of the standard, seeking to reach a healthy race, with good character. https://www.amcb.info/en/alaskan-malamute/origin-and-history/
Towards the end of the 19th century, during the gold rush, demand for sled dogs was so great that many prospectors mixed their sled dogs with other breeds, making the purebred Alaska Malamute almost extinct. Due to their isolated existence, the dogs of the Mahlemuts remained pure and the race was saved.
A few decades later Mrs. Seeley had composed the first standard of the breed. Based on this standard, the breed has been officially recognized by the AKC (American Kennel Club). This standard was based on the ‘Kotzebue’ line.
The power of the Alaska Malamute was quickly noticed and the army used it during the Second World War and expeditions later in Antarctica. Both took a heavy toll and again the Alaskan malamute was almost extinct.
At the same time from the Kotzebue line, there were breeders from other Alaskan malamute lines but not part of the first standard: the M’Loot line (breeder Paul Voelker) and Hinman (breeder Dick Hinman). To safeguard the Alaskan malamute, the standard has been reopened and modified so that these lines belong to the official standard.
All the current Alaska Malamute purebred are derived from one of these three lines. The Alaskan Malamute in BelgiumIn the 1950s some Malamutes were found in Europe, but the real interest in this breed only began in 1960. Until 1980 Malamutes of local lineages appeared in shows in Belgium together with exhibitors coming from France, Germany and The Netherlands.
Mrs. Chris Jannelli of the first official malamute kennel in Belgium “Cold Valley”, and one of the founders of AMCB, inquired in different countries in Europe and in the US about malamute bloodlines. In 1960, after being informed about Alaskan Malamute bloodlines, Mrs. Janelli decided on dogs of the Kotzebue bloodline. She had found then a bigger type of the “Tigara” kennel that didn’t have a chondrodysplasia, a hereditary illness that distorts the bones.
Most Belgian Malamutes were selected from dogs coming from different Kotzebue kennels abroad, females from “Blue Ice” and “Storm Kloud”, as well as males from New England, one a son of “Taku of Chinook”, the last female of Mrs. Seeley and another one from the “Sno Pak” bloodline (Kotzebue Youko).
From the litters bred by Mrs. Janelli, two males “Ch. Cold Valley’s Erasmu” and his sibling “Cold valley’s Evening Song” became a big influence of the bloodlines developed since. Dogs from Kotzebue lines from Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom were selected for breeding, and brought a lot to the breed in Belgium, thanks to their qualities. They allowed the first breeders to have a big genetic variety for the early breeding program.
Among other important kennels that have contributed to the development of the breed in Belgium are “Joli Mapa”, “Du Grand Pierreux” and “Keema’s Wolfpak”. They all started with dogs from the “Cold Valley” kennel. The owner of the kennel “of Keema’s Wolfpack” was president of the AMCB for more than 10 years. Her first female malamute, bought in 1984, was “Taiga” (Cold Valley’s Ioghi Myjoy), was at the base of her kennel (daughter of Cold Valley’s Erasmu and Gossamer’s Keema of the Tigara lineage). All these breeders have made sure to develop the breed on the basis of the standard, seeking to reach a healthy race, with good character. https://www.amcb.info/en/alaskan-malamute/origin-and-history/
All infromation from this page came from the following sites:
https://nationalpurebreddogday.com
https://www.amcb.info